Garlic For Allergies & The Immune

Garlic is a plant that serves a multitude of purposes. It is a culinary ingredient in recipes, an aromatic seasoning and a medicinal herb. While garlic shows some promise in strengthening the immune system, there is no indication that it can help treat allergies. Consult your doctor before beginning any new treatment, including alternative therapies and herbal remedies.

Garlic

Garlic supplies your body with antioxidants, the substances in foods that can help neutralize free radicals. Garlic contains allicin, the chemical that provides the source of the odor and the active ingredient for the medicinal uses of this plant. Garlic products that have a reduced odor contain less of this active ingredient. According to MedlinePlus, garlic is possibly effective in treating fungal infections of the skin, tick bites, hardening of the arteries, certain types of cancer and high blood pressure, even though insufficient evidence exists to support its effect on blood pressure.

Immune System Benefits

Garlic may help support the health of your immune system and help you fight off diseases. Research shows that people who consume more garlic tend to have a lower rate of stomach and colon cancers, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. The standard food supplement dose of garlic is between 2 and 4 g of minced cloves per day. Like other sources of antioxidants, the active substance in garlic may help prevent cell damage by protecting your body tissues from some of the effects of harmful environmental toxins, such as air pollution, ultraviolet light, cigarette smoke and radiation.

Allergies

While garlic provides many medicinal uses, this substance is not a customary or a standard herbal remedy in the treatment or prevention of allergies. In addition to boosting immunity, other popular uses for garlic include the treatment of common colds, but not respiratory allergies. Some of the more common natural or herbal remedies for allergies include butterbur, bee pollen, barberry, fish oil, royal jelly, spirulina and quercetin as well as vitamins B-6, B-12, C and E.

Considerations

Talk to a trusted health care professional before taking garlic to treat a medical condition. Although garlic has a low toxicity level and is safe for most people, this product can cause side effects in some individuals. Some of the possible side effects include bloating, upset stomach, loss of appetite and contact dermatitis. Garlic tends to thin your blood and can interact with certain medications, including warfarin, anti-platelet medications and protease inhibitors.