Garlic as an Antibiotic: Four Mistakes to Avoid

Garlic, figuring among the most reliable antibiotics given by nature, should never be underestimated regarding the effect it has on the body. Sadly, upon hearing that a product is "all natural", many people assume it is incapable of doing harm. If one stops to think for a moment on the effectiveness of garlic when employed as a natural antibiotic, he would be reminded that anything that is effective also has strength, and that strength must be respected.

There are basically two proven ways to use garlic as an antibiotic: ingestion of raw cloves (sections that form the bulb), or taking gel caps of garlic in an oil such as soybean. Although garlic, as a supplement, is not always in an oil, this is the usual form. This article focuses specifically on the employment of garlic supplements, not the ingestion of the actual raw bulb.

Mistake Number One

Garlic capsules should not be taken on an empty stomach. Symptoms similar to those experienced by sufferers of an ulcer can appear if it is taken before or in between meals. A substance called "allicin" is believed to be the primary source of garlic's antibiotic properties; it's also thought to be the substance that causes a burning sensation. Those who opt to use this wonderful food as a medicine should remember to take it with a meal to easily avoid this side effect.

Mistake Number Two

As stated earlier, garlic is a true antibiotic; therefore, it can and does kill friendly flora which upsets the delicate balance of these essential bacteria. One need only replace them simply by consuming fresh yogurt with live cultures which always includes acidophilus. If yogurt is undesirable, acidophilus supplements, available in practically every health food store, may be taken in its place. Easy to follow instructions are always printed on the bottle. Many very unpleasant side effects will be completely averted by following this advice. The side effects of chemical antibiotics are very rarely controllable.

Mistake Number Three

Sadly, "super" garlic supplements have appeared on the market and have caused much harm and distrust in natural medicines. Consumers would do well to totally avoid any and all garlic supplements that make claims of having a product that is extra potent, super concentrated and/or odorless. Some brands state that just one of their gel caps, tablets, or caplets is the equivalent of an entire bulb of odorless garlic.

First, one should realize that it's completely unnecessary to ingest garlic, in any form, in such a large dose. One need only think of the shock that the body can undergo when very large amounts of friendly flora are killed off at an unnaturally fast rate. The side effects associated with taking such supplements include severe bloating, burning, and a number of other very uncomfortable symptoms of having "overdosed" on garlic.

Consumers are advised to take the time to read labels thoroughly to know what ingredients and how much of each ingredient is present in the supplement. Incredible claims of potency and odorlessness should serve the informed shopper as warning signs to take seriously.

Mistake Number Four

Again, because garlic is a true antibiotic, one should not cease taking it as soon as the symptoms of the illness vanish. This is why doctors and pharmacists always instruct their patients to take all of the pills that are prescribed regardless of whether symptoms of the illness have disappeared or not. This is to prevent the condition from returning and further taxing the body. Many people have experienced success with taking a garlic supplement as an antibiotic for seven to ten consecutive days.

Nature's herbs and foods are often erroneously viewed as being weak and unreliable. However, such a viewpoint could not be further from the truth. Due to the abandonment of the old ways of preventing and treating sickness and disease, much valuable information now has to be relearned. Unfortunately, grave mistakes are being made in the process. Learning to safely use garlic as a dependable antibiotic in the treatment of a variety of infections is a major step in the direction leading back to health care that is natural, safe, effective and extremely economical.