Garlic is gaining ground as an herb with notable medicinal purposes. Used since ancient times to address different health issues, garlic is known for having antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic also has been linked to a reduced chance of developing cancer and heart disease in some people. While eating garlic twice a day might not lower your blood pressure, some studies have shown that using garlic can be beneficial to your blood pressure levels.
Garlic as a Treatment
Garlic contains trace minerals and other components that are beneficial to different health conditions. The amino acid allinin and the enzyme allinase combine when a garlic clove is crushed or cut, forming the compound allicin, the sulfuric-smelling compound thought to be responsible for many of garlic's health benefits. Freshly crushed garlic contains the most allicin, and therefore might be the most useful for medicinal purposes. Garlic is rated by the National Institutes of Health as being "possibly effective" for treating high blood pressure; atherosclerosis; colon, rectal, and stomach cancers; tick bites; and fungal infections of the skin, like ringworm and athlete's foot.
Garlic and Blood Pressure
According to the NIH, garlic has been responsible for people lowering their blood pressure by up to 7 percent or 8 percent. Ellen Tattelman states in "American Family Physician" that three separate studies found garlic significantly reduced systolic pressure, the top number of your blood pressure reading. Four studies linked garlic to a reduction in diastolic pressure, the bottom number. More study might be needed and you should discuss garlic therapy with your physician before beginning it.
Garlic and Other Cardiovascular Benefits
Garlic has been linked to reducing several causes of cardiovascular disease. Ellen Tattelman wrote on the health benefits of garlic for the July 2005 issue of "American Family Physician." She stated that while several studies found that garlic reduced overall cholesterol levels by between 4 percent and 12 percent, others could not replicate the effect. Results are varied, but this could be due to different amounts or types of garlic, or study design. More research is needed to say for sure. Tattelman also mentions that garlic has been shown to reduce the blood glucose levels in people who do not have diabetes, which might make them less likely to develop diabetes, a precursor to cardiovascular disease.
Limitations of Garlic for Blood Pressure
A meta-analysis published in the December 2008 issue of "Annals of Pharmacotherapy" stated that while garlic was clearly associated with a reduction in systolic blood pressure in people who had a high systolic blood pressure level, it was not associated with reduction in other patients. The researchers suggested that more study was necessary. The use of garlic as a therapy to reduce overall blood pressure remains controversial, with some research indicating that it is beneficial while some seems to indicate that it is not. Talk with your physician about garlic and whether adding garlic to your regimen could help lower your blood pressure.
References
- "Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine"; Teresa Odle; 2005
- Medline Plus: Garlic
- "American Family Physician"; Health Effects of Garlic; Ellen Tattelman, MD; July 2005
- "Annals of Pharmacotherapy"; Effects of of Garlic on Blood Pressure in Patients With and Without Systolic Hypertension: a Meta-analysis; KM Reinhart et. al.; December 2008
