Proven health benefits and uses

Garlic has been used all over the world for thousands of years. Records indicate that garlic was in use when the Giza pyramids were built, about 5,000 years ago.

Richard S. Rivlin wrote in the Journal of Nutrition that the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (circa. 460-370 BC), known today as “the father of Western medicine,” prescribed garlic for a wide range of conditions and illnesses. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for treating respiratory problems, parasites, poor digestion, and fatigue.

The original Olympic athletes in Ancient Greece were given garlic – possibly the earliest example of “performance enhancing” agents used in sports.

From Ancient Egypt, garlic spread to the advanced ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley (Pakistan and western India today). From there, it made its way to China.

According to experts at Kew Gardens, England’s royal botanical center of excellence, the people of ancient India valued the therapeutic properties of garlic and also thought it to be an aphrodisiac. The upper classes avoided garlic because they despised its strong odor, while monks, “…widows, adolescents, and those who had taken up a vow or were fasting, could not eat garlic because of its stimulant quality.”

Throughout history in the Middle East, East Asia, and Nepal, garlic has been used to treat bronchitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), TB (tuberculosis), liver disorders, dysentery, flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, rheumatism, diabetes, and fevers.

The French, Spanish, and Portuguese introduced garlic to the New World.

Currently, garlic is widely used for several conditions linked to the blood system and heart, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.

Garlic is also used today by some people for the prevention of lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.

It is important to add that only some of these uses are backed by research.

A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology warned that short-term heating reduces the anti-inflammatory effects of fresh raw garlic extracts. This may be a problem for some people who do not like or cannot tolerate the taste and/or odor of fresh garlic.

Below are examples of some scientific studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals about the therapeutic benefits (or not) of garlic.

Lung cancer risk

People who ate raw garlic at least twice a week during the 7 year study period had a 44 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study conducted at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, carried out face-to-face interviews with 1,424 lung cancer patients and 4,543 healthy individuals. They were asked about their diet and lifestyle, including questions on smoking and how often they ate garlic.

The study authors wrote: “Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer.”

Brain cancer

Organo-sulfur compounds found in garlic have been identified as effective in destroying the cells in glioblastomas, a type of deadly brain tumor.

Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina reported in the journal Cancer that three pure organo-sulfur compounds from garlic – DAS, DADS, and DATS – “demonstrated efficacy in eradicating brain cancer cells, but DATS proved to be the most effective.”

Co-author, Ray Swapan, Ph.D., said “This research highlights the great promise of plant-originated compounds as natural medicine for controlling the malignant growth of human brain tumor cells. More studies are needed in animal models of brain tumors before application of this therapeutic strategy to brain tumor patients. ”

Hip osteoarthritis

Women whose diets were rich in allium vegetables had lower levels of osteoarthritis, a team at King’s College London and the University of East Anglia, both in England, reported in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. Examples of allium vegetables include garlic, leeks, shallots, onions, and rakkyo.

The study authors said their findings not only highlighted the possible impact of diet on osteoarthritis outcomes but also demonstrated the potential for using compounds that exist in garlic to develop treatments for the condition.

The long-term study, involving more than 1,000 healthy female twins, found that those whose dietary habits included plenty of fruit and vegetables, “particularly alliums such as garlic,” had fewer signs of early osteoarthritis in the hip joint.

Potentially a powerful antibiotic

Diallyl sulfide, a compound in garlic, was 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics in fighting the Campylobacter bacterium, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The Campylobacter bacterium is one of the most common causes of intestinal infections.

Senior author, Dr. Xiaonan Lu, from Washington State University, said, “This work is very exciting to me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and in our food supply.”

Heart protection

Diallyl trisulfide, a component of garlic oil, helps protect the heart during cardiac surgery and after a heart attack, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found. They also believe diallyl trisulfide could be used as a treatment for heart failure.

Hydrogen sulfide gas has been shown to protect the heart from damage.

However, it is a volatile compound and difficult to deliver as therapy.

Because of this, the scientists decided to focus on diallyl trisulfide, a garlic oil component, as a safer way to deliver the benefits of hydrogen sulfide to the heart.

In experiments using laboratory mice, the team found that, after a heart attack, the mice that had received diallyl sulfide had 61 percent less heart damage in the area at risk, compared with the untreated mice.

In another study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists found that garlic oil may help protect diabetes patients from cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients. It is a chronic disease of the myocardium (heart muscle), which is abnormally thickened, enlarged, and/or stiffened.

The team fed diabetic laboratory rats either garlic oil or corn oil. Those fed garlic oil experienced significantly more changes associated with protection against heart damage, compared with the animals that were fed corn oil.

The study authors wrote, “In conclusion, garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.”

Human studies will need to be performed to confirm the results of this study.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure

Researchers at Ankara University investigated the effects of garlic extract supplementation on the blood lipid (fat) profile of patients with high blood cholesterol. Their study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

The study involved 23 volunteers, all with high cholesterol; 13 of them also had high blood pressure. They were divided into two groups:

• The high-cholesterol normotensive group (normal blood pressure).
• The high-cholesterol hypertensive group (high blood pressure).

They took garlic extract supplements for 4 months and were regularly checked for blood lipid parameters, as well as kidney and liver function.

At the end of the 4 months, the researchers concluded “…garlic extract supplementation improves blood lipid profile, strengthens blood antioxidant potential, and causes significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product (MDA) in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body.”

In other words, the garlic extract supplements reduced high cholesterol levels, and also blood pressure in the patients with hypertension. The scientists added that theirs was a small study – more work needs to be carried out.

Prostate cancer

Doctors at the Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, carried out a study evaluating the relationship between Allium vegetable consumption and prostate cancer risk.

They gathered and analyzed published studies up to May 2013 and reported their findings in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.

The study authors concluded, “Allium vegetables, especially garlic intake, are related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer.”

The team also commented that because there are not many relevant studies, further well-designed prospective studies should be carried out to confirm their findings.

Alcohol-induced liver injury

Alcohol-induced liver injury is caused by the long-term over-consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Scientists at the Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China, wanted to determine whether diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, might have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Their study was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.

The researchers concluded that DADS might help protect against ethanol-induced liver injury.

Preterm (premature) delivery

Microbial infections during pregnancy raise a woman’s risk of preterm delivery. Scientists at the Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, studied what impact foods might have on antimicrobial infections and preterm delivery risk.

The study and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Ronny Myhre and colleagues concentrated on the effects of Alliums and dried fruits, because a literature search had identified these two foods as showing the greatest promise for reducing preterm delivery risk.

The team investigated the intake of dried fruit and Alliums among 18,888 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort, of whom 5 percent (950) underwent spontaneous PTD (preterm delivery).

The study authors concluded, “Intake of food with antimicrobial and prebiotic compounds may be of importance to reduce the risk of spontaneous PTD. In particular, garlic was associated with overall lower risk of spontaneous PTD.”

Garlic and the common cold

A team of researchers from St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency, Indiana, carried out a study titled “Treatment of the Common Cold in Children and Adults,” published in American Family Physician.

They reported that “Prophylactic use of garlic may decrease the frequency of colds in adults, but has no effect on duration of symptoms.” Prophylactic use means using it regularly to prevent disease.

Though there is some research to suggest that raw garlic has the most benefits, other studies have looked at overall allium intake, both raw and cooked, and have found benefits. Therefore, you can enjoy garlic in a variety of ways to reap its advantages.

Proven health benefits and uses

Garlic has been used all over the world for thousands of years. Records indicate that garlic was in use when the Giza pyramids were built, about 5,000 years ago.

Richard S. Rivlin wrote in the Journal of Nutrition that the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (circa. 460-370 BC), known today as “the father of Western medicine,” prescribed garlic for a wide range of conditions and illnesses. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for treating respiratory problems, parasites, poor digestion, and fatigue.

The original Olympic athletes in Ancient Greece were given garlic – possibly the earliest example of “performance enhancing” agents used in sports.

From Ancient Egypt, garlic spread to the advanced ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley (Pakistan and western India today). From there, it made its way to China.

According to experts at Kew Gardens, England’s royal botanical center of excellence, the people of ancient India valued the therapeutic properties of garlic and also thought it to be an aphrodisiac. The upper classes avoided garlic because they despised its strong odor, while monks, “…widows, adolescents, and those who had taken up a vow or were fasting, could not eat garlic because of its stimulant quality.”

Throughout history in the Middle East, East Asia, and Nepal, garlic has been used to treat bronchitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), TB (tuberculosis), liver disorders, dysentery, flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, rheumatism, diabetes, and fevers.

The French, Spanish, and Portuguese introduced garlic to the New World.

Currently, garlic is widely used for several conditions linked to the blood system and heart, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.

Garlic is also used today by some people for the prevention of lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.

It is important to add that only some of these uses are backed by research.

A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology warned that short-term heating reduces the anti-inflammatory effects of fresh raw garlic extracts. This may be a problem for some people who do not like or cannot tolerate the taste and/or odor of fresh garlic.

Below are examples of some scientific studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals about the therapeutic benefits (or not) of garlic.

Lung cancer risk

People who ate raw garlic at least twice a week during the 7 year study period had a 44 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study conducted at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, carried out face-to-face interviews with 1,424 lung cancer patients and 4,543 healthy individuals. They were asked about their diet and lifestyle, including questions on smoking and how often they ate garlic.

The study authors wrote: “Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer.”

Brain cancer

Organo-sulfur compounds found in garlic have been identified as effective in destroying the cells in glioblastomas, a type of deadly brain tumor.

Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina reported in the journal Cancer that three pure organo-sulfur compounds from garlic – DAS, DADS, and DATS – “demonstrated efficacy in eradicating brain cancer cells, but DATS proved to be the most effective.”

Co-author, Ray Swapan, Ph.D., said “This research highlights the great promise of plant-originated compounds as natural medicine for controlling the malignant growth of human brain tumor cells. More studies are needed in animal models of brain tumors before application of this therapeutic strategy to brain tumor patients.”

Hip osteoarthritis

Women whose diets were rich in allium vegetables had lower levels of osteoarthritis, a team at King’s College London and the University of East Anglia, both in England, reported in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. Examples of allium vegetables include garlic, leeks, shallots, onions, and rakkyo.

The study authors said their findings not only highlighted the possible impact of diet on osteoarthritis outcomes but also demonstrated the potential for using compounds that exist in garlic to develop treatments for the condition.

The long-term study, involving more than 1,000 healthy female twins, found that those whose dietary habits included plenty of fruit and vegetables, “particularly alliums such as garlic,” had fewer signs of early osteoarthritis in the hip joint.

Potentially a powerful antibiotic

Diallyl sulfide, a compound in garlic, was 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics in fighting the Campylobacter bacterium, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The Campylobacter bacterium is one of the most common causes of intestinal infections.

