Garlic and Your Health
12/27/2007 12:00:00 AM
By Tabitha Alterman
Garlic (allium sativum) is packed full of health-promoting power. It's
famous for being one of our most powerful natural health allies. It
can be used in poultices and teas or in direct applications. Or you
can enjoy more of it in all your favorite foods. In fact, nearly
everyone would benefit from a generous boost of garlic in the daily
diet, because it...
is a potent antibiotic, antiviral, antifungal and immune-boosting
herb
can be used to treat wounds, infections and sties
improves circulation
treats ulcers
attacks cold germs and flu viruses
prevents and treats respiratory and throat problems, such as chronic
bronchitis, sinusitis, sore throat, tonsillitis and pneumocystis
pneumonia
alleviates allergy symptoms
retards inflammatory reactions
can be used directly to treat burns and insect bites and stings
treats earaches and ear infections
helps prevent altitude sickness
is effective at treating breastfeeding-related mastitis with the added
bonus of not introducing antibiotics into baby's milk
helps babies nurse better
reduces high cholesterol levels
helps control blood sugar levels
lowers high blood pressure
helps prevent ischemic stroke (If you're concerned about hemorrhagic
stroke, avoid anti-clotting herbs.)
helps prevent heart disease and heart attacks
helps prevent angina and congestive heart failure
reduces ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation of cardiac
arrhythmia
treats athlete's foot and other fungal infections
treats vaginal yeast infections (candidiasis), thrush and vaginitis
helps prevent some types of cancer
helps prevent migraines
helps treat both types of herpes virus
treats pinworms, roundworms, giardia (an amoeba) and other parasitic
infections
contains more blood-thinnning anticoagulants (9) than any other herb
may help slow physiological aging and age-related memory loss
helps prevent op****tunistic infections of AIDS, and may inhibit spread
of HIV in the body
helps reduce the leg pain associated with peripheral vascular disease
fights tuberculosis and enhances the action of standard antibiotics in
fighting off tuberculosis bacteria
Learn more about how and why garlic is such a nutrition powerhouse in
the following resources:
Basic garlic nutrition info
Really in-depth garlic nutrition info (from James A. Duke, Ph.D.)
Keep Cholesterol in Check (from the Mother Earth News Amazin'
Archive)
The Green Pharmacy by Dr. James A. Duke, Ph.D. (Rodale, 1997;
available at Mother Earth Shopping)
Dr. Duke's Essential Herbs by James A. Duke, Ph.D. (St. Martin's
Paperbacks, 2001)
Garlic: The Science and Therapeutic Application of Allium Sativum and
Related Species by Heinrich P. Koch, Ph.D. (Williams & Wilkins, 1996)
10 Essential Herbs for Lifelong Health by Barbara Heller (E-book
available from Mother Earth Shopping)
Growing and Using Garlic by Glenn Andrews (E-book available from
Mother Earth Shopping)
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Healthy-People-Healthy-Planet/Garlic-and-Your-Health.aspx?blogid=1506
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