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Garlic

Description

The ancient Egyptians attached great importance to garlic, and used it as a money exchange. Folklore has always claimed that garlic is a great healer, and there is actually a lot of scientific evidence to support that claim. The story goes that in 1721 there was a deadly plague in Marseilles, however the chosen gravediggers (condemned criminals) who drank a garlic/wine concoction were immune to the deadly disease. Allicin is the molecule responsible for the odor of garlic, and also for many of the purported benefits it offers as an herb. There are many documented effects of garlic in the literature.

- Cholesterol/triglyceride reduction - Candida - Sinusitis - Diabetes - Antihypertensive - Anticarcinogenic - Antibacterial - Antimicrobial - Antifungal - Anthelmintic (expels worms) - Antiviral - Antiinflammatory - Immune-enhancing (especially colds/flu) - Asthma - Fever - Flatulence - Nausea - Vomiting - Colic - Indigestion

Garlic's therapeutic properties are many, and these are just some that are being reported: - A significant antiarrhythmic effect on the heart - Cancer inhibition - Radiation protection - Sinusitis relief - Cholesterol/triglyceride reduction - Reduced incidence of gastric cancer - Reduced incidence of esophageal cancer - Parasite elimination - Diuretic, emmenagogue (agent promoting menstruation), and expectorant - Carminative (expels gas), antispasmodic, digestant - Protected mice from influenza virus, and enhanced antibody production when administered with influenza vaccine Allicin is the molecule responsible for the odor of garlic, and also for many of the purported benefits it offers as an herb. Allicin, "has been known for very many years as an antimicrobial compound. Its inhibitory spectrum includes Candida species" (Odds, FC. Candida and Candidosis.1988. Bailliere Tindall, Philadelphia, Pa. p. 312). Several studies demonstrate the power of garlic to combat candida (Sandhu DK et al. Sensitivity of yeasts isolated from cases of vaginitis to aqueous extracts of garlic. Mykosen. 1980; 23:691-98) "Neither Nystatin, nor amphotericin B... displayed such a high activity as garlic juice (against Candida)" (Crook, W. MD. The Yeast Connection. Professional Books, Tenn. pp. 355-356). Garlic has a significant antiarrhythmic effect on the heart, suppressing premature ventricular contractions and tachycardia (fast heart rate) (J Ethnopharmacol 1994;43(1):1-8). Garlic has been shown to have therapeutic activity even against drug-resistant varieties (Indian J Med Res 1991;93:33-6). The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology reported a case of a patient with severe hepatopulmonary syndrome who failed conventional somatostatin therapy, and declined liver transplantation. This syndrome is believed to arise from disordered gut peptide metabolism. She then took powdered garlic, and experienced improvement (J Clin Gastroenterol. 1992;15(3):248-50). A garlic preparation significantly lowered blood pressure in nine patients with severe hypertension. One of the amino acids of garlic has demonstrated antidiabetic effects, significantly decreasing serum lipids and glucose (Indian J Exp Biol 1992;30(6):523-6). It also raises the good cholesterol and lowers the bad cholesterol (Barrie S et al. Effects of garlic oil on platelets, serum lipids and blood pressure in humans; J Orthomolec Med 1987;2:15-21). Garlic extracts have been found to be safe and effective in treating parasites. Thirty-six children were administered two capsules, 2x day for three days, and their parasites were eliminated; garlic, "was found to be efficient, safe and shortened the duration of treatment" (J Egypt Soc Parasitol 1991; 21(2):497-502). The sulfides in garlic may also work in a way similar to that of penicillin and sulfa drugs, to counter the growth of bacteria.

Garlic's antibacterial characteristics have been tested even against drug-resistant varieties, and shown to have therapeutic activity (Indian J Med Res 1991;93:33-6). The sulfides in garlic may work in a way similar to that of penicillin and sulfa drugs, to counter the growth of bacteria. Garlic's antibacterial properties include providing sinusitis relief (Vestn Otorinolaringol 1991;(2):62-3). Garlic aids the immune system, and has been shown to have a particular effect on natural killer cell activity (Foster S. Garlic. Botanical series 311. Austin Tx; American Botanical Council 1991). It has protected mice from influenza virus, and enhanced antibody production when administered with influenza vaccine (Jpn J Infect Dis 1973;47:321). These effects on both arms of the immune system (natural killer cells -cellular immunity and antibody formation - humoral immunity) demonstrate the wide range of immune effects. In vitro, garlic has shown effectiveness against herpes simplex types 1 & 2, parainfluenza virus type 3, vaccinia virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and human rhinovirus type 2 (Planta Medica 1992;58:417-423).

