Cure it with Garlic!

Linsey Knerl — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:54:37 +0000

I am married to a garlic lover. Not that my husband craves the pungent flavoring in his meals, but rather is insistent on eating it to ward off any impending sickness. I know when he is feeling a little under-the-weather by merely getting within a few feet of him. I am immediately assaulted by the strong odor of the garlic clove, and I can guess that it is not a good time to ask for any large sums of money for the new laptop I’ve been ogling. While it is inconvenient and a little offensive, I have to admit that my husband’s brave attempts at self-healing most often times really work! And after doing further research on the matter, I have found that garlic is a proven strategy for kicking most any health affliction right where it counts.

Dating as far back as 3500 BC, when the Egyptians were thought to have made it popular, garlic has been used in ancient healing recipes for everything from tumors and worms to heart disease! Famous French scientist Louis Pasteur discovered that garlic could be used specifically as an antibiotic. (In fact, one ml of raw garlic juice has the strength of 60 mg of penicillin!) Garlic’s effectiveness lies in its more than 33 active sulfur-containing substances known to fight against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The famous ingredient Allicin, garlic's warrior against bacteria and inflammation, is also what causes the horrible smell. While I don’t recommend replacing old-time garlic cures for serious illness or the advice of a physician, there are some very basic garlic remedies you can use at home that are safe, effective, and very inexpensive. For example:

Rubbing a clove of crushed garlic over cuts, burns or other external infections ensures rapid healing.

Smashing up raw garlic and mixing with water to make a fine paste makes an effective topical treatment for yeast infections, ringworm, athlete’s foot, and jock itch. Simply apply to the affected area regularly for a day or two.

Garlic is one of the most effective and common medicines for the common cold. The best way to eat it is in hot soup, however another great way is to sprinkle raw garlic flakes over hot toast. It helps clear up the nasal passages, as well as decongests the chest.

While no substitution for physician prescribed blood-pressure medication, regular ingestion of fresh garlic is suggested to aid in the treatment of high blood pressure.

Garlic has so many uses, that it is pretty much a guarantee that it can help with most any illness. By simply chewing a peeled clove of raw garlic in the mouth, (making sure to chew it sufficiently into small pieces), you will absorb the healing garlic juices immediately. You can spit out the pieces without swallowing them, once the juice has been absorbed.

NOTE: Because the chemicals in garlic are strong, some people may not want to take garlic without first talking to their doctor. Women experiencing hot flashes, patients wanting to avoid thinning blood, and those with certain stomach sensitivities may want to avoid garlic. Garlic can also interfere with a person’s concentration, so it is advised that you familiarize yourself with your own reactions to garlic use before engaging in activities that require extra focus.

While it is not usually viewed as a popular choice for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, many people would give up perfect breath for relief or prevention of common ailments. World cultures that incorporate fresh garlic into every aspect of their diet are now seeing a larger percentage of their population living well into their late nineties. So you may offend some people with your new dragon breath, but you might quite possibly outlive them anyway.

This article is from Linsey Knerl of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

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Cure it with Garlic!