Garlic
Health Benefits

Garlic: A Superfood for Health and the Immune System

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Boils
Posted by Leslie (Pascagoula, MS) on 04/02/2008
★★★★★

It seems that ever since hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast we have been battling more and more cases of boils. I have found that GARLIC helps get rid of boils. At any stage in the cycle of the boils if you get the 1000 mg GARLIC capsules and squeeze the gel onto the boil it will get it to come to a head and drain or the boil will disappear completely.It generally takes a few days but it does work to eleviate the swelling and pain and its effective in healing the boils. Its safe for children.At the first signs of even a bump take one gel capsule and sqeeze the gel onto the bump then rub it in aftewards throw away the used capsule and wash your hands. Repeat this at least three times daily until the boil is gone.


Cancer
Posted by Greek (Chicago, IL) on 03/28/2008
★★★★★

My dad was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1985. We live in a polluted community, he smoked, and my families diet was pretty heavy in red meat. He was given the proper medication and then discharged. He knew that cancer usually returns so he decided to modify his diet.

The first thing he did was stop smoking. He then changed his diet. No more red meats. He made sure to eat plenty of vegetables and fruits every single day. His main fruit of choice is bananas. The addition he made, which I think was the most valuable was garlic. Garlic is a huge staple for mediterraneans, so this wasn't a big adjustment. It was a big adjustment for everyone else in the house that valued breathable air. Well, 23 years later, he's as healthy as a horse. He gave cancer one hell of a beating.

I take the garlic pills because of the obvious odor. I work with a lot of people and I don't want any embarassing odor. Is there anything that can kill the bad breath or the odor that comes from the pores?

Cancer
Posted by Jeri (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on 01/01/2009

NO odor by eating fresh garlic cloves.

You do NOT have to have bad breath, the secret is NOT to bite/chew it. EVERY MORNING I squash and peel 2-3 cloves, chop up finely, let stand 10-15 minutes then I swallow it (without chewing) as I drink a glass of freshly squeezed lemon juice (with real warm water). NO garlic breath. (A few years ago, when working in a legal office, I would drink down the garlic cloves with Barley Greens and no one ever said I had garlic breath.) If you want to make sure you can later chew and eat some fresh parsley sprigs.

P.S. - when you first start doing this, you may have some garlic odor (I don't know if on your breath or from your skin) until your body adjusts but don't give up or despair because the health benefits are worth the initial 'inconvenience', if you have any.


Sore Throats
Posted by Marilyn (Cherry Hill, US) on 03/28/2008
★★★★★

My 27 year old son was so sick with strep throat. He couldn't swallow or talk much. I boiled a cup of water, once the water came to a boil I put one garlic clove cut in half in the water and let it continue boiling for 2-3 minutes more. Now I let it cool and let him drink it. This way you hardly taste the garlic. I did this twice every day for a week. He got better. My son never wanted to believe in the old remedies but now he can't deny the reality. I hope this helps someone.


Sore Throats
Posted by Jessica (West Brookfield, Massachusetts) on 03/16/2008
★★★★★

re: strep. THANK YOU THANK YOU! I used raw garlic for my sore throat and although it burned at first, it took the pain away. After six days I am finally comfortable!


Fountain of Youth
Posted by Laurie (Belleville, Ont) on 11/05/2009

Hello Douglas

You said that the reason garlic unique is that it increases the potency of whatever you combine it with.

Would it also increase Vitamin C by 5 to 10 times ???

Would it increase the potency of other herbals such as Oregano oil etc ?

Thank you for your very informative post
L.


Hints and Tips
Posted by Shelley (Olney, Illinois) on 01/31/2008
★★★★★

I like to put olive oil on my feet and then cut up diced garlic between my toes and all over the bottom of my feet. I then put my socks on and go to sleep. This helps distribute garlic throughout your body..IN FACT...you can even taste it after several minutes!!

Hints and Tips
Posted by Peter (Naga City, Phillipines) on 02/10/2012

Crushed Garlic on soles of feet as cure for Colds & Flu

Crush 2 lge cloves, spread over soles of feet put your socks on then go to bed for the night, especially good for children.


