What Are The Benefits Of Garlic Against The Black Plague?

The black death killed almost half the world's population during the 14th- and 15th-century pandemic. With cases of the bubonic plague reappearing in parts of Europe and North America, various efforts are being made by people attempting to protect themselves from this devastating disease. One substance that may help fight plague is garlic. If you suspect you may have come into contact with the plague, contact your doctor or nearest hospital immediately.

Identification

The plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinis pestis and is primarily spread by infected fleas carried by rats. The plague can infect as many as 200 species of rodents. It is most prevalent in areas where extremely crowded living circumstances exist alongside poor sanitation. Antibiotics are used to treat plague patients; however, most antibiotics that have worked previously are losing their efficacy and in the near future will no longer act to destroy the bacteria.

Signs

It is important to act quickly when plague strikes, and recognizing it in its earlier stages may be difficult since its earliest symptoms mimic the flu, with fever, weakness, chills and coughing, in the case of pneumonic plague. Treatment in the first 24 hours with antibiotics such as streptomycin, aureomycin or chloramphenicol may save your life and destroy the bacteria.

Symptoms

Once the plague bacteria takes hold, it settles in the lymph nodes, where it spreads rapidly to the skin through the lymphatic system. There will be severe trembling accompanied by profuse sweating and subcutaneous hemorrhaging in the skin, where painful, dark reddish-purple spots develop. Additionally, painfully sensitive buboes form in the lymph nodes of the armpit and groin, which may swell as large as oranges and are filled with blood and pus. Unless the buboes are carefully lanced, the infection works its way inward, poisoning the blood. The disease is highly contagious and is spread when the buboes burst, spraying infection. Pneumonic plague is spread through the air when the sick person sneezes or coughs. Untreated, plague is 100 percent fatal.

Uses for Garlic

Garlic has been used as a medicinal substance by many cultures around the world for thousands of years. In the 1700s, gravediggers drank garlic crushed in wine or ate fresh garlic in an effort to ward off plague. Garlic is a potent natural antibiotic whose properties may be able to protect against the plague and destroy the bacteria. Garlic is also high in antioxidants that destroy free radicals, helping the body's immune system become stronger. The active ingredient in garlic, allicin, contains antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties known to kill a variety of disease-causing bacteria. A stronger immune system helps protect against diseases such as plague.

Prophylaxis

Because garlic has such strong immune-building properties, regular supplementation may act as a prophylactic, helping build and strengthening your system to better fight disease, suggests Phyllis Balch in her book, "Prescription for Herbal Healing." Additionally, if you live in an area where there is plague, consuming fresh garlic daily may provide a barrier against the plague, killing the bacteria early enough to prevent the onset of disease.

Precautions

Garlic can thin the blood, so if you take pharmaceutical blood-thinners, contact your health practitioner before using garlic as a medicine. Consuming large quantities of fresh garlic may also upset your stomach or cause bad breath and body odor.