Garlic

General Information

Garlic is the edible bulb from a plant of the lily family. This is thousands of years as it is used as a medicine and as spice.

Common Name
garlic

Scientific Name
Allium sativum, Alliaceae

How it works?

The garlic cloves can be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be dried or powdered and used in tablets and capsules. Raw garlic cloves can be used to make oils and liquid extracts.

Garlic as a dietary supplement is most often used by people with high cholesterol, heart disease or high blood pressure.

Garlic is also used to prevent certain types of cancer, including cancer of the stomach and colon.

Your health care provider you may have recommended this product against other diseases. If you have questions, contact your health care provider.

It can be used for the following diseases:

• Tonsillitis
• Angina
• High Cholesterol
• Congestive heart failure
• Laryngitis
• Coronary artery disease
• Otitis media
• High Blood Pressure
• Common cold
• Sinusitis

There are some data showing that a high intake of garlic can slightly lower the blood cholesterol. Studies have emphasized the positive effect of a short-term use (1-3 months). However, a study funded by NCCAM to examine the safety and effectiveness of three garlic preparations (fresh garlic, garlic powder tablets dried, and tablets of aged garlic extract) for lower blood cholesterol levels, found no effect.

Preliminary research suggests that a high intake of garlic may slow the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a condition that can lead to heart disease or stroke (CVA).

Results were mixed when it comes to whether a high intake of garlic cans slightly lowering blood pressure.

Some studies show that regular consumption of garlic can lower the risk of certain cancers. However, no clinical trial has examined this. A clinical trial on long-term use of garlic supplements to prevent cancer of the stomach, found no effect.

Among the recent research funded by NCCAM, we can mention the studies on the interaction of garlic with some drugs and its potential to thin the blood.

The use of garlic seems to be safe for most adults.

Side effects include bad breath and body odor, heartburn, abdominal pain and allergic reactions. These side effects are more common during the consumption of raw garlic.

Garlic can thin the blood (reduce the ability of blood to clot) in the same way as ASA (acetylsalicylic acid). This effect can cause problems during surgery or shortly after. Use garlic with caution if you have surgery or dental work, or if you have a bleeding disorder. It seems wise to avoid eating garlic or taking a garlic supplement for at least one week before surgery.

It was found that garlic inhibited the effectiveness of saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection. Its effect on other drugs has not yet been studied.

Before taking any new medications, including natural health products, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or other health care provider. Tell your health care provider all natural health products you use.