Garlic Herb Information

Botanical Name : Allium Sativum

English/Common Name : Garlic

Ayurvedic Name : Garlic, Lashan, Rasonam, Lashuna, Lasuna

Part Used : Bulb and Oil

Habitat and Botany : Cultivated all over India, garlic is closely related to onion and chives. The largest commercial garlic production is in Central California. The bulb is used.

Principal Constituents : Garlic contains many bioactive substances, including Allicin, Ajoene, Gamma-Glutamylcysteine (and other sulfur-containing compounds), Vitamins, Minerals, Amino acids, and Nucleic acids. Used for thousands of years, new research shows that garlic can lower total and LDL cholesterol, while raising HDL cholesterol. Garlic also reduces blood platelet aggregation, lowers blood pressure, inhibits inflammation, inhibits cancer cell formation and proliferation, protects the liver from some drugs and chemicals, and kills intestinal parasites, worms, and gram-negative bacteria. enzymes such as Allinase, vitamins of the B group, Vitamin A, Flavonoids, minerals and trace elements. An ideal source of the most important organically bound sulfur compounds. used traditionally as a nutrition supplement and for the benefits of Allicin which acts with an antibiotic effect Ajoene for its Antithrombotic effect and the ability to reduce Hyperlipidaemia (High blood fats). Pharmazie (1970), 25, 266, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (1984), 106, 8295.

Historical Uses : Garlic (Allium Sativum: Allii sativi bulbus). Maybe the worlds most popular spice and flavoring in cooking. Garlic is mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud. Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder, and Dioscorides all mention the use of garlic for a large number of conditions, including parasites, respiratory problems, poor digestion, and low energy. Garlic's use in China was first mentioned in A.D. 510. Louis Pasteur confirmed the antibacterial action of garlic in 1858. Garlic is alterative, Anthelmintic, Antiparasitic, Antispasmodic, Aphrodisiac, Carminative, Disinfectant, Expectorant, Rejuvenative, Stimulant. Garlic in beneficial in Atherosclerosis, Congestive heart failure, high cholesterol, Hypertension (High blood pressure), Hypertriglyceridemia (high Tryglicerides), Immune function, Intermittent Claudication recurrent ear infection, yeast infection.

Circulatory Effects : More than 250 publication have shown that garlic supports the cardiovascular system. Garlic may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, inhibit platelet stickiness (Aggregation), and increase Fibrinolysis, which results in a slowing of blood coagulation. Garlic is mildly antihypertensive and has antioxidant activity.

Note : Garlic only keeps clotting in check, a benefit for persons at risk for cardiovascular disease. Garlic cannot effectively replace Anticlotting drugs; Garlic's primary value is as a preventive.

Antimicrobial Actions : Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity. It may work against some intestinal parasites. Garlic appears to have roughly 1% the strength of penicillin against certain types of bacteria. This means Garlic is not a substitute for antibiotics, but Garlic can be considered as a support to some bacterial infections. Candida Albican growth is inhibited by garlic, and garlic has shown long-term benefit for recurrent yeast infections. Four grams a day of fresh garlic or its equivalent preparation is one of the worlds great preventatives against age-related cardiovascular problems! High in sulfur, garlic is known to reduce cholesterol and to produce small reductions in blood pressure. Among the long list of health concerns that may be helped by adding garlic to your diet are: Asthma, Atherosclerosis, Candidiasis, Diabetes, hypertension, and hypoglycemia. Garlic is Antibacterial, Antifungal, Lipid-lowering, Fibrinolytic (Breaks down blood clots), and inhibits blood platelet aggregation. Garlic is listed in German Commission E. Monographs2 as a preventative to age-dependent vascular changes and as a supportive dietary measure when blood lipid levels are high.

Anticancer Actions : Human population studies show that eating garlic regularly reduces the risk of esophageal, Stomach, and colon cancer. This is partly due to Garlic's ability to reduce the formation of carcinogenic compounds. Animal and test tube studies also show that garlic, and its sulfur compounds, inhibit the growth of different types of cancer--especially breast and skin tumors.

