Garlic is a powerful healing aid that has been used for thousands of years to successfully treat infection, improve immune function, boost cardiovascular health, and strengthen the body. Are you missing out on the healing benefits of garlic? Keep reading to find out how you can make use of this incredible food to protect your body and revitalize your health!

 

Historical use of garlic

Many cultures throughout history have recognized the benefits of garlic. In the story of the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites and other people who had left Egypt complained to Moses about their provisions, telling him “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick…” (Numbers 11:5). Indeed, garlic was frequently used by the ancient Egyptians to treat illnesses, parasites, cardiovascular issues, and even given in large quantities to slaves for strength during the long days of labour under the hot desert sun. 

 

 

Garlic was also an important part of ancient Greek and Roman culture. Garlic was used as a spice for eating and was also prescribed by physicians to combat disease. Garlic was a ubiquitous part of life in ancient China, used in both cooking and traditional Chinese medicine for treating a variety of issues, both physical and mental. Garlic was used extensively for treating disease in ancient India. 

 

 

Over time, garlic travelled around the world, making its way across Europe where it became a staple in many European dishes, especially those of Slavic origin, and was also recognized as a safeguard against such scourges as the Black Plague, gastrointestinal disorders, and respiratory infections. 

 

Garlic's healing properties

Garlic has a wide variety of applications. It is a potent antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antibacterial, excellent for detoxifying, and barring an allergy to garlic itself, has zero life-threatening side effects. The most common side effect from garlic is garlic breath or odour emitted from the skin, while consumption of high amounts of raw garlic may irritate the mouth or stomach and cause mild pain or discomfort. This is not life-threatening and can be remediated by using smaller amounts of garlic or by mixing it with food or juice. In very rare cases, consuming extremely high amounts of garlic may increase your chance of becoming anemic but this is generally not a problem for most people. 

 

 

Many drugs that are typically used in cases of infection or other health problems can trigger side effects that range from unpleasant to life-threatening. Drugs never help or heal the body. Instead, they only mask the symptoms of disease. While it’s true that antibiotics often kill off the bacteria that are causing a troublesome infection, they also kill the good bacteria that your body requires to perform normal functions. This can trigger a whole host of other problems, many of them long-lasting, even though the infection that antibiotics were originally prescribed to treat may be gone. Additionally, in spite of thousands of years of continued use to combat disease, garlic is effective against multi-resistant bacteria that cannot be successfully treated with conventional antibiotics, as bacteria do not become resistant to garlic. 

 

 

For most people, garlic is safe for use and works with the body to eradicate disease while strengthening the entire system. 

 

 

Conditions garlic has been demonstrated to be effective/preventative against include:

 

• Cardiovascular diseases and adverse events, including but not limited to: hypertension, heart attack, coronary heart disease, high cholesterol 
• Cold, flu, COVID-19, and other viral seasonal illnesses
• Upper respiratory infections 
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Cancer
• Inflammation (such as arthritis) 
• Heavy metal poisoning 
• & many other health issues 

 

 

Regular use of garlic can even lead to longevity and improved quality of life. 

 

Nutritional benefits

Garlic is rich in minerals and some vitamins, including sulfur, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and low amounts of vitamins A, thiamin (type of B vitamin), and C. 

 

Garlic also contains many phytochemicals, active compounds or substances produced by a plant that are designed to do specific things. One of the most powerful compounds that garlic contains is allicin. Allicin is responsible for the majority of garlic’s disease-fighting capability. Dr. Hullquist, in his book Garlic: Nature’s Perfect Prescription says, “Allicin has been demonstrated to block bacterial oxygen uptake by disrupting their cell membranes and interfering with lipid metabolism.”¹ Dr. Hullquist calls allicin “garlic’s natural antibiotic”. Once garlic has been crushed or chopped, the allicin is activated. Allicin quickly degrades and is destroyed by heat or cooking.

 

 

Another highly beneficial compound in garlic is ajoene, which exhibits anti-thrombosis activity, meaning it works to prevent blood clots. This is extremely good news for those at risk of stroke or heart attack, as garlic can effectively be used in place of prescribed blood thinners. However, it can be dangerous to suddenly stop taking medication, so it’s important to work with someone experienced in the use of natural remedies to aid in monitoring medication dosages to make a safe transition to using natural healing methods such as garlic in place of drugs. 

 

 

High levels of the elements selenium and germanium are also found in garlic. These elements have an antioxidant effect which further enhances garlic’s disease-fighting capabilities and makes it extremely potent in the prevention and eradication of cancer within the body.

