What Is It?

Garlic (Allium sativum), a member of the onion family, has been used for thousands of years both as a food and an herbal remedy. It produces long, flat leaves that resemble spears (gar is the Old English word for "spear"; lac means "plant"). The bulb contains a cluster of several separate pieces, called cloves, enclosed in a papery skin. Ancient Greek physicians believed that garlic could provide help against numerous complaints, including parasite infections, respiratory problems, poor digestion, and low energy.

How Does It Work?

Garlic produces a sulfur-containing compound called allicin. When acted on by enzymes, allicin is converted into other active ingredients.

Will It Help?

Scientific studies confirm that garlic helps prevent atherosclerosis ("hardening of the arteries") by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. It prevents the formation of blood clots by reducing the stickiness of platelets and by fibrinolysis (preventing clotting proteins from forming a mesh that can trap blood cells). It also has mild activity in preventing infections by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and perhaps intestinal parasites. Garlic extracts stimulate the immune system, for example by triggering the proliferation of lymphocytes, boosting the release of cytokines, and promoting activity by natural killer cells.

Some studies suggest that people whose diets include high levels of garlic are at lower risk of cancers of the stomach, esophagus, and colon. In animal and laboratory studies, the sulfur compounds in garlic may inhibit activity by certain enzymes, which may account for the anticancer properties of the herb. However, the doses of garlic needed to produce these effects in animals may be too high for humans to consume. Also, garlic compounds have triggered the development of liver cancer in experimental animal studies.

Recommendations

There is an ongoing debate about which form of garlic is best: whole raw garlic or garlic in tablet form; aged or fresh garlic; garlic with odor or "deodorized" garlic. To prevent breath or body odor, some people prefer enteric-coated tablets (which prevent digestion of garlic until it reaches the small intestine). Too much garlic can cause heartburn and flatulence.

Many people can consume adequate levels of garlic simply by increasing its use in the diet. Check with your doctor before taking garlic supplements. Because the herb can prevent clotting, people scheduled to undergo surgery should talk to the surgeon beforehand.

ˇˇScientists Think Garlic Might Prevent Bowel Cancer
Researchers in New Zealand say garlic might prevent bowel cancer. In a study, rats were fed a substance found in garlic. According to the television station, the garlic stimulated cancer-fighting enzymes in the rats. Scientists say the best way for you to get the same benefits is to eat raw garlic.

Suppressive action of garlic oil on growth and differentiation of
human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823

More information:

The Garlic Information Center an international information service on the medicinal benefits of garlic.
The Stinking Rose is a Southern California restaurant serving everything garlic.

Related story:

May 18, 1999: Curing Bad -- And We Mean Bad -- Breath
Aug 7, 2000: The Wall Street Journal report about early year history of our company

This The Stinkin Rose Ring site owned by John Huang.
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