Garlic
originated from Asia with reports of it use dating
back five thousand years. It was revered by the Egyptians and
Sumerians,
written about by the first Greek doctors and thrives today as an all
important
culinary ingredient and medicinal herb. Adding garlic to your diet can
help
increase your vitality and general well being and even protect you
against
parasites.
The garlic plant comes to us in the form of bulb that is
generally called a head. This head is devided up into cloves which are
fleshes
wedges enclosed within a thin filament.
The garlic plant displays a large number of red and
white flowers that
bloom in the spring and summer. It also bears a small capsule shaped
fruit.
Garlic contains many beneficial vitamins, minerals and
compounds including sulfurous compounds, Alum, vitamins A, B1, B2, C
and
niacin. The Sulfur compounds include Allicin and Diayll Sulfides and
are
considered the main bio-active ingredients of garlic. Travelling
through the
blood, these sulfurous compounds permeate all the organs and tissues of
the
body before leaving through the kidneys, lungs, and skin. These
sulfides along
with all the other vitamins and minerals
give garlic many beneficial health properties
including the ability to
combat anemia, aid in constipation, help in liver function, lower blood
pressure, and facilitate circulation.
The compound Allicin is also considered to be a very
powerful antiseptic and antibiotic and can be used to treat and prevent
bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Garlic can also help boost the
immune
system and increase the presence of white blood cells. Many at home
remedies
can be prepared using garlic, the most effective utilizing raw garlic
which
retains more of the plants healing properties when compared to garlic
that has
been cooked, powdered or otherwise preserved.
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Top Ten garlic home
remedies:
1: Ear pain Remedy
Take two garlic cloves, crush them and add them to warm
water. Strain the water then add a few drops to your aching ear.
2: A sleep aide
A garlic salad will put you out like a light
3: For Warts and
acne
The strong antifungal properties of garlic can be used as a
topical for warts and acne. However, use caution since garlic can be
irritating
to the skin as well.
4: For rheumatism
A garlic rub
can ease
the pain inflammation of swollen joints and reduce pain. A diet rich in
garlic
can also improve blood flow and help with pain. Once again use caution
when
using garlic as a topical.
5: Lowering blood
pressure
Eating raw chopped garlic everyday can help lower your blood
pressure over time (especially when paire with a sensible diet). You
can eat it
raw if your stomach and taste buds are capable. You can also add
chopped garlic
to oil and then add to your food right after cooking.
6: Virility
A combination of garlic, wheat germ oil and cayenne can put
some real pep in your step.
7: Flu and
allergies
Mix chopped garlic with honey and lemon to relieve symptoms
of the flu and allergies.
8: Sore muscles
A rub or compress of garlic paste can ease sore muscles.
Eating garlic can also help keep you toned anf fit.
9: Quitting the
nastiest of all habits
People have reportedly quit smoking by eating two garlic
cloves first thing in the morning, two with lemon juice before lunch
and two
more after dinner. Please use caution when attempting, too much garlic
can make
you sick.
10: Hair loss
People have also claimed that rubbing a mixture of garlic
juice, rosemary tea, honey and lemon on their scalp made some of their
hair
grow back.
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