Garlic has been used since time immemorial as both a culinary spice and medicinal herb, and plays an important part in traditional Chinese medicine.
Garlic is anti-microbial and has been shown to be effective against many types of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi, including candida.
Research has shown that garlic inhibited the growth of salmonella, staphylococcus, streptococcus and has shown an effect against E coli. Garlic increases immune-enhancing properties and exerts a strong anti-viral response to herpes simplex virus 1 and 2, parainfluenza virus type 3, and human rhinovirus type 2, among a few others.
Garlic has shown great effectiveness in destroying common intestinal parasites like roundworm and hookworm. It is useful also for anyone recovering from food poisoning.
Garlic has also been shown to have many cardiovascular health benefits, mostly due to its sulphur compound ‘allicin’, with research indicating that garlic supplementation lowers cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.
The high concentration of sulphur compounds (33 in total ) and mustard oils in garlic make it a very potent anti-catarrhal agent, reducing mucous congestion.
Garlic is most popular as an immune enhancer during the winter months and is available in 500mg organic capsule form from Viridian, and an odourless tablet from Quest.
For further information contact Susan in Au Naturel, Irishtown, Athlone, on (090 ) 6487993.
