10 Common Diseases healed by Garlic

10 Medicinal use of Garlic

By: Arlene Gentallan

Medicinal use of Garlic
10 Common Diseases healed by Garlic

        Garlic (Allium sativum) has long been used to treat various health problems. It's medicinal property has been recognized by civilizations such as the Chinese, Egyptians, Indians, and Sumerians.

        Do note that garlic and onion can cause heartburn! So don't take in an empty stomach.



1. Lead poisoning

        A study by Kianoush, Balali-Mood, Mousavi, et al. has shown that garlic is as effective as the medicine "d-Penicillamissne" in treating mild to moderate cases of lead poisoning, but with considerably lesser side effects.

        Their study involves 117 individuals who were exposed to lead due to the nature of their work. They were split into two groups. One group were treated with garlic containing 1200mg allicin trice a day, while the other group were given the medicine d-penicillamine 250 mg trice a day. Treatment was done for 4 weeks which resulted in a significant decrease in blood concentration of lead.



2. Hypertension

        Hypertension is a sustained elevation of SBP (systolic blood pressure) equal or more than 140mmHg, or DBP (diastolic blood pressure) equal or more than 90mmHg.

        Hypertension is a silent killer.

        A study by Ashraf, Khan, Ashraf, and Qureshi shows that taking 300mg - 1500mg garlic tablets for 24 weeks significantly reduces blood pressure compared to taking antihypertensive medicine "atenolol" among 30 individuals suffering from essential hypertension.



3. Hypercholesterolaemia

        Having a high cholesterol level can predispose the development of cardiovascular diseases. The allicin content of garlic is an effective home remedy to lower bad cholesterol, thus reducing risk of heart attack and stroke.

        A study by Ried, Toben C, and Fakler,shows that garlic use for at least 2 months can lower bad cholesterol "LDL" and total cholesterol level, slightly increase good cholesterol "HDL", but with no significant effect on triglycerides level.



4. Anticoagulant

        Garlic is an anticoagulant. It can prevent the formation of deadly clots that can potentially clog blood vessels resulting in stroke or heart attack.

Important reminders:
  • If you are taking an anticoagulant medication, make sure to consult your doctor before taking garlic as an alternative medicine.
  • Stop taking high doses of garlic 7-10 days before a scheduled surgery.


5. Osteoporosis in menopause

        A study by Mukherjee, Das AS, Das D, et al. shows that garlic oil is as effective as the medicine lovastatin and 17beta-estradiol in preventing bone loss from postmenopausal osteoporosis in animal studies.



6. Intestinal worms

        The allicin content of garlic is kills bacteria, fungi, viruses, and intestinal parasites. Symptoms don't always show up when you have parasites inhabiting your intestines. If symptoms does occur, it can be as vague as constipation or diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, and presence of blood/mucus in stool.

        Including garlic in your diet ensures that you have this opportunistic parasites in check.



7. Neuroprotective & Memory

        Garlic can help prevent dementia such as alzheimer's, and parkinson's disease. Research reveals that garlic protects brain from degeneration.

        Garlic acts as an atioxidant which fights oxidative cell damages caused by free radicals.



8. Immune system booster: Cold & Flu

        Garlic strengthens the immune system. A study by Josling shows that taking 1 capsule of allicin-containing garlic supplement significantly decreases a person's risk of acquiring colds, and if they do acquire colds, duration of symptoms is shorter.



9. Toothache

        Crush a garlic and put it over your tooth to kill the ache. It's that simple. However, there has been a case when this home remedy technique using garlic for toothache resulted in a significant degree of facial chemical burn.

        However, many still claims that putting fresh garlic over an aching tooth does kill the pain!



10. Candida albicans: Yeast infection and oral thrush

        Fungi is all around us...including inside our body.  The allicin content of garlic is effective in terminating fungi particularly Candida albicans. Candida albicans is actually a form of yeast that's normally present in human gut. However, if our body's immune system fails (eg. leukemia, immunosuppresive drugs, and cancer treatment) they can grow in number uncontrollably, causing infection such as yeast infection and oral thrush.



Resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16035690
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10594976
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3074326/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12165737
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23590705
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24035939
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11697022
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22151785
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21143861
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16397916
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25198327


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