Senior author, Dr. Xiaonan Lu, from Washington State University, said, “This work is very exciting to me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and in our food supply.”

Heart protection

Diallyl trisulfide, a component of garlic oil, helps protect the heart during cardiac surgery and after a heart attack, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found. They also believe diallyl trisulfide could be used as a treatment for heart failure.

Hydrogen sulfide gas has been shown to protect the heart from damage.

However, it is a volatile compound and difficult to deliver as therapy.

Because of this, the scientists decided to focus on diallyl trisulfide, a garlic oil component, as a safer way to deliver the benefits of hydrogen sulfide to the heart.

In experiments using laboratory mice, the team found that, after a heart attack, the mice that had received diallyl sulfide had 61 percent less heart damage in the area at risk, compared with the untreated mice.

In another study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists found that garlic oil may help protect diabetes patients from cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients. It is a chronic disease of the myocardium (heart muscle), which is abnormally thickened, enlarged, and/or stiffened.

The team fed diabetic laboratory rats either garlic oil or corn oil. Those fed garlic oil experienced significantly more changes associated with protection against heart damage, compared with the animals that were fed corn oil.

The study authors wrote, “In conclusion, garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.”

Human studies will need to be performed to confirm the results of this study.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure

Researchers at Ankara University investigated the effects of garlic extract supplementation on the blood lipid (fat) profile of patients with high blood cholesterol. Their study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

The study involved 23 volunteers, all with high cholesterol; 13 of them also had high blood pressure. They were divided into two groups:

• The high-cholesterol normotensive group (normal blood pressure).
• The high-cholesterol hypertensive group (high blood pressure).

They took garlic extract supplements for 4 months and were regularly checked for blood lipid parameters, as well as kidney and liver function.

At the end of the 4 months, the researchers concluded “…garlic extract supplementation improves blood lipid profile, strengthens blood antioxidant potential, and causes significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product (MDA) in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body.”

In other words, the garlic extract supplements reduced high cholesterol levels, and also blood pressure in the patients with hypertension. The scientists added that theirs was a small study – more work needs to be carried out.

Prostate cancer

Doctors at the Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, carried out a study evaluating the relationship between Allium vegetable consumption and prostate cancer risk.

They gathered and analyzed published studies up to May 2013 and reported their findings in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.

The study authors concluded, “Allium vegetables, especially garlic intake, are related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer. ”

The team also commented that because there are not many relevant studies, further well-designed prospective studies should be carried out to confirm their findings.

Alcohol-induced liver injury

Alcohol-induced liver injury is caused by the long-term over-consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Scientists at the Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China, wanted to determine whether diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, might have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Their study was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.

The researchers concluded that DADS might help protect against ethanol-induced liver injury.

Preterm (premature) delivery

Microbial infections during pregnancy raise a woman’s risk of preterm delivery. Scientists at the Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, studied what impact foods might have on antimicrobial infections and preterm delivery risk.

The study and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Ronny Myhre and colleagues concentrated on the effects of Alliums and dried fruits, because a literature search had identified these two foods as showing the greatest promise for reducing preterm delivery risk.

The team investigated the intake of dried fruit and Alliums among 18,888 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort, of whom 5 percent (950) underwent spontaneous PTD (preterm delivery).

The study authors concluded, “Intake of food with antimicrobial and prebiotic compounds may be of importance to reduce the risk of spontaneous PTD. In particular, garlic was associated with overall lower risk of spontaneous PTD.”

Garlic and the common cold

A team of researchers from St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency, Indiana, carried out a study titled “Treatment of the Common Cold in Children and Adults,” published in American Family Physician.

They reported that “Prophylactic use of garlic may decrease the frequency of colds in adults, but has no effect on duration of symptoms.” Prophylactic use means using it regularly to prevent disease.

Though there is some research to suggest that raw garlic has the most benefits, other studies have looked at overall allium intake, both raw and cooked, and have found benefits. Therefore, you can enjoy garlic in a variety of ways to reap its advantages.

Proven health benefits and uses

Garlic has been used all over the world for thousands of years. Records indicate that garlic was in use when the Giza pyramids were built, about 5,000 years ago.

Richard S. Rivlin wrote in the Journal of Nutrition that the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (circa. 460-370 BC), known today as “the father of Western medicine,” prescribed garlic for a wide range of conditions and illnesses. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for treating respiratory problems, parasites, poor digestion, and fatigue.

The original Olympic athletes in Ancient Greece were given garlic – possibly the earliest example of “performance enhancing” agents used in sports.

From Ancient Egypt, garlic spread to the advanced ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley (Pakistan and western India today). From there, it made its way to China.

According to experts at Kew Gardens, England’s royal botanical center of excellence, the people of ancient India valued the therapeutic properties of garlic and also thought it to be an aphrodisiac. The upper classes avoided garlic because they despised its strong odor, while monks, “…widows, adolescents, and those who had taken up a vow or were fasting, could not eat garlic because of its stimulant quality.”

Throughout history in the Middle East, East Asia, and Nepal, garlic has been used to treat bronchitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), TB (tuberculosis), liver disorders, dysentery, flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, rheumatism, diabetes, and fevers.

The French, Spanish, and Portuguese introduced garlic to the New World.

Currently, garlic is widely used for several conditions linked to the blood system and heart, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.

Garlic is also used today by some people for the prevention of lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.

It is important to add that only some of these uses are backed by research.

A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology warned that short-term heating reduces the anti-inflammatory effects of fresh raw garlic extracts. This may be a problem for some people who do not like or cannot tolerate the taste and/or odor of fresh garlic.

Below are examples of some scientific studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals about the therapeutic benefits (or not) of garlic.

Lung cancer risk

People who ate raw garlic at least twice a week during the 7 year study period had a 44 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study conducted at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, carried out face-to-face interviews with 1,424 lung cancer patients and 4,543 healthy individuals. They were asked about their diet and lifestyle, including questions on smoking and how often they ate garlic.

The study authors wrote: “Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer.”

Brain cancer

Organo-sulfur compounds found in garlic have been identified as effective in destroying the cells in glioblastomas, a type of deadly brain tumor.

Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina reported in the journal Cancer that three pure organo-sulfur compounds from garlic – DAS, DADS, and DATS – “demonstrated efficacy in eradicating brain cancer cells, but DATS proved to be the most effective. ”

Co-author, Ray Swapan, Ph.D., said “This research highlights the great promise of plant-originated compounds as natural medicine for controlling the malignant growth of human brain tumor cells. More studies are needed in animal models of brain tumors before application of this therapeutic strategy to brain tumor patients.”

Hip osteoarthritis

Women whose diets were rich in allium vegetables had lower levels of osteoarthritis, a team at King’s College London and the University of East Anglia, both in England, reported in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. Examples of allium vegetables include garlic, leeks, shallots, onions, and rakkyo.

The study authors said their findings not only highlighted the possible impact of diet on osteoarthritis outcomes but also demonstrated the potential for using compounds that exist in garlic to develop treatments for the condition.

The long-term study, involving more than 1,000 healthy female twins, found that those whose dietary habits included plenty of fruit and vegetables, “particularly alliums such as garlic,” had fewer signs of early osteoarthritis in the hip joint.

Potentially a powerful antibiotic

Diallyl sulfide, a compound in garlic, was 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics in fighting the Campylobacter bacterium, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The Campylobacter bacterium is one of the most common causes of intestinal infections.

Senior author, Dr. Xiaonan Lu, from Washington State University, said, “This work is very exciting to me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and in our food supply.”

Heart protection

Diallyl trisulfide, a component of garlic oil, helps protect the heart during cardiac surgery and after a heart attack, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found. They also believe diallyl trisulfide could be used as a treatment for heart failure.

Hydrogen sulfide gas has been shown to protect the heart from damage.

However, it is a volatile compound and difficult to deliver as therapy.

Because of this, the scientists decided to focus on diallyl trisulfide, a garlic oil component, as a safer way to deliver the benefits of hydrogen sulfide to the heart.

In experiments using laboratory mice, the team found that, after a heart attack, the mice that had received diallyl sulfide had 61 percent less heart damage in the area at risk, compared with the untreated mice.

In another study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists found that garlic oil may help protect diabetes patients from cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients. It is a chronic disease of the myocardium (heart muscle), which is abnormally thickened, enlarged, and/or stiffened.

The team fed diabetic laboratory rats either garlic oil or corn oil. Those fed garlic oil experienced significantly more changes associated with protection against heart damage, compared with the animals that were fed corn oil.

The study authors wrote, “In conclusion, garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.”

Human studies will need to be performed to confirm the results of this study.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure

Researchers at Ankara University investigated the effects of garlic extract supplementation on the blood lipid (fat) profile of patients with high blood cholesterol. Their study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

The study involved 23 volunteers, all with high cholesterol; 13 of them also had high blood pressure. They were divided into two groups:

• The high-cholesterol normotensive group (normal blood pressure).
• The high-cholesterol hypertensive group (high blood pressure).

They took garlic extract supplements for 4 months and were regularly checked for blood lipid parameters, as well as kidney and liver function.

At the end of the 4 months, the researchers concluded “…garlic extract supplementation improves blood lipid profile, strengthens blood antioxidant potential, and causes significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product (MDA) in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body.”

In other words, the garlic extract supplements reduced high cholesterol levels, and also blood pressure in the patients with hypertension. The scientists added that theirs was a small study – more work needs to be carried out.

Prostate cancer

Doctors at the Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, carried out a study evaluating the relationship between Allium vegetable consumption and prostate cancer risk.

They gathered and analyzed published studies up to May 2013 and reported their findings in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.

The study authors concluded, “Allium vegetables, especially garlic intake, are related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer.”

The team also commented that because there are not many relevant studies, further well-designed prospective studies should be carried out to confirm their findings.

Alcohol-induced liver injury

Alcohol-induced liver injury is caused by the long-term over-consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Scientists at the Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China, wanted to determine whether diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, might have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Their study was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.

The researchers concluded that DADS might help protect against ethanol-induced liver injury.

Preterm (premature) delivery

Microbial infections during pregnancy raise a woman’s risk of preterm delivery. Scientists at the Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, studied what impact foods might have on antimicrobial infections and preterm delivery risk.

The study and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Ronny Myhre and colleagues concentrated on the effects of Alliums and dried fruits, because a literature search had identified these two foods as showing the greatest promise for reducing preterm delivery risk.

The team investigated the intake of dried fruit and Alliums among 18,888 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort, of whom 5 percent (950) underwent spontaneous PTD (preterm delivery).

