Post by Rik Wallin on Apr 6, 2007 10:31:16 GMT -6
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Fresh or dried pieces of the garlic bulb
Used for:
· Common cold, sore throat; a natural antibiotic and antiviral
· Ear infections in children
· High blood pressure, high cholesterol
· Fungal infections
· Chronic or recurrent infections; frequent yeast infections; low resistance to infection
Available in: Raw cloves, dehydrated powder, oil, extract in tablets or capsules, tinctures
Herb/drug interactions: Garlic thins blood, so large amounts should not be taken with coumadin or other blood-thinning agents.
When buying: Buy fresh, raw garlic. Chopping or mashing garlic releases the herb's full potential as the active component, allicin, forms only on contact with air. Commercial garlic capsules do not preserve the full activity of the fresh bulb and are consequently less effective. To make garlic oil, crush a few cloves into some olive oil. Let the oil sit a few days at room temperature, and then strain. Keep the oil in a container in the refrigerator and warm a bit as needed. If you use powders, tinctures or other commercial garlic products, choose those standardized for allicin content.
Warning: Remember: A clove of garlic is one segment in a head (the entire bulb).
DOSAGES
Adults:
Two cloves of raw garlic at the first sign of a cold. Mash them or chop finely and mix with food, or cut cloves into chunks and swallow them whole like pills (if you don't chew, the garlic won't stay on your breath); two cloves per day for chronic or recurrent yeast infections or low resistance to infection.
Children under 10:
Raw garlic is too strong. Use garlic pills instead. For ear infections, a few drops of warm garlic oil in the ear canal.
Fresh or dried pieces of the garlic bulb
Used for:
· Common cold, sore throat; a natural antibiotic and antiviral
· Ear infections in children
· High blood pressure, high cholesterol
· Fungal infections
· Chronic or recurrent infections; frequent yeast infections; low resistance to infection
Available in: Raw cloves, dehydrated powder, oil, extract in tablets or capsules, tinctures
Herb/drug interactions: Garlic thins blood, so large amounts should not be taken with coumadin or other blood-thinning agents.
When buying: Buy fresh, raw garlic. Chopping or mashing garlic releases the herb's full potential as the active component, allicin, forms only on contact with air. Commercial garlic capsules do not preserve the full activity of the fresh bulb and are consequently less effective. To make garlic oil, crush a few cloves into some olive oil. Let the oil sit a few days at room temperature, and then strain. Keep the oil in a container in the refrigerator and warm a bit as needed. If you use powders, tinctures or other commercial garlic products, choose those standardized for allicin content.
Warning: Remember: A clove of garlic is one segment in a head (the entire bulb).
DOSAGES
Adults:
Two cloves of raw garlic at the first sign of a cold. Mash them or chop finely and mix with food, or cut cloves into chunks and swallow them whole like pills (if you don't chew, the garlic won't stay on your breath); two cloves per day for chronic or recurrent yeast infections or low resistance to infection.
Children under 10:
Raw garlic is too strong. Use garlic pills instead. For ear infections, a few drops of warm garlic oil in the ear canal.