Garlic

Garlic

Also known as 'Poor man's Treacle', this herb is fantastic! It's almost a panacea for a variety of disease that is viral, bacterial, or fungal in origin. It acts on respiratory infections such as chronic bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, and recurrent colds and flu. It is said to prevent H.pylori as well as it is extremely antiseptic. Also, it's useful for digestive infections.

Garlic is diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, and stimulant. Garlic is also beneficial in treating hypertension and high triglyceride level. It prevents arteriosclerosis, and acts as a tonic on the cardiovascular system. Moreover, it strengthen the immune system and has anti-cancer effects. Aged garlic extract seems to be more effective in this manner.

However, those who has sensitive stomach or gastrointestinal inflammation might not want to take this herb as it is can be overly stimulating.

One might ask, what is the best way to utilise Garlic in our everyday life? The answer is simple: use them in what they do best, flavouring your food! You might want to try them in your favourite dishes, such as in marinade (it works well with Rosemary and the mixture goes on well with Thyme and Oregano too, both herbs being an effective antibacterial herbs too) and frying vegetable. Use Garlic when you are frying with oil as Garlic contains various antioxidants to prevent oxidation of the oil.

Garlic can be used as an anthelminthic, usually used to treat diarrhoea caused by worms and dysentery. It can be used in conjunction with Tree Tea Oil (in a poultice form) to treat fungal infection on the skin. However, do remember to prepare a suitable preparation as too strong a preparation can burn the skin.

If you are struck down with flu, try this recipe. It cures me instantly when I am on the brink of infection. However, take it after a light meal but never on an empty stomach. Yikes it hurts!

Garlic Syrup

Ingredients

• 1 head Garlic

• 300ml of water

• Juice of 1 lemon

• 2 tablespoon Honey

1. Peel the Garlics crush them before putting in the water and bring to the boil. Simmer gently for 20 minutes.

2. Allow to cool to lukewarm, add the honey and lemon juice. Strain and drink.

My advice is, prepare the juice later when the concoction is simmering. This will prevent the Vitamin C content to oxidise rapidly. It might smell bad too, so down it all without taking even a sniff (this works well when you are having a running nose).

However, I also recommend Garlic capsule i.e. the capsule of Garlic essential oil as supplement.

**Image taken from http://www.foodmuseum.com/images/garlic1.jpg