A Cure For All!

Garlic has been traditionally considered as a remedy for many diseases. In fact it was treated as ``white nectar``, a panacea!! Right from treatment for common cold to the much dreaded heart disease, garlic played an important role in Indian Ayurveda and Homeopathy. Of late our modern science has also acknowledged the medicinal value of these little, pungent pods...
Ingredients:
The medicinal benefits of garlic are attributed to the two ingredients present in it. They are:
1). Allicin. This has anti-fungal and anti-biotic properties.
2). Diallyl Sulphides.These shares the anti-fungal properties of Allycin; but has additional benefits in enhancing blood circulation and lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. It is also believed to boost the immune system.
Medicinal uses of Garlic:
1. Garlic is used to lower the cholesterol level in our blood. It is a heart healthy food and this fact has been acknowledged by modern medicine as well but, instead of raw garlic, extract of garlic in the form of pearls/capsules is used. In Ayurveda also, Garlic (Lasoon in Sanskrit) is used for heart ailments in the4 form of medicated ghee (Ghritham in Sanskrit).Allium Sativum, as it is known in the Homeopathic parlance, is used symptomatically in certain types of cold, flu, rheumatic pain as also in heart diseases.
2. As a blood pressure lowering substance. 4-5 cloves of garlic (smashed) and boiled in milk is a well known remedy in Kerala ( a state in India, the cradle of Ayurveda) for Hypertension and High cholesterol
3. As a natural and innocuous anti-biotic/antifungal, it is used to prevent infections and bacterial growth in wounds etc. It is estimated that garlic has about 1% antibacterial effect of Penicillin.
4. It helps increase antioxidant enzymes like Atalase and Glutathione Peroxidase. It slows down the harmful effects of Nicotine.
5. Garlic is a potent carminative which aids digestion and ease out the complaints of ``gas`` in the stomach.
6. It has got some analgesic properties when applied on decayed tooth. It kills the acid producing germs in the decayed tooth and thus relieves the pain.
7. From ancient times, Garlic has been used as a rejuvenative (Rasayana in Sanskrit) and an aphrodisiac.
Other benefits; Garlic is used to ward off insects like flies and mosquitoes and reptiles like snake. In ancient times it had been used to give protection against bad spirits.
A word of Caution; Garlic should not be used indicreminatively, as it may be allergen to certain people. If taken in excesses, it may produce gastric discomfort and nausea. Some people may be intolerant to the smell of garlic. Though cooking and usage in the form of pearls/capsules will reduce the pungent smell and taste of Garlic, remember that they are not as effective as the RAW Garlic in therapeutic use.