Ear Infection
Posted by Nikki (Almeria, Spain) on 01/11/2008
★★★★★

As a child on holiday in Spain, I had a terrible ear problem, infection i suppose, but can't recall anymore than the pain, and the fact that the local spanish staff took me into hotel kitchen and placed a hottish clove in each ear. pain gone and problem solved in a very short spce of time.

Now living in Spain full time, I generally eat a lot of garlic , but havent recently which may account for not feeling too great recently, so I am about to try some of the above concoctions. I do take acv each morning with honey though, which i now LOVE...

I havent tried this.. but have read on various cookery sites that if you split open the clove and take out the centre bit that is the part that first starts growing, it prevents the garlic breath after effects.

Gazpacho soup ( cold ) which is heavy on garlic, with fresh red peppers ( lots of vt C), cucumbers, tomatoes, all lquidized with some olive oilis a recipe I am going to adapt and drink loads of in near future,possibly with some extra cayenne pepper added.

I will see how it goes and let you all know.


Herpes
Posted by Shane (Sherman Oaks, California) on 12/27/2007
★★★★★

I have been studying Natural Remedies and herbal cures for years and found only an obscure reference to garlic for the treatment of boils in an old text. I used to get herpes around the mouth really bad where it would sometimes completely encircle my lips by 1/4 to 1/2 inch. The way to use garlic to treat these outbreaks is this (not entirely pleasant) - Take any size clove and break or cut in half. Eat one half immediately and chew completely. Take the other half and rub into the affected areas. THIS WILL STING- That's it! repeat as necessary until the herpes pain is gone. The first time you do this it will take a few applications every day until it stops the progression of the blistering. It will scab up. There will be a longer interval between outbreaks but the next time it happens start the treatment with garlic as soon as you feel it coming on. The blistering should not get very far if it even blisters at all. It takes 3-4 progressions of outbreaks and by they should be further and further between. I have not had an outbreak since 1995. A year ago I felt it a little and used the garlic right away and the feeling stopped immediately. ODORLESS GARLIC GELCAPS DO NOT WORK FOR THIS!!! I TRIED THEM AND THEY ARE WORTHLESS. Must be fresh garlic. Do not cut corners.

Herpes
Posted by Jennifer (Long Beach, Ca) on 12/10/2009

Vitamin E oil will stop and heal an outbreak, apply at first tingle or itchy feeling. Start adding lemon in your water to balance your ph ASAP do not consume food or beverages that cause acidosis or an acidic environment. Herpes will only break out if your ph is to acidic. I know lemon acid, but once consumed it becomes alkaline. Do some research on alkaline foods and acidic, both are needed but alkaline at a much higher ratio.


Let Garlic Sit
Posted by Steve (Scarborough, ME) on 12/17/2007
★★★★★

We must let the garlic sit for at least 10 minutes before heating up because when it is heated it stops the changes the garlic does when it is crushed or chopped into anti cancer properties. to get max benifit we must let the garlic sit! please inform the masses and sorry about the spelling!


Garlic From Kashmir
Posted by Alfredo (Mexico City, Mexico) on 03/18/2009

Yes please let us know where can we get the garlic from Kashmir, thank you

EC: Warning! There is only 1 site on the internet selling this as far as we can see, so the post was probably sent from there. Very little information is given about the company that sells it, only the product itself.


Boils
Posted by Naz (London, Uk) on 09/07/2009

I have find drinking at least 5 pints of Water a day clears up my bottom but still trying to find a cure for the scars!


Boils
Posted by Adam (Tucson, Az) on 11/26/2009

I am currently giving Garlic a go to help with boils and some other things. Some good ways to help scars heal is DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide or wood pulp oil) pure real Vitamin E liquid on the scar area after applying DMSO. Another method if you can obtain the equipment is IPL (intense pulsed light). It is infra-red light. I have seen this transform people from completely disfigured with terrible skin problems back to looking young and re-newed. In fact, my wife did this for a living for some time. Good luck!


