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GARLIC: A Potent powerhouse "Each clove of garlic has a sacred power..." (Rev. Hilderic Friend, "Flowers and Flower Lore", 1891) Garlic is an herbal powerhouse! Its pungent smell and taste pale in comparison to its potent medicinal properties. Garlic has been used medicinally for at least 4,000 years. Cloves were found in King Tut's tomb in Egypt, and in the Middle Ages, garlic was thought to ward off the plague. In 1858 Louis Pasteur documented that garlic kills bacteria. During World War II, when penicillin and sulfa drugs were scarce, garlic juice was used as an antiseptic to treat open wounds and prevent gangrene. Garlic kills 60 types of fungi and yeast; reduces blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol; kills bacteria; and contains anti-oxidants that fight free radicals. Stomach and colon cancers are less prevalent in garlic users and it can kill the H. pylori virus that causes ulcers. It effectively treats ear infections when infused in oil and dropped into the ears, and it kills vaginal yeast infections when inserted vaginally. Additionally, syrup of garlic can be used to fight bronchitis and coughs. Recent science has confirmed many of garlic's medicinal uses. Garlic is used either raw or cooked, depending on what condition is being treated. Supplements are available; however, garlic's savory and delectable taste is too good to miss. As a precaution, people who take blood thinning medications should check with a health care professional before supplementing with garlic. Debbie Markel, Certified Herbalist and Certified Natural Health Professional, is the proprietor of Apothecarian Herbals, LLC in Powhatan. She can be reached at 598-5352 or visit www.herbalconsultant.com.
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