Health professionals with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine report that beginning garlic therapy might help improve the health of your heart. Garlic therapy involves increasing your garlic intake by adding more raw or cooked garlic cloves or garlic supplements to your diet. While eating more garlic might improve your health, you also might experience unpleasant side effects. If you have any questions or concerns about consuming garlic, seek additional advice from your medical provider.
Body or Breath Odor
The distinctive smell of garlic can be enticing at meal time, but smelling garlic on your breath or body might be embarrassing. Touching garlic cloves with your bare hands allows your skin to absorb the odorous oil in this food, and you might notice that your skin retains the garlicky aroma for a day or two, even if you repeatedly wash your hands. Eating garlic or taking a garlic supplement also might result in stinky breath or body odor. If such side effects become bothersome, seek additional care from your doctor.
Skin Rash
Handling raw garlic might irritate your skin, and you might experience a burning or tingling sensation across the exposed skin. Small, red patches of skin also might appear across skin that comes in contact with raw garlic or garlic supplements. Consult your medical provider if your skin rash side effects become severe or do not subside.
Stomach Discomfort
Stomach irritation might occur as a side effect of garlic therapy. After eating garlic or taking a garlic supplement, you might experience nausea, stomach discomfort or diarrhea. Episodes of diarrhea also might contribute to abdominal bloating or cramping and a temporary loss of appetite. If you begin vomiting or experience persistent stomach pain, contact your physician.
Hypersensitive Reaction
If you are sensitive to garlic, you might develop an allergic reaction after consuming garlic or garlic supplements. This type of reaction can mimic an asthma attack and result in wheezing, chest pain or tightness and shortness of breath. Certain people also develop an itchy skin rash across the body. These side effects of garlic therapy should be promptly reported to your doctor to ensure that you receive appropriate medical care.
Additional Side Effects
Though infrequent, additional side effects might occur following treatment with garlic. You might feel unusually fatigued, achy or dizzy. Headache pain also can arise, which can disrupt your ability to focus or remain attentive during your daily activities. These side effects should be discussed with your medical provider if they persist.
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