Garlic is a well-known herb used in cooking and alternative medicine. Garlic may be consumed in many different forms, including raw, roasted, crushed or extracted into supplements. Relatively little research has been conducted comparing how changes in preparation alter the effectiveness of garlic. Based on available evidence, eating roasted garlic may provide benefits for the immune system, although additional research is needed. Like any alternative medicine, consult your doctor before taking garlic to treat a disease.
Roasted Garlic
Roasted garlic refers to garlic that has been baked in an oven or cooked over an open fire. The process of cooking garlic, either by roasting or other means, may decrease the risk of side effects from garlic, including gas, body odor, heartburn and nausea, reports MedlinePlus. There is little evidence that roasting garlic reduces its effectiveness as an herbal medicine, and some herbalists recommend eating one roasted garlic clove each day to boost immunity, according to Jennifer Roth Caverly, a clinical herbalist at Metropolitan State College of Denver.
General Immunity
Garlic appears to have several effects on immunity and may stimulate several different parts of the immune system, explains the Creighton University Medical Center. Garlic may be able to boost antibody responses to infection, especially responses that have been suppressed by infections. Treatment with garlic may also increase the number of T cells in the immune system, as well as trigger more aggressive T cell responses to diseases-causing cells, including tumor cells.
Common Cold
Despite the laboratory data that suggests garlic boosts the immune system, investigations into the actual effect of garlic on preventing diseases often produces conflicting results. For example, while some studies suggest garlic can prevent colds or reduce the length of colds, one review of several different garlic studies found that many studies were poorly designed and are not reliable sources of data, according to an article in the July 2009 issue of the "Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews." Additional, well-designed studies are needed to confirm the promising effects of garlic on the common cold.
Tumors
Garlic may be helpful in treating or preventing tumors. Compounds found in garlic appear to help remove toxic chemicals that may cause tumors, reports a study in the March 2001 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition." Additionally, certain compounds in garlic appear to directly kill cancer cells; however, additional clinical trials are needed before researchers can confidently claim that garlic prevents cancer.
References
- "Advances in Therapy"; Preventing the Common Cold with a Garlic Supplement: a Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Survey; P. Josling; July-August 2001
- "Journal of Nutrition"; Enhanced Immunocompetence by Garlic: Role in Bladder Cancer and Other Malignancies; D.L. Lamm and D.R. Riggs; March 2001
- "Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews"; Garlic for the Common Cold; R. Lissiman et al.; July 2009
- Creighton University Medical Center: Pharmocokinetics
- Metropolitan State College of Denver: Immune Boosting Herbs; Jennifer Roth Caverly; January 2009
- MedlinePlus: Garlic; December 2010
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