The study authors concluded, “Intake of food with antimicrobial and prebiotic compounds may be of importance to reduce the risk of spontaneous PTD. In particular, garlic was associated with overall lower risk of spontaneous PTD.”

Garlic and the common cold

A team of researchers from St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency, Indiana, carried out a study titled “Treatment of the Common Cold in Children and Adults,” published in American Family Physician.

They reported that “Prophylactic use of garlic may decrease the frequency of colds in adults, but has no effect on duration of symptoms.” Prophylactic use means using it regularly to prevent disease.

Though there is some research to suggest that raw garlic has the most benefits, other studies have looked at overall allium intake, both raw and cooked, and have found benefits. Therefore, you can enjoy garlic in a variety of ways to reap its advantages.

Proven health benefits and uses

Garlic has been used all over the world for thousands of years. Records indicate that garlic was in use when the Giza pyramids were built, about 5,000 years ago.

Richard S. Rivlin wrote in the Journal of Nutrition that the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (circa. 460-370 BC), known today as “the father of Western medicine,” prescribed garlic for a wide range of conditions and illnesses. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for treating respiratory problems, parasites, poor digestion, and fatigue.

The original Olympic athletes in Ancient Greece were given garlic – possibly the earliest example of “performance enhancing” agents used in sports.

From Ancient Egypt, garlic spread to the advanced ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley (Pakistan and western India today). From there, it made its way to China.

According to experts at Kew Gardens, England’s royal botanical center of excellence, the people of ancient India valued the therapeutic properties of garlic and also thought it to be an aphrodisiac. The upper classes avoided garlic because they despised its strong odor, while monks, “…widows, adolescents, and those who had taken up a vow or were fasting, could not eat garlic because of its stimulant quality.”

Throughout history in the Middle East, East Asia, and Nepal, garlic has been used to treat bronchitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), TB (tuberculosis), liver disorders, dysentery, flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, rheumatism, diabetes, and fevers.

The French, Spanish, and Portuguese introduced garlic to the New World.

Currently, garlic is widely used for several conditions linked to the blood system and heart, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.

Garlic is also used today by some people for the prevention of lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.

It is important to add that only some of these uses are backed by research.

A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology warned that short-term heating reduces the anti-inflammatory effects of fresh raw garlic extracts. This may be a problem for some people who do not like or cannot tolerate the taste and/or odor of fresh garlic.

Below are examples of some scientific studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals about the therapeutic benefits (or not) of garlic.

Lung cancer risk

People who ate raw garlic at least twice a week during the 7 year study period had a 44 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study conducted at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, carried out face-to-face interviews with 1,424 lung cancer patients and 4,543 healthy individuals. They were asked about their diet and lifestyle, including questions on smoking and how often they ate garlic.

The study authors wrote: “Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer.”

Brain cancer

Organo-sulfur compounds found in garlic have been identified as effective in destroying the cells in glioblastomas, a type of deadly brain tumor.

Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina reported in the journal Cancer that three pure organo-sulfur compounds from garlic – DAS, DADS, and DATS – “demonstrated efficacy in eradicating brain cancer cells, but DATS proved to be the most effective.”

Co-author, Ray Swapan, Ph.D., said “This research highlights the great promise of plant-originated compounds as natural medicine for controlling the malignant growth of human brain tumor cells. More studies are needed in animal models of brain tumors before application of this therapeutic strategy to brain tumor patients.”

Hip osteoarthritis

Women whose diets were rich in allium vegetables had lower levels of osteoarthritis, a team at King’s College London and the University of East Anglia, both in England, reported in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. Examples of allium vegetables include garlic, leeks, shallots, onions, and rakkyo.

The study authors said their findings not only highlighted the possible impact of diet on osteoarthritis outcomes but also demonstrated the potential for using compounds that exist in garlic to develop treatments for the condition.

The long-term study, involving more than 1,000 healthy female twins, found that those whose dietary habits included plenty of fruit and vegetables, “particularly alliums such as garlic,” had fewer signs of early osteoarthritis in the hip joint.

Potentially a powerful antibiotic

Diallyl sulfide, a compound in garlic, was 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics in fighting the Campylobacter bacterium, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The Campylobacter bacterium is one of the most common causes of intestinal infections.

Senior author, Dr. Xiaonan Lu, from Washington State University, said, “This work is very exciting to me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and in our food supply.”

Heart protection

Diallyl trisulfide, a component of garlic oil, helps protect the heart during cardiac surgery and after a heart attack, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found. They also believe diallyl trisulfide could be used as a treatment for heart failure.

Hydrogen sulfide gas has been shown to protect the heart from damage.

However, it is a volatile compound and difficult to deliver as therapy.

Because of this, the scientists decided to focus on diallyl trisulfide, a garlic oil component, as a safer way to deliver the benefits of hydrogen sulfide to the heart.

In experiments using laboratory mice, the team found that, after a heart attack, the mice that had received diallyl sulfide had 61 percent less heart damage in the area at risk, compared with the untreated mice.

In another study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists found that garlic oil may help protect diabetes patients from cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients. It is a chronic disease of the myocardium (heart muscle), which is abnormally thickened, enlarged, and/or stiffened.

The team fed diabetic laboratory rats either garlic oil or corn oil. Those fed garlic oil experienced significantly more changes associated with protection against heart damage, compared with the animals that were fed corn oil.

The study authors wrote, “In conclusion, garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.”

Human studies will need to be performed to confirm the results of this study.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure

Researchers at Ankara University investigated the effects of garlic extract supplementation on the blood lipid (fat) profile of patients with high blood cholesterol. Their study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

The study involved 23 volunteers, all with high cholesterol; 13 of them also had high blood pressure. They were divided into two groups:

• The high-cholesterol normotensive group (normal blood pressure).
• The high-cholesterol hypertensive group (high blood pressure).

They took garlic extract supplements for 4 months and were regularly checked for blood lipid parameters, as well as kidney and liver function.

At the end of the 4 months, the researchers concluded “…garlic extract supplementation improves blood lipid profile, strengthens blood antioxidant potential, and causes significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product (MDA) in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body.”

In other words, the garlic extract supplements reduced high cholesterol levels, and also blood pressure in the patients with hypertension. The scientists added that theirs was a small study – more work needs to be carried out.

Prostate cancer

Doctors at the Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, carried out a study evaluating the relationship between Allium vegetable consumption and prostate cancer risk.

They gathered and analyzed published studies up to May 2013 and reported their findings in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.

The study authors concluded, “Allium vegetables, especially garlic intake, are related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer.”

The team also commented that because there are not many relevant studies, further well-designed prospective studies should be carried out to confirm their findings.

Alcohol-induced liver injury

Alcohol-induced liver injury is caused by the long-term over-consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Scientists at the Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China, wanted to determine whether diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, might have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Their study was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.

The researchers concluded that DADS might help protect against ethanol-induced liver injury.

Preterm (premature) delivery

Microbial infections during pregnancy raise a woman’s risk of preterm delivery. Scientists at the Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, studied what impact foods might have on antimicrobial infections and preterm delivery risk.

The study and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Ronny Myhre and colleagues concentrated on the effects of Alliums and dried fruits, because a literature search had identified these two foods as showing the greatest promise for reducing preterm delivery risk.

The team investigated the intake of dried fruit and Alliums among 18,888 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort, of whom 5 percent (950) underwent spontaneous PTD (preterm delivery).

The study authors concluded, “Intake of food with antimicrobial and prebiotic compounds may be of importance to reduce the risk of spontaneous PTD. In particular, garlic was associated with overall lower risk of spontaneous PTD.”

Garlic and the common cold

A team of researchers from St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency, Indiana, carried out a study titled “Treatment of the Common Cold in Children and Adults,” published in American Family Physician.

They reported that “Prophylactic use of garlic may decrease the frequency of colds in adults, but has no effect on duration of symptoms.” Prophylactic use means using it regularly to prevent disease.

Though there is some research to suggest that raw garlic has the most benefits, other studies have looked at overall allium intake, both raw and cooked, and have found benefits. Therefore, you can enjoy garlic in a variety of ways to reap its advantages.

Proven health benefits and uses

Garlic has been used all over the world for thousands of years. Records indicate that garlic was in use when the Giza pyramids were built, about 5,000 years ago.

Richard S. Rivlin wrote in the Journal of Nutrition that the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates (circa. 460-370 BC), known today as “the father of Western medicine,” prescribed garlic for a wide range of conditions and illnesses. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for treating respiratory problems, parasites, poor digestion, and fatigue.

The original Olympic athletes in Ancient Greece were given garlic – possibly the earliest example of “performance enhancing” agents used in sports.

From Ancient Egypt, garlic spread to the advanced ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley (Pakistan and western India today). From there, it made its way to China.

According to experts at Kew Gardens, England’s royal botanical center of excellence, the people of ancient India valued the therapeutic properties of garlic and also thought it to be an aphrodisiac. The upper classes avoided garlic because they despised its strong odor, while monks, “…widows, adolescents, and those who had taken up a vow or were fasting, could not eat garlic because of its stimulant quality.”

Throughout history in the Middle East, East Asia, and Nepal, garlic has been used to treat bronchitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), TB (tuberculosis), liver disorders, dysentery, flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, rheumatism, diabetes, and fevers.

The French, Spanish, and Portuguese introduced garlic to the New World.

Currently, garlic is widely used for several conditions linked to the blood system and heart, including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary heart disease, and hypertension.

Garlic is also used today by some people for the prevention of lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.

It is important to add that only some of these uses are backed by research.

A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology warned that short-term heating reduces the anti-inflammatory effects of fresh raw garlic extracts. This may be a problem for some people who do not like or cannot tolerate the taste and/or odor of fresh garlic.

Below are examples of some scientific studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals about the therapeutic benefits (or not) of garlic.

Lung cancer risk

People who ate raw garlic at least twice a week during the 7 year study period had a 44 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study conducted at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention in China.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, carried out face-to-face interviews with 1,424 lung cancer patients and 4,543 healthy individuals. They were asked about their diet and lifestyle, including questions on smoking and how often they ate garlic.

The study authors wrote: “Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer.”

Brain cancer

Organo-sulfur compounds found in garlic have been identified as effective in destroying the cells in glioblastomas, a type of deadly brain tumor.

Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina reported in the journal Cancer that three pure organo-sulfur compounds from garlic – DAS, DADS, and DATS – “demonstrated efficacy in eradicating brain cancer cells, but DATS proved to be the most effective.”

Co-author, Ray Swapan, Ph.D., said “This research highlights the great promise of plant-originated compounds as natural medicine for controlling the malignant growth of human brain tumor cells. More studies are needed in animal models of brain tumors before application of this therapeutic strategy to brain tumor patients.”