 

 

Garlic is packed with many other healing compounds that work with the body’s natural defense system to fight and cure disease. It’s important to remember that heat greatly diminishes or destroys many of these properties. In order to achieve maximum results, garlic is almost always best used or consumed raw.

 

Applications

Raw garlic

Eat raw garlic cloves daily with meals. Heating or cooking destroys many of the beneficial compounds found in garlic, so it’s best to consume it raw. Chopping or crushing garlic and allowing it to rest for a few minutes prior to consumption activates and releases allicin. Allicin is damaged by heat so cooked garlic won’t give the same results as raw. 

 

For medicinal applications, five cloves of garlic are equal to a single dose of penicillin and can be used accordingly.² Freshly-made raw garlic juice can also be used as an antibiotic.³ The potency of raw garlic can be further enhanced by taking it separate from meals. It’s possible to purchase allicin extract capsules or liquid, but garlic is most effective in its whole, raw form, so it’s preferable to simply use fresh garlic cloves for treating disease. 

 

The following two recipes are useful for combatting any common illness and can be used at the first signs of a cold, flu, or infection such as Covid-19. For more garlic recipes and healing remedies, check out this article at Amazing Health: https://www.amazinghealth.com/healing/home-remedies-to-try. 

Flu Bomb 

1 crushed large garlic clove  

¼ tsp fresh ginger  

1 lemon juiced 

1 tsp honey 

1 drop eucalyptus oil (high quality)  

½ tsp cayenne (if not tolerated take in pill form)  

½ cup very warm /hot water  

 

Mix and drink quickly with food.

 

 

Nature’s Penicillin 

2 organic grapefruit* (wash well, leave rind on, chop roughly)  

2 lemons* (wash well, leave rind on, chop roughly)  

2 onions coarsely chopped  

1 entire garlic bulb coarsely chopped 

Add 6 cups water  

Bring to boil, turn heat to low, simmer 20 min.  

Strain immediately and drink quickly as possible while warm (not too hot)  

You can also blend all of the above without the water and drink/eat like a smoothie, only  adding enough water to blend to a smooth consistency.  

*use organic or if unable to obtain organic, wash well with grapefruit seed extract (GSE) to  remove chemicals on outer skin  

 

 

Garlic supplements

While it’s preferable to consume raw garlic in its natural form, those who struggle with eating raw garlic or who may not be able to consume high amounts due to a variety of reasons can use garlic supplements to obtain some health benefits but raw, fresh garlic will yield better effects. 

 

 

Topical applications

Raw garlic can be sliced and placed on moles or cancerous lesions on the skin. It can also be used on things like ringworm. Using raw garlic topically on skin can burn and damage the skin barrier, so it’s not recommended for long term use. Carefully monitor skin if garlic is used topically, and discontinue use immediately if skin begins to show signs of damage (redness, swelling, pain, etc.).

 

 

The following topical treatments can be used to aid healing of skin problems such as rashes, eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, skin cancer, and infected or necrotic wounds. 

 

 

Garlic Skin Treatment

8 oz fresh garlic juice

8 oz glycerin 

1 pint burdock seed tea

Mix all ingredients and apply as needed to a variety of wounds or skin ulcers, lesions, etc.⁴

 

Garlic juice made from water blended with raw garlic can also be used as a wash for topical issues such as ringworm. This is less harsh than applying raw garlic to the skin for a prolonged period of time. 

Garlic compress

Bring medium sized pot of water to a boil

Peel & chop several cloves of garlic; add the chopped garlic to the boiling water. 

Steep for 15 minutes and cool to less than 180 degrees.

To use, soak a small, soft cloth in the cooled garlic water, wring slightly and apply to affected area. 

Cover wet cloth with a dry towel and leave until warmth is no longer felt. Replace with new warm cloth and repeat until tingling is detected.⁵ 

 

 

Garlic is a powerful natural remedy that has been safely used for thousands of years. With correct practice, garlic can effectively combat disease without harming the body. 

 

 

Disclaimer 

Those with a garlic allergy or blood clotting problems such as hemophilia should not consume raw garlic without doctor supervision. Raw garlic or garlic supplements may not be advised for internal use two weeks prior to surgery, and those on blood thinners or other cardiovascular drugs should exercise caution as the added benefits of garlic may thin the blood too much, requiring less of the drug. Please consult with  a healthcare professional, or someone who has knowledge of natural remedies and can monitor drug dosages.