Parts Used
Properties
Common Uses
Locating and Handling
Caution
Origin
"A plant kept in our gardens for its uses in medicine, and in the kitchen. It grows two feet and a half high. The leaves are broad, long, and and of a strong green. The stalk is round, smooth, and firm, upright, and of a pale whitish or bluish colour. The flowers are white and small, but they grow in a large tuft at the top of the stalk. The root is white, or a little reddish; it is composed of a great number of bulbs, or, as we call them, closes, joined together, and covered with a common skin, and with fibres at the bottom. The whole plant has an extremely strong smell, and an acrid and pungent taste.
The root is to be boiled in water, and the decoction made into syrup with honey; this is excellent in asthmas, hoarseness, and coughs, and in all difficulties of breathing."
Bulb, allicin forms when garlic clove is crushed
Anti-infective, germicide, antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, alterative, antiseptic, reduces cholesterol, inhibits blood-clotting, lowers blood pressure, opens lungs and bronchial tubes, eliminates parasites. Possibly anticarcinogen.
Chop cloves of garlic and use to make tea, or add to foods when cooking. It may be more effective used raw. Garlic oil may be made by adding chopped garlic to heated olive oil. Inhale fumes for respiratory ailments
Buy fresh at the grocery store, or dried in the spice section. Garlic is easy to grow in the garden. Also helps to repel some garden pests.
Skin irritant when applied directly.
Recorded as early as 2000 B.C.