Hip osteoarthritis

Women whose diets were rich in allium vegetables had lower levels of osteoarthritis, a team at King’s College London and the University of East Anglia, both in England, reported in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. Examples of allium vegetables include garlic, leeks, shallots, onions, and rakkyo.

The study authors said their findings not only highlighted the possible impact of diet on osteoarthritis outcomes but also demonstrated the potential for using compounds that exist in garlic to develop treatments for the condition.

The long-term study, involving more than 1,000 healthy female twins, found that those whose dietary habits included plenty of fruit and vegetables, “particularly alliums such as garlic,” had fewer signs of early osteoarthritis in the hip joint.

Potentially a powerful antibiotic

Diallyl sulfide, a compound in garlic, was 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics in fighting the Campylobacter bacterium, according to a study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The Campylobacter bacterium is one of the most common causes of intestinal infections.

Senior author, Dr. Xiaonan Lu, from Washington State University, said, “This work is very exciting to me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the environment and in our food supply.”

Heart protection

Diallyl trisulfide, a component of garlic oil, helps protect the heart during cardiac surgery and after a heart attack, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found. They also believe diallyl trisulfide could be used as a treatment for heart failure.

Hydrogen sulfide gas has been shown to protect the heart from damage.

However, it is a volatile compound and difficult to deliver as therapy.

Because of this, the scientists decided to focus on diallyl trisulfide, a garlic oil component, as a safer way to deliver the benefits of hydrogen sulfide to the heart.

In experiments using laboratory mice, the team found that, after a heart attack, the mice that had received diallyl sulfide had 61 percent less heart damage in the area at risk, compared with the untreated mice.

In another study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists found that garlic oil may help protect diabetes patients from cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients. It is a chronic disease of the myocardium (heart muscle), which is abnormally thickened, enlarged, and/or stiffened.

The team fed diabetic laboratory rats either garlic oil or corn oil. Those fed garlic oil experienced significantly more changes associated with protection against heart damage, compared with the animals that were fed corn oil.

The study authors wrote, “In conclusion, garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy.”

Human studies will need to be performed to confirm the results of this study.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure

Researchers at Ankara University investigated the effects of garlic extract supplementation on the blood lipid (fat) profile of patients with high blood cholesterol. Their study was published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.

The study involved 23 volunteers, all with high cholesterol; 13 of them also had high blood pressure. They were divided into two groups:

• The high-cholesterol normotensive group (normal blood pressure).
• The high-cholesterol hypertensive group (high blood pressure).

They took garlic extract supplements for 4 months and were regularly checked for blood lipid parameters, as well as kidney and liver function.

At the end of the 4 months, the researchers concluded “…garlic extract supplementation improves blood lipid profile, strengthens blood antioxidant potential, and causes significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product (MDA) in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body.”

In other words, the garlic extract supplements reduced high cholesterol levels, and also blood pressure in the patients with hypertension. The scientists added that theirs was a small study – more work needs to be carried out.

Prostate cancer

Doctors at the Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, carried out a study evaluating the relationship between Allium vegetable consumption and prostate cancer risk.

They gathered and analyzed published studies up to May 2013 and reported their findings in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention.

The study authors concluded, “Allium vegetables, especially garlic intake, are related to a decreased risk of prostate cancer.”

The team also commented that because there are not many relevant studies, further well-designed prospective studies should be carried out to confirm their findings.

Alcohol-induced liver injury

Alcohol-induced liver injury is caused by the long-term over-consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Scientists at the Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China, wanted to determine whether diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, might have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Their study was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta.

The researchers concluded that DADS might help protect against ethanol-induced liver injury.

Preterm (premature) delivery

Microbial infections during pregnancy raise a woman’s risk of preterm delivery. Scientists at the Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, studied what impact foods might have on antimicrobial infections and preterm delivery risk.

The study and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition.

Ronny Myhre and colleagues concentrated on the effects of Alliums and dried fruits, because a literature search had identified these two foods as showing the greatest promise for reducing preterm delivery risk.

The team investigated the intake of dried fruit and Alliums among 18,888 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort, of whom 5 percent (950) underwent spontaneous PTD (preterm delivery).

The study authors concluded, “Intake of food with antimicrobial and prebiotic compounds may be of importance to reduce the risk of spontaneous PTD. In particular, garlic was associated with overall lower risk of spontaneous PTD.”

Garlic and the common cold

A team of researchers from St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency, Indiana, carried out a study titled “Treatment of the Common Cold in Children and Adults,” published in American Family Physician.

They reported that “Prophylactic use of garlic may decrease the frequency of colds in adults, but has no effect on duration of symptoms. ” Prophylactic use means using it regularly to prevent disease.

Though there is some research to suggest that raw garlic has the most benefits, other studies have looked at overall allium intake, both raw and cooked, and have found benefits. Therefore, you can enjoy garlic in a variety of ways to reap its advantages.

How to Make Garlic Oil for Natural Remedies: 9 Amazing Ways to Use it

Garlic, scientifically known as the Allium satvium, is a relative of the onion family and one of the most commonly used ingredients across the globe. Cultivated mostly in the tropical regions, garlic packs both, culinary benefits for its distinctly pungent flavour as well as a multitude of health and medicinal benefits. According to the book Healing Foods by DK Publishing House, two of the most beneficial components of garlic are allicin and diallyl sulfides, which are sulphorous compounds that are antibacterial and antifungal in nature. The book further notes, “Garlic is universally recognised for its health promoting benefits: aiding the circulatory and digestive systems, boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, and fighting heart disease. Even helps eliminate toxins.” Garlic can be consumed in many forms or even made into oil. Garlic oil has been proved to bring down the risk of cardiovascular diseases by regulating blood pressure and high cholesterol. But it can be used as a remedy for a host of your regular day to day woes too. Here are a couple of them –
 

Here are 9 amazing ways you can put the garlic oil into use –

1. Treats AcneGarlic oil can serve as a great remedy to treat acne. Garlic contains selenium, allicin, vitamin C, copper and zinc, all of which can boost your skin health. Zinc especially has abilities to control sebum production, which is a major contributor to acne. The anti-inflammatory properties of garlic further relaxes the skin. Just combine a few drops of garlic oil to a mud pack. Apply the smooth paste on your face. Let it rest for 10 minutes and rinse it off with cold water.

(Also read: Home-Remedies for Acne and Acne Scars)

_{How to make garlic oil: Garlic oil can serve as a great remedy to treat acne}2. Immunity BoosterAccording to the book Healing Foods, garlic oil is antibiotic in nature and can be used to treat cold and cough. In India especially, garlic oil has been long used to treat infections and fever. Rich in immunity-boosting nutrients like vitamins C, B1, and B6, allicin, iron, and phosphorous, garlic oil is a great remedy to boost overall health. Have home-made garlic oil or garlic oil capsules as per the recommended dosage and see the wonders for yourself.

_{How to make garlic oil: garlic oil is antibiotic in nature and can be used to treat cold and cough}

3. Relieves Ear InfectionGarlic oil for ear infections is another traditional remedy your mothers and grandmothers would vouch for. And they have a good reason for it too. The strong antibacterial and antiseptic properties fight against bacterial infection, while also easing the pain caused by the nasty infection. Mix a few drops of garlic oil with a few drops of olive or mustard oil and warm it on low heat. Let it cool, and store the concoction in a small bottle. Carefully dab your cotton in the oil, just a bit, or you can also sprinkle a few drops on the cotton ball and place it inside your ears for some time. Remove the cotton ball immediately if the pain persists, or is worsening the infection.(Also Read: Home Remedies for Ear Pain)

_{How to make garlic oil: Garlic oil for ear infections is another traditional remedy}

4. Natural Mosquito RepellentFed up of mosquitoes hovering around your house? Most market-based repellents fail to do their job efficiently, which is why it is best to make your own home-based natural mosquito repellent. You need just some drops of garlic oil and a cotton pad. Rub the cotton pad on your skin and walk free without the fear of mosquitoes running after your blood. Garlic oil works very well to keep the nasty mosquitoes at bay due to its smell. You can also spray it around to ward off mosquitoes. A patch test on your skin is recommended to avoid any allergic reaction.(Also read: 8 Genius Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites That Really Work!)

_{How to make garlic oil: You need just some drops of garlic oil and a cotton pad}5. Relieves ToothacheToothaches can be quite nasty. You can’t eat anything or even sit in peace because of the excruciating pain that refuses to fade away. Here again garlic oil can help. The active compound allicin helps reduce tooth pain and inflammation and also bacterial activity thereby prevents tooth decay. Sprinkle a few drops of garlic oil on a cotton ball, and press it in the affected toot area for about 15-20 minutes. This should ease your pain instantly.(Also read:4 Natural Home Remedies for Toothache)

_{How to make garlic oil: Toothaches can be quite nasty}6. Prevents Hair LossRich in sulphur, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and vitamin B1, garlic oil can not only prevent hair loss and damage but also strengthen hair roots and follicles, boosting faster hair growth. Regular oiling of your hair and scalp with garlic oil can improve blood circulation in the scalp area, further boosting hair health and preventing hair breakage and loss. For best result, massage your hair and scalp with garlic oil and leave it on overnight. Rinse it away with mild shampoo and water the next day.

(Also Read: Home Remedies For Your Hair Woes)

_{How to make garlic oil: garlic oil can not only prevent hair loss and damage but also strengthen hair roots and follicles}7. Treats DandruffDandruff is nothing but the dry flakes of your scalp chipping away due to high inflammation under your scalp. Garlic oil with its high anti-inflammatory properties and sulphur helps calm inflamed skin, and prevents itchiness caused by dandruff. Massage your scalp thoroughly with garlic oil. Leave it overnight and rinse it off with cold water and shampoo the following day.

(Also Read: 5 Effective Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Dandruff)_{How to make garlic oil: Dandruff is nothing but the dry flakes of your scalp chipping away due to high inflamm}ation

8. Treats Itchy Skin AilmentsGarlic oil can be applied on the skin to treat a multitude of skin ailments. Due to its high anti-fungal properties, fungal infections, warts and corns can be kept at bay. Fungal infections like ringworm and athlete’s foot can also be treated with garlic oil. Soak your feet in warm water bath and crushed garlic to get rid of the infection. For its high anti-inflammatory properties, it can also relieve itchy psoriasis outbreaks on your skin. Psoriasis is a condition in which skin cells combine and form scales and itchy, dry patches on the skin. Just dab and rub a little garlic oil on the affected areas and see the result for yourself.

