Garlic is today’s Medicinal Monday feature. Apparently, there are over 600 types of Garlic with two main groups; soft neck and hardneck. Garlic has been used for many years as an antiviral, antibacterial and anti fungal. There are many other medicinal and physical uses for garlic, including:
- Digestion
- Improved immune system
- Reduces blood pressure
- Lowers cholesterol
- Treat yeast infections
- Treat prostate cancer
- Alleviates allergy symptoms
Allicin is the major biologically active component of garlic which makes all the the good stuff above happen. As commonly known, garlic has a very strong odor and unique taste. Eating garlic in its most potent form allows for optimum benefit, e.g, adding fresh crushed garlic for a few minutes prior to consumption. For those who want the benefit but not into eating raw garlic, taking an odorless, yet powerful pill is advisable. Garlinase will help reduce the odor or bad breath because it is enteric coated – which means it only dissolves in the small intestine and then absorbed quickly.
I love the taste of garlic and admit to most of my cooked vegetables. However, my most recent appreciation comes from my recent bout of my hair thinning in areas of my scalp. The allicin is a sulfur compound which is also found in onions and acts as growth agent for hair. I have started rubbing raw garlic cloves to my scalp in areas that are thinning with the hope of some progress, keep you posted!