Garlic has a significant antiarrhythmic effect on the heart, suppressing premature ventricular contractions and tachycardia (fast heart rate) (J Ethnopharmacol 1994;43(1):1-8). It also exhibits significant cholesterol/triglyceride reducing properties (Arzneim. 1993;43(9):978-81; J Postgrad Med 1991;37(3):132-5). Since 1975, there have been more than 32 human studies[2,3] demonstrating the lipid-lowering effects of garlic. The majority of these were completed with a garlic powder tablet that is standardized to 1.3% alliin. The daily dosage ranged from 600 to 900mg, and the duration of the studies ranged from 4 to 16 weeks. Patients with high cholesterol, high triglycerides, or both, were included in the study. Two meta-analyses examined the major clinical trials of garlic supplementation for hyperlipidemia (Brown DJ, Foster S: Phytotherapy: Herbal medicine meets clinical science: Part II. America's Pharmacist 6:31-48, 1997). They reported that doses from 600 to 900mg of garlic powder daily for 1 to 3 months reduced total serum cholesterol by 9% to 12% and lowered serum triglycerides by 8% to 27%. The meta-analysis by Warshafsky and colleagues assessed the significance and consistency of garlic's effect on total serum cholesterol in persons with levels greater than 200mg/dL. Garlic was shown to lower cholesterol levels by about 9%, as compared with placebo (Warshafsky S, Kamer RS, Sivak SL: Effect of garlic on total serum cholesterol: A meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 119:599-605, 1993). Recent evidence indicates that a person’s susceptibility to the oxidation of chloesterol and LDL may be more important than the total cholesterol level, and this is one reason antioxidants are so important in prevention of heart disease. Garlic, being an antioxidant, was shown to lower the LDL oxidation by 34% in the treated group (given 600 mg of garlic) over controls (Lipids 1993;28:475-477).

Allicin has been known for very many years as an antimicrobial/antifungal compound. It is very effective against the Candida species in particular (Odds, FC. Candida and Candidosis.1988. Bailliere Tindall, Philadelphia, Pa. p. 312). Several studies demonstrate the power of garlic to combat Candida, with some showing garlic to be more powerful than nystatin, gentian violet, and other standard antifungal agents (Prasad G & Sharma VD. Efficacy of garlic treatment against experimental candidiasis in chicks. Br. Vet. J. 1980; 136:448-51; Sandhu DK et al. Sensitivity of yeasts isolated from cases of vaginitis to aqueous extracts of garlic. Mykosen. 1980; 23:691-98; Tynecka et al. Inhibitory action of garlic on growth and respiration of some microorganisms. Acta Microbiol. Pol. (ser. B) 1973; 5:51-62).

Garlic extracts have been found to be safe and effective in treating parasites. Garlic has been utilized to act against common parasites such as roundworms and hookworms (Planta Medica 1973;23:381-393; Am J Trop Med Hyg 1969;18:920-923). Thirty six children were administered two capsules, two times per day for three days, and their parasites were eliminated; garlic, "was found to be efficient, safe and shortens the duration of treatment" (J Egypt Soc Parasitol 1991; 21(2):497-502).

Garlic has been shown to have, "significant antidiabetic effects" in diabetic rats. Administration of it decreased significantly the concentration of serum lipids, and blood glucose. The net overall effect on liver enzyme activity was to decrease the enzymes which favor high blood glucose and cholesterol, and to increase the enzymes which favor the opposite (Indian J Exp Biol 1992;30(6):p. 523).

900 mg daily of garlic powder extract standardized to provide 12,000 mcg of allicin daily or as directed by your healthcare professional.

For the majority of people, garlic is regarded as a safe, nontoxic supplement when used at the recommended dosages. For sensitive individuals, it can cause irritation to the digestive tract. A few people are unable to detoxify allicin and some of the other sulfur-containing components of garlic, which usually indicates that impairment of the sulfur-detox pathways should be addressed. Use with caution in sensitive skin conditions, such as acne, rosacea, and eczema. Some people may be allergic to topical preparations; they should not be applied without the supervision of a healthcare professional. To avoid an interaction with anticoagulants (coumarins, salicylates, or antiplatelet drugs), it would be wise not to compound this effect since garlic has proven anticoagulant activity. Medicinal amounts of any herb should only be taken with the advice of a trained licensed healthcare professional.

Copyright: Copyright HealthQuest, Inc. All rights reserved. Information used with permission from the HealthQuest Nutritional Database Version 4.0
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