(Also Read: Home Remedies for Dry Itchy Skin)_{How to make garlic oil: Garlic oil can be applied on the skin to treat a multitude of skin ailments}

9. Natural Pesticides for Garden PestsFond of gardening? Protect your beloved plants from pesky garden pests with the help of garlic oil. Garden pests cannot stand the smell of garlic. Try making a home-made, all natural pesticide by combining garlic oil, water, liquid soap and mineral oil. Spray some of the concoction on your plants to keep the critters at bay. It is always good to make use your own pesticide so that you grow healthy plants. Ensure that you use the home-made pesticide every day. 

_{How to make garlic oil: Protect your beloved plants from pesky garden pests with the help of garlic oil}
One oil and so many benefits! Incredible, isn’t it? Make some garlic oil at home today and reap its benefits.

How to Make Garlic Oil

You would need 1 clove of garlic, and 1/4th  cup of olive oil. Peel the clove of garlic and mince it. Transfer the minced garlic to a medium pan and add oil. Warm the oil slightly on the stove. Make sure you don’t overheat the oil, else you will end up burning it. Collect the oil in a small container with a lid. Let the oil and garlic infuse overnight .

About Sushmita SenguptaSharing a strong penchant for food, Sushmita loves all things good, cheesy and greasy. Her other favourite pastime activities other than discussing food includes, reading, watching movies and binge-watching TV shows.

6 Surprising Ways Garlic Boosts Your Health – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Garlic. Roasted in olive oil, it can melt in your mouth like butter, while chopped and raw, it can taste pungent and sharp. Either way, this herb-like vegetable offers significant benefits — on the inside and out. (Not to mention it’s delicious!)

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

“It’s the organic sulfur compound allicin in garlic that gives it its pungent smell and makes it a healthy addition to your diet,” says dietitian Laura Jeffers, MEd, RD, LD.

Jeffers offers six surprising ways that garlic boosts your health:

1. Boosts immunity: Who knew boosting your immunity can be as simple as eating more garlic? According to one study involving 41,000 middle-aged women, those who routinely ate garlic, fruits and vegetables had a 35% lower colon cancer risk. Keep in mind that benefits came from raw and cooked garlic – not supplements.

2. Works as an anti-inflammatory: Research has shown that garlic oil works as an anti-inflammatory. If you have sore and inflamed joints or muscles, rub them with the oil. The Arthritis Foundation even recommends it to help prevent cartilage damage from arthritis. 

3. Improves cardiovascular health: Research indicates that it can have a positive impact on your arteries and blood pressure. Researchers believe red blood cells turn the sulfur in garlic into hydrogen sulfide gas that expands our blood vessels, making it easier to regulate blood pressure. The good news is that you may be able to put your blood pressure medication away, so consult with your doctor if adding more garlic to your diet could be helpful for you.

4. Gives you better hair and skin: Garlic’s antioxidants and antibacterial properties can clear up your skin by killing acne-causing bacteria. One study shows rubbing raw garlic over pimples can clear them away. Be aware, though, that it could cause a burning sensation on your skin. Consult with your dermatologist first before putting acne on your skin if you are using any other products, too.

5. Protects your food: Those same antibacterial properties in fresh garlic can kill the bacteria that lead to food poisoning, including salmonella and E.coli. Don’t use garlic as a substitute for proper food sanitation and food handling, though. 

6. Treat athlete’s foot: Garlic also fights fungus. If you have athlete’s foot, soak your feet in garlic water or rub raw garlic on your feet to attack the itch-causing fungus. 

Maximize the garlic

Did you know you can make tea from garlic? It’s true! You can steep chopped garlic in hot water and cover the taste with honey. However, sometimes taking advantage of garlic’s benefits gets a little complicated. Heating it or putting it in a recipe can change its pH balance. The enzymes from the allicin need a few minutes to start working, so let it sit after you mince, crush or chop it.

“You’ll get the most benefit from raw garlic,” she says. “But if you choose to cook it, don’t heat it above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Higher temperatures kill the allicin, so add garlic to your recipes when you’re almost done cooking.”

A few words of caution

Garlic’s health benefits are plenty, but don’t add too much to your diet too quickly, as tempting as it may be. Overdoing it can cause discomfort, including upset stomach, bloating, diarrhea, body odor and bad breath. (Pass the gum, please!)

“You may also get a stinging feeling on the skin if you handle significant amounts of fresh and dried garlic,” says Jeffers. “To avoid garlic-induced skin lesions, wear kitchen gloves.”

On rare occasions, garlic supplements can cause headaches, fatigue, appetite loss, muscle aches, dizziness and allergic reactions such as asthma attacks or skin rashes. If you take blood thinners, taking a garlic supplement can increase the medication’s effect, making it even harder for your blood to clot. Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any garlic supplement.​

90,000 Why is garlic oil useful and how to take it | Useful channel

Garlic oil is in great demand in cooking, it can also be successfully used for medicinal purposes, since the product has healing properties. But before starting therapy, you need to familiarize yourself with the possible benefits and harms of garlic oil for human health.

Composition and calorie content of garlic oil

Caloric content per 100 g of oil is 898 kcal, the fat content reaches 99.8 g.Few people know, but garlic juice contains up to 20% sugar.

The basis of the composition – useful elements:

• selenium – the main component, its use in protecting the body from pathogenic microorganisms, substances that are harmful to health, fighting viruses and infections;
• sulfur – the beneficial properties of this element are to stabilize the internal environment of the body, stimulate hair growth, improve the condition of the skin, and have a beneficial effect on nerve fibers;
• phytoncides have antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic effect.

In addition, a large amount of fiber, nitrogenous substances, phosphoric and ascorbic acids, flavonoids, sterols, the properties of which in the complex have a beneficial effect on human health.

Garlic is enriched with a whole complex of vitamins: A, B, C, D, E, which are vital for the body.

Useful properties of garlic oil

Benefits of garlic oil for the human body:

• It is a powerful antimicrobial agent that can resist viruses, parasites, is used for infectious diseases, can be used in the complex treatment of tuberculosis and bronchitis.
• Helps improve immunity.
• Improves appetite, normalizes digestion, allows to regulate the production of bile and gastric juice, is used in the treatment of diarrhea.
• Has a beneficial effect on the skin, normalizes the functioning of the sebaceous glands, has a rejuvenating effect, and accelerates skin regeneration. It is considered one of the most useful folk remedies in the treatment of infected wounds and ulcers.
• Used for intoxication, allows you to remove poisons and toxins from the body.
• Cleans blood vessels, normalizes pressure and heart muscle function.

• Resists cancer, prevents the spread of cancer cells, is used as a prophylactic agent against the formation of tumors.
• Fights excess fluid, eliminates puffiness in a short time.
• Has anti-inflammatory effect.
• Normalizes the work of the female and male reproductive systems, relieves the symptoms of menopause in women.

The beneficial properties of garlic have been known for a long time, so the plant’s juice is regularly used in traditional medicine recipes. The benefits and harms, properties important for human health are transferred to the oil made on its basis.

How to take garlic oil for medicinal purposes

How to use it with benefit for therapeutic purposes:

• Garlic oil for blood vessels is used in combination with onion juice. It is necessary to add 15 drops of each ingredient to a glass of warm water.Drink one hour before each meal.
• For the treatment of influenza, ARVI and other viral diseases, mix 5 ml of oil with 20 g of honey. Medicinal tea will also be beneficial. To do this, add 3-4 ml of oil to a cup of hot drink, stir and drink every 3 hours.
• Garlic oil for arthrosis is applied to a problem area, for example, the occipital region of the neck, hands, knee joints. Rub in until completely absorbed. The treated area should be wrapped in a warm, preferably woolen scarf.

Read also: Kohlrabi: useful properties and contraindications

The procedure is recommended to be performed before bedtime, this will allow you to fully absorb the healing properties of garlic. The course of treatment is 2 months.

Important! Despite the safety of the prescriptions presented, they should not be used without consulting a doctor. Perhaps a specialist will identify individual restrictions for use. If you ignore the contraindications, you can harm your health.

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Garlic oil – recipe and useful properties

Calories: 899 kcal.

Energy value of the product Garlic oil:
Proteins: 0 g.
Fats: 99.9 g.
Carbohydrates: 0 g.

Description

Garlic oil is a unique product that consists of a natural mixture of garlic and vegetable oil. The last component is usually olive or sunflower pomace. It is impossible to extract oil from garlic, since this herb contains practically no fat.

This product is actively used in cooking, but is most often used as a remedy. You can buy such a universal oil at any pharmacy or specialty store. It is often sold in capsules that do not give off its rich garlic flavor and aroma. As a rule, such capsules contain not only oil, but also gelatin and useful amino acids. You can also find enriched garlic pomace in a bottle on sale. In this case, the product is a clear yellow liquid (see photo).

How to make garlic oil at home?

Making garlic oil at home is easy. For its manufacture, the most common ingredients are often used that are in every home or the nearest store.There are a lot of recipes for making this product, but they differ only in the use of an oil base and additional ingredients.

• Garlic sunflower oil. In this case, you only need one head of fresh garlic, as well as unrefined sunflower oil (half a liter). The first component is peeled off, divided into cloves, cut into several pieces and placed in a deep dish. The oily liquid is heated up to one hundred and eighty degrees and is also sent to a container with garlic.The resulting workpiece is taken to a cool room and left for a week to infuse. Note! It is not recommended to use a refrigerator for this purpose. After seven days, the finished product is strained and poured into a suitable vessel for further storage. This oil perfectly complements salads and sauces. It can be prepared on an olive basis if desired.
• Butter garlic butter. To prepare such a product, you first need to prepare butter (200 g).Leave it at room temperature for half an hour. Meanwhile, use a blender to grind seven cloves of garlic and finely chop a small bunch of dill. When all the ingredients are ready, mix them in one bowl, salt and pepper, cover with cling film and put in a cool place for storage. The ready-made mixture is perfect for making sandwiches, croutons, as well as for greasing meat before baking.
• Green garlic arrow paste. In this case, you need to prepare a blender and three hundred grams of fresh garlic arrows.Grind the ingredient until smooth. After that, you need to add a pinch of salt and two tablespoons of any vegetable oil to it. The resulting mass should be well kneaded and stored in the refrigerator. This paste can be used for dressing salads, marinating meat, and also as a flavoring agent for first courses.

It is noteworthy that even after processing, garlic retains all its beneficial properties. However, at the same time, it loses its pungent and rich smell, which allows it to be taken even during working hours.

Application

The use of garlic oil can be talked about endlessly. This is a truly valuable product, the properties of which are multifaceted for medicinal purposes. In addition, such an oily liquid perfectly performs flavoring functions in cooking. It enriches any meat and vegetable dish with an attractive spicy note. Also, garlic oil is considered one of the most effective hair care products.

In cooking

In cooking, oil-processed garlic is often used to prepare various sauces and marinades, which are ideal for both meat dishes and vegetables.Very often, this product is added to potato casseroles, and they are also recommended to sprinkle the baked meat to add a piquant taste and aroma.

