Health & Medicinal Benefits Of Garlic

Garlic has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes that garlic is used to help treat a wide range of ailments, from heart disease to cancer. Garlic is used both as a medicine and as a spice in cooking. Visit your doctor prior to taking garlic for your health concerns to talk about dosage, duration of treatment, potential side effects and other garlic-related issues.

Plant Information

Garlic is a plant grown throughout the world. The bulb of the garlic plant is the part most often used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The bulb of the garlic plant is divided into sections, or cloves. The cloves have a spicy and pungent taste, although they tend to become less so with cooking. Garlic, states the University of Maryland Medical Center, is loaded with antioxidants that help eliminate free radicals, or substances that can cause cellular damage over time.

Actions

Garlic is known for its wide variety of actions, or the functions it performs within your body. Herbal medicine expert Ed Smith, author of "Therapeutic Herb Manual," states that garlic has antibacterial, anti-fungal and mucus-clearing action. Garlic, adds Smith, is a metabolic stimulant, helps clear phlegm, lowers cholesterol and thins your blood. Garlic also helps lower your blood pressure, decreases your risk for blood clots and helps balance your blood sugar levels. Garlic may help protect your liver, impair tumor growth and support your immune system.

Uses

Garlic has numerous health and medicinal applications. Garlic may help prevent cancer, treat diabetes, lower elevated blood pressure, reduce high cholesterol levels and treat infections, including infections of your eyes, ears, throat and respiratory tract. Garlic has been used to treat hardening of your arteries, coughs and hoarseness, colds and flu, obesity, liver disease and peripheral arterial disease. Garlic is perhaps most well known for its ability to reduce arterial plaque, which decreases your risk for atherosclerosis.

Warning

Although garlic has been used for many years to treat numerous health problems, you should always check with your health care provider before using this herb medicinally. Garlic, as an herbal supplement, is not appropriate for all individuals. If you have an acute inflammatory condition, hypoglycemia or low blood sugar levels, insomnia, upcoming surgery or organ transplants, you should avoid garlic supplementation. If you are pregnant, you should always check with your physician before using herbal remedies.