The Health Benefits of Garlic: Using Garlic as a Home Remedy for Acute Health Problems

Garlic has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, dating as far back as ancient Egypt and the pyramids. The ancient Romans took advantage of the health properties of garlic by using it to treat the wounds of their soldiers during battle, a practice that continued up into our modern age with the Russian government using the herb on their soldiers after running out of antibiotics during World War II. Modern research has discovered the therapeutic benefits of garlic extend to preventing heart disease and cancer.

Below are five ways to make use of the health benefits of garlic as a home remedy for acute health problems.

The Health Benefits of Garlic: Fighting Colds and Flu
The sulfur-compound allicin is responsible for the antiviral and antibacterial therapeutic benefits of garlic. British researchers conducted a study involving 146 people who were followed over the course of 'cold and flu season' between the months of November and February. Some were given one daily capsule of an allicin-containing garlic supplement and the rest were given a placebo. The group who took the garlic supplement had significantly fewer colds (24 versus 65 for the placebo group) and the duration of their cold symptoms was shorter (1.52 days as compared to 5.01 days for the placebo group). In all, those who took the garlic supplement had a combined total of 111 sick days, as compared to 366 days for those who did not take garlic.

Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D., founder of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, suggests consuming two cloves of raw garlic at the first sign of cold or flu symptoms. Remember, a clove is an individual segment, not the entire bulb. Dr. Weil suggests mashing or mincing the garlic and mixing it with food, if needed to make it palatable. Alternatively, you can cut the cloves into small chunks and swallow them as if they were pills.

The Health Benefits of Garlic: Ear Infections
While most garlic treatments are too strong for children, garlic oil is an effective way to help relieve a child's ear infection. To make garlic oil, mix a few crushed cloves of raw garlic into olive oil. Let the mixture sit at room temperature for a few days and then strain it. Refrigerate the oil until needed. To use the garlic oil, warm a little bit (just warm it, do not get it hot) and put a few drops into the child's ear canal. Use a cotton ball to plug the ear. This remedy is only effective during the early stages of an ear infection. If the infection has progressed, seek medical attention from your doctor.

The Health Benefits of Garlic: Fungal Infections
Garlic also contains antifungal properties, mainly due to its sulfur-compound ajoene. One study found using garlic to treat the skin infections Tinea cruris (commonly known as jock itch) and Tinea corporis (commonly known as ringworm) is as effective as the antifungal medicine terbinafine (sold as Lamisil). Additional studies have shown garlic to be useful in treating other fungal infections of the skin, such as athlete's foot.

Garlic is extremely potent and can burn the skin if applied full strength. If wishing to treat skin infections (as well as warts, acne or wounds) with garlic, always dilute the raw garlic with water. A good mixture is one crushed clove of garlic per one-third cup of water. Add more water if the skin becomes irritated.

For treating recurring vaginal yeast infections, Dr. Andrew Weil suggests consuming two cloves of raw garlic per day. Do not insert raw garlic into the vagina, as this will result in burns.

The Health Benefits of Garlic: Encourage Nursing
Mothers who are having problems getting their babies to nurse properly may wish to add a little garlic to their diet. A study conducted by researchers at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, found babies whose mothers consumed garlic before nursing stayed at the breast longer and consumed more milk while feeding than babies whose mothers had not had garlic.

The Health Benefits of Garlic: Erectile Dysfunction
A study conducted by the BBC with the help of Dr. Graham Jackson, consultant cardiologist at Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust, found garlic helped correct erectile dysfunction. The study was small, involving only seven men. Each man was given four cloves of garlic per day for three months. By the end of the study, six of the seven men had seen improvement in their erections.

The allicin in garlic helps increase blood flow and was attributed the success experienced by the men.

The Health Benefits of Garlic: Warnings
Garlic is a very powerful herb that can cause side effects when used in large amounts for extended periods. Side effects may include headache, dizziness, vertigo, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, upset stomach, bloating, body odor, bad breath, skin irritation or lesions (due to handling a lot of raw garlic), and allergic reactions. Due to its blood thinning properties, people who are on blood thinners or are about to have surgery should avoid consuming large quantities of garlic.

Sources:
The World's Healthiest Foods - Garlic

University of Maryland Medical Center: Garlic

iHerb Health Library - Garlic

The Garlic Farm - Garlic Health

Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D.:
Remedies: Garlic
Herbs: Garlic