Many culinary experts grease rolls with this oil, perfectly in harmony with borsch, hodgepodge and pickle. And sometimes this aromatic liquid is added to minced meat for cutlets and sausages.

As it turned out, garlic oil goes well with rye bread. That is why the oil product is often used to make croutons, sandwiches and other bread snacks.

Some people prefer to cook all kinds of homemade mayonnaise with garlic squeeze, as well as ketchup and other similar dressings.

It is not recommended to combine this aromatic oily liquid with fish. Many chefs claim that these two ingredients are incompatible. However, when combined with seafood, this product is great.

In medicine

In medicine, natural garlic oil can replace most chemical drugs.This product helps to cope with a number of diseases, including those related to the heart and brain. However, there is also a serious mistake that many people make today, trying to cure atherosclerosis and hypertension with such oil. Despite the fact that many drugs with the addition of garlic pomace have been developed to treat these diseases, it is highly discouraged to treat them. The thing is that the oil obtained from garlic does not have an insufficient antihypertensive effect on the body, so many doctors replace this product with special drugs.It has also been scientifically proven that it is impossible to lower blood pressure forever, so the beneficial effect of the oil liquid will be felt only with its constant use. In addition, there are many other products that can be used to cope with atherosclerosis and hypertension. For example, a cucumber. It has a diuretic effect, due to which it quickly lowers blood pressure.

However, if you decide to treat atherosclerosis or hypertension with this particular product, we recommend that you proceed as follows: take ten drops of garlic and onion oils and stir them in one glass of water.Take the resulting product at one time, one hour before eating. This procedure should be carried out four times a day.

In the table below, we will tell you in detail in what other cases garlic pomace is useful.

For the treatment of the above diseases, you can use both homemade garlic oil and commercial ones. In the latter case, be sure to read the instructions for use indicated on the product label.

In cosmetology

In cosmetology, this type of oil has found application due to the content of a huge amount of biologically active substances that improve blood circulation and accelerate cell regeneration. Cosmetics prepared with this product have a rejuvenating effect, as well as quickly deal with acne and blackheads.

The benefits of garlic oil in hair care are undeniable. It includes all the necessary list of useful elements that preserve the beauty of curls, and also accelerate their growth.

To strengthen the hair, this product is recommended to be massaged into the scalp. If necessary, it can be applied to the hair, leaving it on overnight.

To accelerate hair growth, curls should be thoroughly lubricated with a mixture of oil and kefir (2: 1 ratio). It is advisable not to wash off the mask for three hours.

Such effective remedies help to avoid baldness. And so that after the procedure the smell of garlic does not remain on the hair, it is recommended to wash off the masks with apple cider vinegar.After that, it is advisable to rinse your hair with some essential citrus oil.

Masks prepared on the basis of garlic oil are truly natural products. Periodic application of them guarantees luxurious and healthy hair.

The uses of garlic oil do not end there. This product has been found to give excellent results in fishing. In this case, the oily liquid is used exclusively as a flavoring agent for the bait.Sometimes processed garlic is combined with other flavors. They can be vanilla, menthol, dill oil and many other aromatic additives.

Useful properties, harm and contraindications

You can talk about the beneficial properties of garlic pomace for a very long time, so below we will list the most important and main ones.

• Thanks to its antibacterial properties, this product protects the body from many harmful microorganisms.
• Effectively fights infectious diseases, increases immune protection, clears the respiratory tract from mucus in case of bronchitis.
• Sulfur is present in garlic oil, which in turn maintains an optimal balance of sodium, potassium and magnesium in the body.
• Processed garlic normalizes the digestive system, increases appetite, contributes to the production of the required amount of gastric juice per day and helps well with disturbances in the digestive tract.
• This oil is one of the most effective remedies for the treatment of long-term healing wounds, including wounds with infections.
• Garlic liquid cleanses blood vessels, normalizes blood pressure, and also improves the functioning of the heart.
• This product also effectively fights against tumor cells, and also relieves inflammatory processes.

People have known about the antitoxic properties of garlic oil since the Middle Ages. Already at that time, this product was used as an antidote for many different poisonings.

Natural oil cannot harm a person.However, this product has contraindications. It is strictly forbidden to take garlic pomace in the presence of renal diseases and stomach ulcers in the acute stage. Especially this liquid should not be eaten by nursing mothers, as it will harm the baby’s intestines.

In addition, when using garlic oil, it is recommended to take into account the following circumstances:

• people with a disease such as epilepsy can eat this product only after consulting a doctor;
• in case of diabetes mellitus, one should not forget to periodically measure blood sugar levels, both before and after consuming oil;
• This garlic liquid should never be combined with any anti-virus drugs;
• This type of oil is not recommended for children under twelve years of age.

Pregnant women should also use this product with caution. In this case, it is advisable to use the product only after the permission of the gynecologist.

Garlic oil is a valuable product that, due to its simple ingredients, is available to absolutely everyone!

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Garlic croutons

25 min.

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Garlic oil.Benefits of Garlic Oil

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Properties of garlic oil

How much does garlic oil cost (average price per 1 can)?

A feature of garlic oil is that, along with the maximum possible preservation of the beneficial properties inherent in garlic, this oil is excellent for culinary purposes. It is devoid of a specific pungent smell, while it can give almost any of your dishes a pleasant characteristic garlic flavor and a rather piquant aroma.

High-quality garlic oil at a fairly low cost has also established itself as an interesting additive to various products. It can be used in the preparation of first courses, side dishes, meat and vegetable dishes, sauces, marinades. And if you mix it with other oils, you can get an unusually savory salad dressing with fresh vegetables.

The benefits of garlic oil

The benefits of garlic oil are due to its strong antibacterial effect, the range of which is often compared to the most active antibiotics.It has been clinically established that garlic oil, like garlic itself, helps to increase the body’s resistance to infectious and colds. In addition, it is effective for influenza, bronchitis and tuberculosis due to the bronchodilator effect, as well as the ability to dilute and remove phlegm.

Garlic oil is of great importance in metabolic processes occurring in the human body, which is due to the presence of sulfur in its composition, as part of amino acids (in particular taurine).This substance helps maintain the stability of the internal environment of the body by controlling the work of cell membranes (retains sodium outside the cells, and inside – potassium and magnesium).

Due to the irritating, reflex and secretory action, garlic oil increases appetite, stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, increasing the secretion of gastric juice and bile, as well as suppressing the processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines. In addition, the benefits of garlic oil lie in its ability to create and maintain normal microflora.

Even ancient healers noted the amazing property of garlic and its oil, which manifests itself in the restoration, renewal and rejuvenation of the tissues of the human body. In fact, garlic helps regulate the processes that are associated with tissue regeneration, opening and cleansing the pores of the skin, and improving hair growth and quality.

The anti-toxic properties of garlic oil were highly valued back in the Middle Ages, when the plant itself, along with its derivative, was used as an effective antidote for various poisonings. In addition, it has been proven that phytoncides in garlic oil help inhibit the activity of some tumor enzymes, as well as block the action of chemical carcinogens to convert normal cells into cancerous ones.

The benefit of garlic oil is also that it prevents atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels due to their expansion, lowering blood pressure, as well as increasing the amplitude and keeping the heart rate.

Caloric content of garlic oil 899 kcal

Energy value of garlic oil (The ratio of proteins, fats, carbohydrates – bju):

Proteins: 0 g.(~ 0 kcal)
Fats: 99.9 g. (~ 899 kcal)
Carbohydrates: 0 g (~ 0 kcal)

Energy ratio (b | f | y): 0% | 100% | 0%

Recipes with garlic oil

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Product proportions. How many grams?

in 1 teaspoon 5 grams
in 1 tablespoon 17 grams
in 1 can 30 grams

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90,000 Garlic oil: beneficial properties and uses

For centuries, garlic has been a cure for many ailments.Even Pythagoras – the famous scientist of antiquity – called garlic “the king of spices”. Modern science has carried out a huge amount of research on the root crop, and has confirmed its unique properties. Garlic not only adds a savory flavor to dishes, but is also a component of many medicinal recipes. Garlic-based oil is recognized as one of the most effective methods of treating the body. How to use garlic oil correctly, the benefits of which have been confirmed by modern research and centuries of experience of generations, will be described in this article.

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The benefits of garlic oil

Garlic oil is any vegetable oil infused with garlic (olive or sunflower oil is most often used). The root vegetable itself contains too little fat to make vegetable oil. You can make garlic oil yourself or buy a ready-made product in the form of capsules.

Garlic oil and its beneficial properties:

• is successfully used for parasitic diseases;
• prevents the reproduction of pathogenic microbes in the body;
• restores the intestinal microflora, relieving dysbiosis, intestinal infections, gastroenterocolitis, constipation;
• cleans blood vessels from cholesterol formations;
• has a diuretic effect, prevents the development of urolithiasis;
• improves blood composition;
• stimulates the formation of new red blood cells;
• effective for inflamed joints, arthritis, osteochondrosis, radiculitis;
• is used for the prevention and treatment of colds and viral infections;
• heals skin diseases, eliminates acne and allergic rashes;
• stimulates appetite, helps with fatigue;
• heals abrasions, minor burns, cracks and insect bites, accelerating the regeneration processes;
• strengthens hair follicles, eliminates increased fragility and dryness.

Garlic oil is successfully used in the treatment and prevention of cancer. Garlic contains special biologically active substances – phytoncides. They inhibit cancer cells, thereby preventing the formation of tumors.

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The use of garlic oil

Slavic healers have long noted the bactericidal and restorative effect of garlic. Scientific studies have shown that garlic is a storehouse of beneficial ingredients, which confirms its strong therapeutic effect.

The biochemical composition of the root vegetable contains:

• vitamins A, C, E, K, PP, components of group B;
• a complex of minerals – potassium, sodium, iodine, calcium, selenium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, a rare element germanium, iron, manganese).

Garlic-based oil is indicated for the treatment and prevention of many ailments, is widely used in folk medicine and cosmetology. Taking oil tincture is very useful in recovering from injuries, during stress, when the body is exposed to high physical and mental stress.

Garlic oil – effective prevention of thrombosis, atherosclerosis, respiratory diseases, diseases of the male genitourinary system. Garlic increases the body’s resistance to infections, activates work capacity, improves physical strength and endurance.

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Garlic oil for immunity

Garlic reliably protects the body from viral diseases. The root vegetable is very rich in phytoncides, which destroy toxins, killing even extremely resistant staphylococci and dysentery bacillus.In the composition of garlic there is a substance allicin. It blocks the production of enzymes by which pathogens enter the body.

