Garlic: The wonder ‘drug’

From epidemiological studies of cancer in China and Italy to clinical trials in high blood pressure and high cholesterol in the United States, garlic has come under intense scientific scrutiny in the last ten years as a potential “wonder drug.” Much of this research has investigated the effects of garlic in cardiovascular disease. This priority […]

From epidemiological studies of cancer in China and Italy to clinical trials in high blood pressure and high cholesterol in the United States, garlic has come under intense scientific scrutiny in the last ten years as a potential “wonder drug.” Much of this research has investigated the effects of garlic in cardiovascular disease. This priority of research is probably inspired by the importance of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke, the leading causes of death in the many parts of the world.

 

Clinical experiments in recent times have confirmed several ancient beliefs about healing value of this herb. These experiments have in fact, proven much greater powers of garlic than known previously. The unpleasant odour in garlic is due to its volatile oil which has remarkable medicinal virtues.

H.K. Bakhru in his book, “Herbs that Heal: Natural Remedies For Good Health,” says, “garlic is one of the most effective remedies for lowering blood pressure. Pressure and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasm of the small arteries. It also slows the pulse and modifies the rhythm, besides reliving symptoms of dizziness, shortness of breath and formation of gas within the digestive tract.”

Mrs Serah Abagai, Head, Dietetics Department, National Hospital corroborated this. “Garlic helps to emulsify fat from the body. It burns fat in the blood vessels. It frees the blood vessels and allows blood flow without much pressure. Hence, it helps to control and lower blood pressure.”

Just to mention that you cannot readily get a heart attack, stroke or high blood pressure as long as blood flows smoothly through your veins and arteries.   Both heart attacks and strokes occur when blood vessels are clogged, which can lead to the formation of blood clots.  During a heart attack, a clot blocks circulation in an artery supplying blood to the heart, thus damaging or destroying part of the heart.  In a stroke, a blood clot stops blood supply to the brain depriving it of oxygen.

Russie Bakhru says garlic is used extensively in the treatment of rheumatism and associated diseases. Even in Britain, garlic is recommended for rheumatic problems. Recent experiments in Japan tested a garlic extract on patients with lumbago and arthritis with a large number being benefitted without any undesirable side-effect.

“Garlic is one of the most beneficial herbs for the digestive system. It is good for the lymph and aids elimination of waste matter in the body,” Bakhru stated. Garlic purifies the blood and enhances adequate circulation. It eliminates toxins which overloads and clogs the circulatory system by purifying the blood and stimulating circulation.

Health experts say garlic contains hundreds of minerals and nutrients. It is very likely that no one ingredient is the “active ingredient.” It is very likely that garlic’s effectiveness and safety comes from these ingredients working together in concert. And if any particular ingredient should be found more potent than the others, and that ingredient were isolated and made into a medicine, it will probably have powerful negative side effects like virtually every other drug in use today.