by Sudeep Chitnis

Created on: November 30, 2009

Garlic is also known in the Botanical world as Allium sativum a species from the family of onions called as Alliaceae. For thousands of year this herb has been in the spice book and kitchens of different civilization. Chinese, Indians, the Natives of America and even used by the African nations. One common thing that one can observe that though known as spice, this herb has been used even for its medicinal properties from time long. Here we have a peek in to some of the Health Benefits of Garlic.

1] Garlic and Respiratory Tract:

Traditionally this herb has been known to use for different type of respiratory tract conditions including cold, asthma, and bronchitis. The Cherokee used to use this herb as an expectorant for coughs. In Ayurveda use of this herb for asthma is traditionally known. Recently BBC in 2007 published an article on Allium sativum and its use for common cold and flu.

2] Garlic and Heart Disease:

In recent modern naturopath garlic has been held in very high position as an herb to reduce cholesterol and lipid. Studies across the world have shown that the use of this herb can reduce the accumulation of cholesterol on the vascular walls in animals, or reduce the aortic plaque deposits. Thus many naturopath do recommend this herb to prevent different Cardiac diseases in humans,

According to findings from the University of Maryland garlic can also reduce and be effective for high blood pressure patients. Numerous studies indicate that garlic can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Garlic and Cancer:

Though clear findings are yet to come regarding the connection of garlic and cancer prevention or treatments .But different findings do suggest that if garlic is included in diet, the rate of cancer has been decreased. Also it may reduce the side effects of chemo-therapy too. It is not sure yet, but it is said that garlic may be acting as an immune-booster in these cases.

Garlic and Worms:

This herb from time long has been known to work as anti parasitic .Vaidya, Naturopath, and different healers have used raw garlic as an herb to kill round worms or different parasites in our human body.

Recent test tube studies have confirmed this fact that garlic does works as anti fungal, anti viral and even anti bacterial.

Garlic and New frontiers:

Recently in uncontrolled study in China researchers soon are at a point of concluding that garlic can be used even for AIDS. Protozoal diseases like toxoplasmosis garlic have known to show results.

Links :

1] Garlic : Study of Maryland University .

2] Garlic: Wikipedia

Learn more about this author, Sudeep Chitnis.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.