Garlic oil for immunity will support during the period of seasonal acute respiratory diseases. The tool is indispensable for weakened immunity – it promotes the production of antibodies that increase the protective functions of the body. Due to bronchodilator properties, the product dilutes and removes phlegm from the respiratory system, contributing to rapid recovery.

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Garlic oil for blood vessels

The oil not only has a general strengthening effect on the body, but also has a beneficial effect on the health of the heart and blood vessels.The unique properties of garlic include the ability to dilate blood vessels and increase the amplitude of the heart. Regular intake of garlic oil has been proven to relieve cerebrovascular spasms and heart cramps.

With regular use, garlic oil:

• destroys atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of blood vessels;
• prevents heart disease;
• dilates blood vessels;
• fights bad cholesterol;
• relieves shortness of breath;
• restores venous tone;
• strengthens the vascular walls;
• is a good prophylactic against multiple sclerosis;
• improves memory and other cognitive properties.

By adding garlic oil to the diet, you can get rid of cholesterol deposits on the walls of blood vessels. In the biochemical composition of garlic, there is an element of ajoen, which inhibits the growth of plaques on the walls of blood vessels and stabilizes blood pressure.

Garlic oil is an excellent prevention of thrombosis. Scientists have proven that taking garlic inhibits the process of active adhesion of erythrocytes, i.e. blood clots. The reason for this is the sulfur-containing microcomponents, which are very rich in the medicinal root vegetable.They increase fibrolithin activity, and are also responsible for the resorption of intravascular blood clots.

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Garlic oil for skin

Garlic oil tincture is well suited for skin care. Due to the presence of phytoncides, the product prevents the development of melanoma (skin cancer). Garlic oil for facial skin acts as an antioxidant, fills the skin with vitamins, rejuvenates and nourishes with moisture.

In folk medicine, oil is used to treat skin ailments and defects such as psoriasis, eczema, warts and calluses.The beneficial effects are due to the anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties of garlic. To heal your skin, moisten a cotton pad with garlic oil and wipe the affected area two to three times a day.

The oil extract has proven itself to be excellent in the treatment of acne and comedogenic acne. The product soothes inflamed skin areas, disinfects them and prevents relapses, dissolves blackheads. To do this, apply a small amount of garlic oil to the affected area with a cotton pad and leave for 10 minutes.Remove residues that have not been absorbed. The procedure should be repeated daily until acne disappears completely.

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Garlic oil for hair

Garlic oil gives curls thickness, strength and healthy shine. The product launches regenerative processes, cleanses the pores of the scalp, and stimulates blood circulation. Garlic oil for hair is recommended for alopecia (baldness). The product provides blood flow to the hair follicles, which promotes rapid hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Rub a small amount of oil tincture into the scalp with massaging movements. Then distribute it evenly along the entire length of the hair, put on a plastic cap and warm your head with a towel. Keep the compress for an hour, then rinse with warm water and mild shampoo. For people suffering from baldness, such compresses should be done at night.

Garlic oil eliminates dandruff, prevents its reappearance, and soothes irritated scalp well.When washing your hair, a few drops of garlic oil can be added to the shampoo. This will strengthen the curls, make them smooth, healthy and well-groomed.

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How to take garlic oil

The standard dosage of a health product is 2 capsules at a time. It should be taken before meals 3 times a day. However, the dosage may vary depending on the manufacturer, so read the instructions before using the product.

If you have made the medicine yourself, you will need recommendations on how to take garlic oil for various ailments:

1. When treating the cardiovascular system, take 1 dessert spoon in the morning and evening before meals.The treatment course is 3-4 months.
2. To improve immunity and prevent ARVI, a mixture of honey and garlic oil is effective (to prepare the drug, you will need 4 parts of honey and 1 part of oil).
3. Tea will help you quickly recover from an acute respiratory illness if you add a few drops of garlic oil to it. It is recommended to drink a drink every 2-3 hours.
4. To strengthen the gums and get rid of periodontal disease, you can rinse by adding a few drops of healing oil to a glass of warm water.

The use of garlic oil is also useful for diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Garlic oil for joints has healing and analgesic effects. Natural medicine stimulates blood circulation in the area of ​​the diseased joint, starting the recovery process. The oil begins to act from the first days of use, restoring mobility and elasticity to the joint and reducing pain. To do this, rub the product into the area of ​​the sore joint, insulate it with polyethylene and a warm cloth, leaving the compress overnight.A full course of garlic oil treatment lasts two months.

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What can be the harm of garlic oil

There is no doubt about the benefits of garlic oil, but sometimes the use of this product can be harmful.

Consuming garlic oil inside is contraindicated for:

• acute glomerulonephritis;
• ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract;
• pancreatitis, hepatitis;
• breastfeeding.

Speaking about the benefits and dangers of garlic oil, it should be mentioned that garlic stimulates the digestion.This can adversely affect the mucous membranes of the digestive organs (with high stomach acidity). In this case, capsules will help to minimize the irritating effect of garlic.

In the presence of any chronic diseases, diabetes mellitus, as well as during pregnancy, you should consult your doctor before taking the drug. Since garlic oil increases appetite, it should also be avoided by overweight people.

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Conclusion

Garlic oil has pronounced antiseptic and antifungal properties.Due to the unique biochemical composition of garlic, the oil enhances immunity and protects against many serious diseases, including cancer. The product has proven itself in the fight against infections during the period of seasonal ARVI. Garlic oil strengthens the body’s immune forces, protects the heart and blood vessels, helps in the treatment of skin diseases and neutralizes many disease-causing microbes.

beneficial properties and fields of application

Medicinal plants are becoming more and more popular as a natural alternative to medicines and a supplement to a healthy lifestyle, which aims to prevent common diseases. These medicinal plants include garlic, which has been known for its medicinal properties since antiquity and has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. The spice plant is especially popular in the kitchen. It is notorious for its typical, often unpleasant, odor. At the same time, garlic contains essential oils that help against many diseases and have a wide range of uses.

Getting garlic oil

Garlic bulbs contain essential oils, which contain the most valuable ingredients.However, the proportion of these oils is very small. For this reason, it takes about 350-400 kg of garlic to produce one liter of pure essential oil.

Small amounts of garlic essential oil are sufficient for domestic needs, since the ingredients are very concentrated in it. To obtain essential oils from cloves of garlic, steam distillation is used. For this, the bulbs are first washed and chopped.

Then essential oils, hardly soluble in water, are separated from the remaining components into a container by adding water vapor.During distillation, the composition changes, as a result additional valuable ingredients are created.

Water vapor transports them through a cooling device, in which the water is freed from insoluble components: clear oil from light yellow to reddish color is separated from the water. Using this method, pure essential oils are obtained from garlic.

Garlic oil can be used as an edible oil in the kitchen. In this case, production is less expensive.The washed, peeled and crushed slices are placed in a vessel, then poured with sunflower or rapeseed oil. After that, the mixture is kept in a cool shady place for several days so that the aromas of the garlic pass into the oil. In addition to garlic, other spices and herbs can be added to the oil to produce different flavors.

Substances of garlic oil

Garlic contains many important substances that make it a medicinal plant.The composition may vary depending on the species and culture. Garlic contains vitamins, minerals and trace elements. These include potassium, calcium and magnesium, among others. In addition, sulfur-containing compounds such as alliin and allicin are especially important for medical practice.

Alliin is a sulfur-containing amino acid found in all onion plants and has an antibiotic effect. Allicin arises from alliin when the cellular structure of garlic breaks down and is the culprit behind the typical garlic odor.Ajoene can arise as a further product of allicin. This happens when the garlic is heated.

Essential oils of garlic, which are obtained after steam distillation, contain mainly unsaturated and saturated organic sulfur compounds. These include diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide.

Diallyl disulfide, like diallyltrisulfide, is a further decomposition product of allicin, has a yellowish color and an unpleasant odor, and is insoluble in water. Allicin and ajoene, along with enzymes and vitamins, are also present in the essential oil.

Calories and nutritional value of garlic oil

100 g of garlic oil contains on average:

Calories: 884 kcal (3699 kJ)
Fat: 100 g
Saturated fatty acids: 14 g
Unsaturated fatty acids: 86 g
Monounsaturated fatty acids acids: 73 g
Polyunsaturated fatty acids: 13 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 0 mg
Carbohydrates: 0 g
Fiber: 0 g
Sugar: 0 g
Protein: 0 g
Temperature of smoke formation: from 130 ° C

Action of Garlic Oil

The above substances in garlic oil have a variety of effects that make this oil so beneficial.This has been known for a very long time, so the ancient Egyptians used garlic oil for medicinal purposes.

As already mentioned, sulfur-containing alliin compounds and allicin products have an antibiotic effect, killing pathogens of various diseases, and also strengthen the immune system. These antibacterial effects can be found especially in the stomach and intestines.

Allicin also reduces the amount of lipids (fats), so that it can be used therapeutically in arteriosclerosis.In general, diallyl disulfide improves cardiovascular health. The risk of heart attack and hypertension is also reduced. Like diallyltrisulfide, diallyl disulfide has a prophylactic effect against stomach cancer and affects the detoxification of cells.

Why Garlic Oil Is So Good For Your Health

Garlic Oil has a positive effect on the immune system, circulation and heart thanks to its many ingredients. Added to this is the antibacterial effect, which is activated not only when the pathogen appears, but also as a preventive measure.Garlic’s properties, both as a clove and as an oil, make it a versatile and effective herb for use in the kitchen and for medicinal purposes. Blood pressure and blood lipids are reduced, and the immune system is strengthened. This explains why garlic oil is so beneficial and where it can be used. In addition, further research on the various components of garlic is ongoing to explore the possibility of expanding known areas of its use, for example, in the fight against cancer.

Garlic Oil Applications

To cover the full range of benefits of garlic oil, the following shows how it can be used in practice. The general effects of garlic oil when taken orally have already been discussed above. To achieve a positive effect, for example, for the prevention of atherosclerosis, the daily consumption of garlic or garlic oil plays an important role.

Garlic Hair Oil

Garlic is a well-known home remedy for hair loss.Eating cloves of garlic helps fight internal causes.

For quick hair care to improve hair condition, garlic oil can be applied directly to the scalp. It has antibacterial action against infections and fungi that threaten hair. Garlic oil also regenerates hair, strengthens roots and stimulates hair growth.

The copper contained in garlic, as well as other minerals and vitamins, is responsible for hair growth.

Garlic Oil for Skin

Garlic is also known as a home remedy for acne. Garlic masks and facial toner are used for this, but it can also be applied directly to the skin. The active ingredient allicin and its accompanying products rejuvenate the skin’s structure and fight the bacteria that live in acne and blackheads.

Garlic and garlic oil help with dermatitis and other skin conditions by stimulating blood circulation and fighting infections. Even with irritated skin, garlic oil has a soothing effect.

