Garlic Remedies for Health Conditions
What Is Garlic?
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a plant closely related to onions, leeks, and chives. Extracts of the bulb and clove are sometimes used medicinally.
Uses for Garlic
In herbal medicine, garlic is typically used to treat or prevent these conditions:
Benefits of Garlic
Research suggests that garlic may help fight the following health problems:
A number of studies have shown that regular intake of garlic may lead to moderate changes in cholesterol levels. In a 2009 review that analyzed the results of 29 clinical trials, for instance, researchers found that garlic appears to reduce total cholesterol to a modest extent. A study published in 2000, however, indicates that although garlic is superior to a placebo in lowering total cholesterol levels, the use of garlic in treatment of high cholesterol is of “questionable value.”
Garlic preparations are more effective than a placebo when it comes to reducing blood pressure in people with hypertension, according to a 2008 review and analysis of 25 studies. However, another review (published in 2009) concluded that garlic should not be recommended as a blood pressure-lowering remedy for hypertensive patients.
3) The Common Cold
Garlic may help fend off colds, suggests a 2001 study. For 12 weeks during cold season, 146 volunteers took either a daily garlic supplement or a placebo. By the end of the study period, 24 colds were reported in the garlic group, compared to 65 in the placebo group.
4) Colorectal and Stomach Cancer
In a 2001 review of 19 studies on garlic consumption and cancer incidence, researchers found that regular intake of garlic (in raw, cooked, or supplement form) may help prevent stomach and colorectal cancers.
Is Garlic Safe?
While garlic is generally considered safe, possible adverse effects include:
How to Use Garlic
Garlic supplements (as well as topically applied garlic oils, often used in treatment of ear infections) are sold in many health food stores and drugstores. Eating chopped or crushed raw garlic may also offer medicinal benefits.
Sources:
Fleischauer AT, Arab L. “Garlic and cancer: a critical review of the epidemiologic literature.” J Nutr. 2001 131(3s):1032S-40S.
Josling P. “Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled survey.” Adv Ther. 2001 18(4):189-93.
Reinhart KM, Talati R, White CM, Coleman CI. “The impact of garlic on lipid parameters: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” Nutr Res Rev. 2009 22(1):39-48.
Ried K, Frank OR, Stocks NP, Fakler P, Sullivan T. “Effect of garlic on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis.” BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2008 16;8:13.
Stevinson C, Pittler MH, Ernst E. “Garlic for treating hypercholesterolemia. A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.” Ann Intern Med. 2000 19;133(6):420-9.
No comments yet.
-
Archives
- August 2013 (1)
- July 2013 (2)
- November 2012 (1)
- September 2012 (3)
- August 2012 (4)
- July 2012 (1)
- April 2012 (4)
- September 2011 (3)
- August 2011 (1)
- July 2011 (3)
- June 2011 (9)
- May 2011 (7)
-
Categories
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
Leave a Reply