Garlic, an herb, greatly improves the flavors of many dishes. It also may serve as a medicinal herbal supplement in the treatment of diseases and health conditions. You can take it by powder, clove, topical oil, pill and capsule. The clove itself and its supplements may provide medicinal treatments for lowering cholesterol levels, especially triglycerides. It also may help decrease your blood pressure, Drugs.com reports, but the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has not yet approved garlic as a medicinal agent. Garlic may help to decrease the risks of stroke and heart attack by its preventative abilities, Medline Plus reports. Side effects may occur with garlic capsule use.
Burning Sensations
You may feel a burning sensation in your throat if you take garlic capsules. This may happen because of the irritating natural properties of garlic, Drugs.com indicates. Garlic can irritate the mucosal tissues of your body. The more delicate linings of the throat are sensitive to garlic. Taking garlic with your breakfast, lunch or dinner may help prevent or decrease this nonserious side effect. You also could experience a burning feeling in your stomach, Drugs.com reports, for the same reason: Garlic may irritate it. This nonserious side effect may occur at any time. Call your doctor if burning sensations continue.
Lightheadedness
Lightheadedness can occur as a result of taking a garlic supplement, Drugs.com notes. You may experience feeling lightheaded when first taking this supplement, meaning you may feel slightly unbalanced or as though you may faint. You should talk with your practitioner prior to taking any new supplements because interactions may occur with your medicine.
Nausea and Vomiting
Vomiting and diarrhea, two nonserious side effects, may occur when you take garlic capsules, usually during your initial use of the herb, the Mayo Clinic reports. You may feel ill after taking the supplement. Although both nausea and vomiting may happen in mild form, continued bouts of nausea and vomiting may lead to dehydration. You may need to call your doctor for treatment if these side effects persist.
Sweating
Just as when you eat a meal heavily laden with garlic, taking garlic capsules may induce excessive sweating to occur, Drugs.com notes. Sweating does not classify as a serious problem unless it continues to occur even after your body has acclimated to the garlic supplements. In that case, speak with your practitioner.
Rash
A rash may occur on any part of your body, usually behind the ears and on the face, if you start using garlic capsules. Unless the rash feels severe -- in which case you may be having an allergic reaction to garlic -- it should go away on its own, Drugs.com reports. A mild rash can occur as a minor reaction to the new supplement and does not typically mean you are allergic. If you think you may have an allergy to garlic, stop taking it and get medical help.
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