Health Medicinal Benefits of Garlic - An Overview

The health medicinal benefits of garlic far exceed that of any other herb known to Man. The health benefits of garlic, as well as an overall summary of the herb, is also discussed in another article.

Garlic is also one of the oldest forms of natural herbal remedies used across the world to treat various conditions ranging from heart diseases to reducing cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, acne, cold, flu, indigestion, tumors, cancers, diabetes, etc. It is now even being considered as an alternative treatment for AIDS.

In addition to the above, garlic health benefits include antibacterial and anti-septic properties and it is used extensively in treating conditions such as candida overgrowth. Garlic also functions as an excellent mosquito repellent.

Garlic and Anti-Aging

It has been established that garlic contains antioxidants that help destroy free radicals. Free radicals when accumulated have the potential to create a lot of damage at the cellular level, which then results in premature aging.

Garlic and Improvement of Blood Circulation

The health medicinal benefits of garlic include improving blood circulation.

Garlic contains a certain chemical compound called allicin which gets converted to another compound called ajoene. Ajoene works as an effective suppressant on thrombi or blood cholesterol in the human body, thereby working as a blood thinner. It is thus extremely useful in treating conditions like atherosclerosis and thrombosis, which are caused by thickening of blood.

Garlic and Blood Clots

Another of the health medicinal benefits of garlic is its effects on blood clots. Aioene, a compound which is produced after garlic is crushed or minced, is said to be an anti-clotting substance, reducing the formation of blood clots.

Studies at Saarland University in Germany have also shown that compounds present in garlic help blood clots to dissolve more quickly; they improve the fluidity of blood, too.

In India, it is said that 50 persons who ate 3 cloves of raw garlic a day experienced improvements in blood clotting time and clot dissolving activity of about 20%.

Garlic and the Brain

Studies conducted on animals have shown improvement in brain function after eating garlic. It is possible that antioxidants in garlic neutralize and destroy the free radicals which have accumulated in the body. If so, this will make garlic useful in treating persons who suffer from Alzheimer's disease which is caused by free radical accumulation.

Researchers in China have also shown that the sulfur compound sallylcystein found in garlic prevents the degeneration of the brain's frontal lobes. Thus, eating garlic may even make one more intelligent.

Garlic Candida Overgrowth / Yeast Infections

The health medicinal benefits of garlic include being used to treat yeast infections and candida overgrowth. Basically, garlic has properties which overpower those of candida, thereby destroying the yeast cells and relieving people from candida infections.

Garlic and Diabetes

Garlic is also effective in treating diabetes. As mentioned earlier, garlic contains a certain chemical compound called allicin.

This particular chemical substance has the ability to combine with vitamin B1 (thiamine) and stimulate the pancreas, which then starts releasing insulin. Thus, garlic plays a very vital role in treating people suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes. This is perhaps one of the more underestimated health medicinal benefits of garlic.

Read more about other useful diabetes herbs and remedies.

Garlic and the Immune System

Garlic boosts the immune system, too. The herb increases the production of interferon as well as improves the actions of white blood cells; interferon and white blood cells are critical components of the body's immune system.

Garlic and Indigestion

In addition, the health medicinal benefits of garlic include being used for treating indigestion. The wonder chemical of garlic, allicin, stimulates the secretion of digestive juices in the stomach.

It also interacts with certain proteins to help provide relief from both constipation and diarrhea.

Garlic the amazing Anti-Microbial Herb

Garlic is a wonder herb with astonishing broad-spectrum antibacterial, antifungal, anti-parasitic and antiviral properties. It can kill off a wide array of harmful and disease-causing microbes and organisms. Even better still, the harmful organisms are very unlikely to develop resistance to garlic; this is totally different from the use of pharmaceutical drugs and antibiotics. Read about the medicinal properties of garlic against microbes, harmful organisms, bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses.

Other Health Medicinal Benefits of Garlic

Garlic has been shown to have antispasmodic properties. This makes it useful in treating digestive conditions, for example turbulence pains and intestinal disorders.

Garlic has also been prescribed for rheumatism and as a diuretic. Further, it has been said that garlic has been used to treat snakebites.

In addition, garlic has the following health benefits, which are also discussed in separate articles.

Last but not least, garlic has anti cancer properties.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are numerous garlic health benefits, and garlic cures and treats many health conditions. More about the many health benefits of garlic as well as medicinal properties of garlic are discussed in the other related garlic articles.

Garlic Pages | Summary Article | Health Benefits of Garlic | Information | History and Facts of Garlic | Planting, Harvesting, Storing and Preserving Garlic | Eating Garlic | How to Make Garlic Butter - a simple garlic butter recipe | An Easy Garlic Bread Recipe - Making Homemade Garlic Bread | Consuming the Garlic Plant - various ways to do so | Benefits | An Overview of Health Medicinal Benefits of Garlic | Garlic Health Benefits - Some Research and Studies | Garlic for Acne Treatment | Garlic and Blood Pressure | Garlic and Cancer - Is Garlic Anti Cancer? | Garlic to Lower Cholesterol | Garlic for Heart Health | Medicinal Properties of Garlic against Microbes, Harmful Organisms, Bacteria, Fungi, Parasites and Viruses | Side Effects | Possible Garlic Side Effects, Caution and Contraindications

Read More: Information on some Herbs | Natural Healing Herbs, Herbals Formulas and Foods - My Favorites | Herbal Remedies for Various Health Conditions and Ailments | Home Page | Site Search

---

Share YOUR Knowledge and Experiences
or Read Others' Contributions

---

To find an online source of good quality herbs and herbal products at reasonable prices, click here.

Tweet

	Get Quality Natural Health Supplements at Reasonable Prices. $5 or $10 discount for new customers
Get natural, herbal and homeopathic remedies for hundreds of health conditions and ailments. GO.

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read. Leave a comment in the box below.

---

Return from this page Health Medicinal Benefits of Garlic - An Overview to List of Herbs - Information on some Herbs

Return from this page Garlic Health Benefits to All 4 Natural Health... attaining good health naturally... Home Page

---