Home Remedies - Garlic

Part used: corms.

Properties: circulatory stimulant, antiseptic, blood purifier, diaphoretic, digestive stimulant, carminative, expectorant, tonic.

Energy: warming, stimulating, sweet. Reduces Water and grounds excessive Air, increases digestive Fire.

Caution: avoid prolonged concentrated use during first trimester of pregnancy. Safe for occasional tea, culinary and short-term uses.

Garlic should be found in every home. Used regularly, it is an overall tonic for the system, helping to promote good digestion and assimilation, and strengthening the adrenal glands. It stimulates and improves blood circulation, because it clears cholesterol and other impurities from the blood. It therefore finds a place in treating excess weight, lymphatic congestion, hypertension and heart disease. However, it should be avoided in any bleeding conditions, such as excessive menstrual bleeding or blood in the stools.

Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Eating a clove raw or expressing the juice into one tablespoon of vegetable oil at the first sign of a cold, flu or any infection will usually clear or at least weaken it. Good quality garlic powder can be used instead of raw garlic, though it will not be quite as effective.