The rejuvenation process primarily refers to the prevention of premature wrinkles. The excess sebum is destroyed and the skin looks cleaner and firmer. For a face mask, garlic can be combined with clay or olive oil, depending on the effect you want to achieve.

Garlic oil for dogs

Like all onion plants, garlic contains sulfur-containing compounds that, in large doses, can be toxic to dogs and cats.They destroy the red blood cells in the animal’s blood. This process is called hemolysis.

The emphasis here is on the addition: “in high doses”. Since in order to poison a dog with garlic, it is necessary to observe the indicative values ​​of 59 g per kilogram of dog’s body weight for several days.

Although dangerous changes occur in the blood even with rather small amounts of garlic, a much smaller dose is usually used to feed the dog, for example, just a drop of garlic oil.The reason for its use is the protection against parasites, ticks and fleas that garlic must provide. To what extent a dog tolerates garlic oil and what dose is harmless depends on other factors, including the breed.

Garlic oil in cooking

Garlic oil is used in cooking mainly as a vegetable oil. It is more common than the pure form of the essential oil. Garlic oil enhances the taste of many types of food, as well as contributes to a balanced and healthy diet.Garlic oil can be used to fry fish and meat, it serves as a dressing for salads and sauces, and can also be used neat as an excellent flavor enhancer, for example for baguettes.

Various spices and herbs can be added to garlic oil such as rosemary or chili.

How to make garlic oil at home

Making pure essential garlic oil is much more complicated than making spiced oil. However, we will describe both options.

In order to independently extract the essential oil from garlic, steam distillation and appropriate materials are necessary, as well as a large amount of garlic, since the proportion of oils in it is only about 0.2%.

The device for producing essential oil consists of a container in which garlic is placed as a starting product, a boiler that generates steam using a heat source and to which garlic must be supplied, as well as a cooler through which garlic oil is transported with steam.In the cooler, both components are separated from each other. Due to the complex process, this manufacturing option is not recommended for use at home. This usually happens in laboratories and large factories.

In contrast, garlic oil for cooking is fairly easy to prepare. The garlic cloves should be washed, chopped finely and placed in a bottle. Then pour in vegetable oil. For this, you can use sunflower or rapeseed oil, as well as olive oil. Close the bottle tightly, let the mixture brew for about three weeks.The garlic oil can then be used.

Dosage and consumption of garlic oil

Garlic in the daily diet should be dosed according to preference in order to give the dishes a special flavor. It is advisable not to consume large amounts of garlic and garlic oil while taking anticoagulant medications, low blood pressure and kidney disease.

A high dose of garlic, like any other food, can cause stomach upset.To achieve a healing effect, you need to consume about one clove of garlic per day.

Concentrated essential oil and corresponding capsules should be used in moderation as they contain a high dose of valuable ingredients. A few drops a day are sufficient. The dosage of the capsules depends on the respective product and must be taken as directed.

Buying garlic oil: what to consider

When buying garlic oil, pay attention to the dosage form and the desired application.Regular kitchen oil is the more common and cheapest option. It differs in the type of oil used in which the garlic is infused. Olive oil with garlic is especially popular. This oil should only be used for preparing fresh dishes (salads).

Garlic oil is also available in capsule form. It is also sold as an essential oil for medicinal purposes. In this case, attention should be paid to its origin, purity and cultivation method.

Forms of sale of garlic oil

Garlic oil can be purchased either as a pure oil or in capsules. The advantage of capsules over oil is a neutral odor, as garlic oil has the typical garlic odor. The capsules are less difficult to absorb. However, they have been criticized for their additives.

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Garlic oil: benefits, harm, application

Author: Julia Sabinova. Updated 10.15.2018

Despite the invention of modern medicines, many people still resort to traditional medicine and for good reason: some plants are effective herbal medicines.Garlic is one such plant. Its properties were actively used both hundreds of years ago and now. The ancient Greek scientist Pythagoras quite accurately described the fruit as “the king of spices”. In this article, we will detail the benefits and dangers of garlic oil, as well as the nuances of its use.

Composition and benefits of garlic oil for the human body

The benefits of garlic oil are achieved due to its rich composition: it contains phytoncides, sulfur substances, antioxidants, bioflavonoids, fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, carotene, ascorbic acid, many necessary for the body macro- and microelements (Fe, Zn, Se, Mg, K, Na, I, Ca, Mo, Si, Mn, F, etc.)that have a beneficial effect on the entire body.

Nutritional value:

• Proteins: 0 g.
• Fats: 99. 9 g.
• Carbohydrates: 0 g.

Energy value – 899 kcal per 100 g of product.

Properties of garlic oil:

• Kills viruses and germs. Garlic fights against colds due to the presence in it of allicin, an active compound that suppresses the vital activity of pathogens.
• Reduces pain in case of dental diseases.To relieve pain, moisten a cotton swab with garlic oil and apply it to the aching tooth for 10-20 minutes. Be sure to withstand the cotton wool for the prescribed time, repeat twice more during the day.
• Antifungal effect. It is often used for various skin lesions.
• Helps strengthen the heart and circulatory system. Due to its antiplatelet effect, it reduces coagulation. Reduces blood pressure, cleanses blood vessels.
• Antiparasitic and antihelminthic agent.Most popular recipes indicate the effect of garlic on worms and other parasites.
• Reduces the concentration of cholesterol in the blood, thereby reducing the likelihood of plaque and vascular blockage.
• Significantly reduces the likelihood of cognitive impairment of personality.
• Actively fighting cancer. It has been scientifically proven that the substances that garlic contains inhibit the development and formation of malignant tumors. When consumed regularly, it significantly reduces the risk of breast cancer.
• Relieves ear pain. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, the oil fights well against infections of the ear canal. To relieve soreness, apply a small amount of oil to a cotton ball and place it in the affected ear for 15-30 minutes.
• Strong immunomodulator. Garlic oil strengthens the body’s defenses.
• Strengthens bones. The substances that garlic contains make bones stronger and denser.
• Used to treat joints.Relieves pain, helps to normalize blood circulation and restore mobility.
• Increases stamina. This is especially useful for people who are just starting to play sports.
• Repels mosquitoes. Because of its specific smell, garlic is an excellent repellent.
• Treats ulcerative diseases. Garlic has antibacterial and healing properties, so it can be applied to the affected area. But be prepared for a burning sensation due to the acidity of the product.
• Is a good antispasmodic.Helps treat muscle cramps caused by vigorous exercise and menstrual cramps in girls.
• Fights obesity. Garlic removes excess water, salts and other toxic compounds from cells, promotes the breakdown of fat.
• Helps with diabetes. Research has shown that garlic’s effects are similar to those of insulin. Therefore, scientists are thinking about how to include extracts of this fruit in the composition of drugs.
• Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system.Vitamin B1 is involved in the breakdown of glucose and stimulates energy processes.
• Stimulates potency. Due to the improvement of blood circulation and vasodilation, garlic is used for problems with male potency.
• Used in cosmetology to treat inflammation, acne, acne. To do this, a small amount of the warmed-up product is applied to a cotton sponge, the affected areas are wiped, and after ten minutes, they are thoroughly washed off with water.
• For hair. The oil strengthens the hair structure, fights hair loss, dandruff, makes them denser, thicker and softer.Apply slightly warmed oil to your hair and scalp, warm with a towel and leave overnight. Wash off with a mild shampoo.
• Has an antidepressant effect.
• It is used for influenza, diseases of the respiratory system due to the expectorant effect.
• Has such a powerful antibacterial effect that it has been compared to the effect of broad spectrum antibiotics. Suppresses the vital activity of bacteria tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, diphtheria, plague, typhoid fever.
• Stimulates bowel function, normalizes gastrointestinal tract function.

How to make garlic oil at home

Garlic oil is easy to make at home with your own hands. It is advisable to choose a fresh vegetable, harvested no later than September.

Recipe:

• Peel one head of garlic, chop in half, pour into a glass jar.
• Heat 500 ml of unrefined vegetable oil (preferably olive oil) to 180 °, add to the jar.
• Close tightly, store in a cool, dark place (refrigerator will not work for this) for seven days.
• Shake the mixture daily.
• Thoroughly strain the finished oil, pour into a dark glass container. Store in the refrigerator for two to two and a half months.

Add garlic oil to side dishes, meat dishes, salads.

Harm of garlic oil and contraindications for use

In some cases, the use of garlic oil can be not only harmful, but even dangerous.It is forbidden to use garlic oil when:

• Carrying and feeding a child;
• Acute glomerulonephritis;
• Exacerbation of gastritis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, ulcers;
• Epilepsy;
• Individual intolerance;
• Bleeding;
• Cholelithiasis;
• Reduced blood clotting;
• Children under twelve years old;
• During the use of antiviral drugs.

Garlic oil can provoke heartburn or burns of the esophageal mucosa, therefore it is forbidden to use it on an empty stomach.

Side effects:

• Headaches;
• Inhibition;
• Absent-mindedness;
• Decreased concentration of attention.

You can reduce the likelihood of unpleasant consequences if you use pharmacy capsules of garlic oil. Thus, all useful substances will enter the bloodstream, but contact with the digestive organs will be significantly limited.

Related article: what is the use of garlic for the human body.

From this article you learned what garlic oil is useful for, especially its preparation, harm and contraindications for use.

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Garlic oil “OIL” 100 ml

Live garlic oil of the “Oil” line is a healthy replacement for ordinary vegetable oil, which has a bright aroma and piquant aftertaste that will emphasize the exquisite taste of your favorite dishes.It is the form of the oil that can multiply the health benefits of garlic.

Features of garlic oil:

The benefits of garlic oil are due to its strong antibacterial effect, the range of which is often compared with the most active antibiotics.

It has been clinically established that garlic oil, like garlic itself, increases the body’s resistance to infectious and colds. In addition, it is effective for influenza, bronchitis and tuberculosis due to the bronchodilator effect, as well as the ability to dilute and remove phlegm.

Due to its irritating, reflex and secretory effects, garlic oil enhances appetite, stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, increasing the secretion of gastric juice and bile, as well as suppressing the processes of fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines. In addition, the benefits of garlic oil lie in its ability to create and maintain a normal microflora.

Garlic helps to regulate the processes associated with tissue regeneration, opening and cleansing the pores of the skin, improving hair growth and quality.

The anti-toxic properties of garlic oil were highly valued back in the Middle Ages, when the plant itself, along with its derivative, was used as an effective antidote for various poisonings. In addition, the phytoncides in garlic oil have been shown to be effective against the activation of cancer cells.

The benefit of garlic oil is also that it helps to prevent atherosclerotic changes in the vessels by expanding them, lowering blood pressure, and increasing the amplitude and keeping the heart rate.