Garlic, A potent Medicine

GARLIC, A POTENT MEDICINE

      Garlic, Allium Sativum, is a member of the onion family. It grows readily and should be planted in the fall so it comes up in the spring. The stalks and flowers that grow from the garlic bulb can be eaten when they are young and they have a milder flavour than the cloves. Even the sticky juice within a garlic bulb is used to mend porcelain and china. The only part of garlic than cannot be used is its roots. Medicinally garlic is used for a wide variety of aliments including earaches, flu, strep throat, worms, athlete’s food, colds, kidney problems, infections and even stomach cancer. The downside of garlic is its pungent smell that may repel other people.

      The history of garlic is very interesting: “Garlic has been known has one of the oldest known horticultural crops in the Old World. Egyptian and Indian cultures referred to garlic 5000 years ago and there is clear historical evidence for its use by the Babylonians 4500 years ago and by the Chinese 2000 years ago. Some writings suggest that garlic was grown in China as far back as 4000 years ago. Not only during the time of the Babylonians and the Chinese but during the time of the Pharaohs, when Egypt was at the peak of its power, garlic was given to the labourers and slaves who were building the great pyramids in order to increase their stamina and strength as well as to protect them from disease.” (http://www.herballegacy.com/Motteshard_History.html)     

     The father of modern medicine, Hippocrates, used garlic for his patients in 400 B.C.. He treated leprosy, wounds, digestive disorders, and various infections with it. During the Middle Ages, possessing garlic made people feel that they were protected from sorcerers and vampires. It also made them feel lucky.

Eating garlic cooked negates its medicinal value. It must be consumed raw and to make it more palatable the following recipes were invented: 

Tincture of Garlic

¼ pound of separated garlic cloves

½ quart Brandy

Seal tightly in brown bottle and put it in the dark. Shake once a day for two weeks.

Strain and take 25-30 drops a day.

Garlic Cough Syrup for Respiratory Ailments

1 pound of fresh garlic

1 quart of boiling water

Let the water and the garlic sit for 12 hours, then add

sugar to resemble a syrup. Honey may be added

as well.

Garlic Tea for Sore Throat

½ cup of water

several cloves of garlic

Soak overnight. Brace yourself and drink it.

Recipes are from www.gardensablaze.com/HerbGarlicMed.htm

Garlic has stood the test of time in that it has been used for centuries, so we can safely use it today as a preventative and a restorative for health. This humble member of the onion family has a reputation for healing bodies and warding off evil. All it needs is a little care, some fertile soil, and it produces a whole pharmacy of herbal medicine.