Ayurvedic Applications

Arteriosclerosis, Asthma, Blood and Lymph cleanser, Nerve and Bone tissue Rasaana (Rejuvenative); Cholesterol, Colds, Colic, Convulsions, Cough, Detoxifier, Ear problems (external use), Edema, Flu, Gas, Heart disease, Hemorrhoids, Hypertension, Hysteria, Impotence, Indigestion, Lung/bronchial antiseptic and antispasmodic, Memory, Paralysis, Rheumatism, Skin diseases, T.B., Tremor, Tumors, Vayu fevers, Vayu/kapha (water) rasayana, Worms (round). Used effectively on parasites in dogs.

Dosage

Some people chew one whole clove of raw garlic per day. For those who prefer it odor-controlled, enteric-coated tablets or capsules with standardized Allicin potential can be taken at 400-500 mg. Once or twice a day (providing up to 5,000 mcg of Allicin.) Alternatively, a tincture of 2-4 ml can be taken three times daily.

Safety : Most people enjoy garlic. However, some individuals who are sensitive to it may experience heartburn and flatulence. Because of garlics Anticlotting properties, persons taking anticoagulant drugs should check with their nutritionally oriented doctor before taking garlic. Those scheduled for surgery should inform their surgeon if they are taking garlic supplements. There are no known contra-indications to the use of garlic during pregnancy and lactation.

Big News About Garlic : In the May 1999 issue of Atherosclerosis, a study was published that shows how beneficial the continuous intake of garlic can be. We thing the wording of the study abstract so well illustrates the benefits of garlic that we quote it below:

"In an randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the plaque volumes in both carotid and femoral arteries of 152 probationers were determined by B-mode ultrasound. continuous intake of high-dose garlic powder dragees reduced significantly the increase in Arteriosclerotic plaque volume by 5-18% or even effected a slight regression within the observational period of 48 months. Also the age-dependent representation of the plaque volume shows an increase between 50 and 80 years that is diminished under garlic treatment by 6-13% related to four years. It seems even more important that with garlic application the plaque volume in the whole collective remained practically constant within the age span of 50-80 years. These results substantiated that not only a preventive but possibly a curative role in arteriosclerosis therapy (Plaque regression) may be ascribed to garlic remedies."

What Makes Garlic Work?

Garlic, like Saw Palmetto, is an excellent example of a natural remedy that can best be described as Pleotropic, meaning that it acts in many ways on the body that collectively result in its medicinal effects. The most important of the chemical compounds found in garlic preparations are the sulfurs. They include Alliin, Allicin, Thiosulfinates, Gamma Glutamylcysteine peptides, and various other sulfur compounds. Many of these compounds do not exist naturally in garlic, but are the result of the method in which they are prepared. The antihypertensive, anti-atherosclerotic, and platelet aggregation inhibiting mechanisms of these compounds have not been completely elucidated. It would therefore be best to take a garlic preparation that contains a good representation of all of these compounds. It is estimated that about 82% of the sulfur compounds in garlic consist of Alliin and gamma Glutamylcysteine peptides. Alliin occurs naturally in garlic. when the garlic is crushed, alliin is allowed to react with Alliinase, and enzyme that is present in neighboring "compartments" called vacuoles. The end result of the interaction between alliin and Alliinase is the highly touted compound, Allicin. Steam distillation produced no Allicin, but converts alliin entirely to Diallyl sulfides. You will know a steam-distilled product because it is a volatile oil that is sold in gel-caps. Water extracted preparations are thought to contain almost none of the beneficial compounds. Dry powder preparations contain mostly alliin and allicin (like the crushed bulb). Whole garlic cloves contain 0.25% - 1.15% alliin, while carefully dried powder preparations 0.7% - 1.7% Alliin - thats right - even more than crushed bulb. Alliin is of prime importance because Allicin is derived there from; other sulfides are in turn derived from the degradation of Allicin.

Side Effects : No significant side effects information is available so far.

Caution : According to Ayurveda, Herbs are taken in combination with other herbs to neutralize the toxicity of one herb with the opposing effect of the other or to enhance the particular effect of one herb with the help of other.

"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."