Edited 2009

Garlic Benefits Are Widely Known

The health benefits of Garlic have been known for centuries. The ancient herbalists knew of the health benefits of garlic, benefits which they used often. The English name for Garlic originates back to Anglo-Saxon times, being derived from gar (a spear) and lac (a plant). This is a reference to the shape of the garlic plant's leaves, which are long, flat and thin.

Garlic is a member of the Lily family, one of its closest relatives being the onion.

Garlic benefits are mentioned in Old English writings from the tenth to the fifteenth century. Chaucer, for example, refers to Garlic as 'Poor Man's Treacle', meaning an elixir or 'cure-all'.

Writings on the health benefits of Garlic date back to the time of Pliny, in the first century. He states that Garlic and onion were called upon as gods by Egyptians undertaking oaths.

The main health benefits of garlic from general knowledge, are for: garlic and high blood pressure; garlic and cholesterol; and the use of garlic as an antibiotic. Garlic benefits not only the heart, arteries, immune system and high blood pressure, but also is very beneficial for the lungs. These uses are explored below.

One of the additional health benefits of garlic is that, when considering any problems of using garlic, side effects are very few.

The use of garlic as an antibiotic has been known for many years. For many centuries, Garlic has been used to fight various infections. Long before antibiotics were developed in 1928, Garlic was often used in the treatment of infections from bronchitis and tuberculosis to dysentery and typhoid as well as your general colds, flu, ear, nose & throat infections.

During World War I, The health benefits of garlic were strongly tested: garlic was used to dress the wounds of soldiers, with fantastic results. Garlic certainly saved many lives by stopping infections in the wounds turning to blood poisoning.

It is still not fully understood exactly how garlic benefits the immune system and achieves its antibiotic action; though its pungent, odorous volatile oil, allicin, is considered to be one of the main active constituents.

Other therapeutic constituents present in Garlic are, vitamins A, B, C and E; minerals such as Germanium (assists toxic metal elimination, restores pH - acid & alkaline balance - and is an immune enhancer); and Selenium (an essential nutrient, and antioxidant which enhances the body's own healing mechanisms).

[Next: Uses of Garlic...]

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