Bronchitis
Posted by Hillary (Jonesboro, Georgia) on 09/27/2007
★★★★★

After years of suffering with horrible bouts of bronchitis, a lady, claiming to be a "witch" told me to soak my feet in hot garlic water, blanket over myself and the bucket, to inhale steam. She told me to do this for at least 6 hrs. I did not have bronchitis for 5 years. It is time to do it again (and I will), but was wondering, has anyone else heard of this "method" and what is is called?

Bronchitis
Posted by Natalie (Tillamook, Or) on 12/09/2009

Yes I have heard of this sort of thing. My doctor gave me a nebulizer and told me to use ______ (garlic drops) in the nebulizer and she said it works miracles. Iv used garlic for many other things its amazing. Natures antibiotic. :-)


Bronchitis
Posted by Dejan (Toronto, Ontairo) on 01/06/2010

This treatment is very common in Europe especially in the countries of Eastern Europe. We have all sorts of remedies with garlic, herbal tea, honey, red wine, etc. If there is a problem with breathing due to bronchitis or a horrible cold or flu, beside the garlic treatment, you can always brew a big pot of herbal tea, cover yourself with a towel and inhale the steam. You'd feel much better in no time.


Migraines
Posted by Beverly (Willsboro, New York) on 08/23/2007
★★★★★

I have started taking garlic tablets EVERY DAY Because in the past I have had over the period of 2 yrs flashing bright lights, like lightening) in front of my eyes. Even when I put my head under a pillow I still saw them, and it was very scarey. I went to a nuerologist and had a cat scan of my brain, his conclusion was he said I have the side effects of a migraine without the headaches. Well, since taking one garlic tablet every day, I am very excited to say, that I have had NO problems for about 4 years. So of course I told the Doctor. He didn't say much, I guess he was a skeptic.

Migraines
Posted by Sylviecha (Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada) on 02/15/2011

They are called ophtalmic migraines. I've had these a few times, in a 15 years period. It comes usually with seeing bright zig-zag-type lines in the central or side vision (to me, it's similar to the lines we could see back then on the black and white TVs, when the program wasn't getting through). There can also be flashing white light sensations. These symptoms usually resolve spontaneously after several minutes ( generally in less than one hour). I did some tests, and the DR told me these migraines are not dangerous. After the initial panic from not knowing what that was, I became accustomed to them and since I don't have them frequently, I don't bother anymore. But I know they can be accompanied by headaches (this is not my case), and that can be troublesome.


Migraines
Posted by Ellen (Leander, Tx) on 11/16/2014

Thank you sooooo much for posting this information about Ophthalmic migraines. I have experienced this several times and was worried I had a brain tumor or was going to lose my vision. I went to the ophthalmologist who didn't know what the problem was, but prescribed glasses for me.

It was soo comforting to read your response. I realize your post is over three years old, but if you see this again, THANK YOU!!!


Angina - Warning
Posted by Kathy (Benton, Ar) on 01/24/2012

http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com - learn more about garlic - garlic does reduce artery plaque, can cure MRSA, many, many things - it is a natural antibiotic. It will burn your skin if you are sensitive to garlic. That doesn't mean you are allergic, it simply means put something between your skin and the garlic. Use a mask with a garlic poultice in it to breathe garlic into the lungs. Make a paste of olive oil and garlic, place in poultice (tea bag), place on bottom of feet in the ball behind the toes for garlic to get to the lungs over night. I wrapped a piece of garlic in gauze and put in my ear over night. Earache gone the next morning. Breathing it into the lungs is also good for unclogging sinus. Go to the website I provided above.


Herpes
Posted by Emily (Madison, Maine) on 05/10/2007
★★★★★

I take the odorless garlic softgels for my Herpes outbreaks. I take twelve softgels when I feel the tingling and then three every four hours while awake for the next few days. If I don't get it soon enough to prevent it then it only lasts a few days. I also use the softgels for when I have ear pain. I pierce the gelcap and squeeze the contents on a cottonball and put it in the offending ear for an hour. Then do the same over night. You will feel an immediate response and the overnight treatment only needs to be done for a couple of nights. I LOVE garlic. These remedies I have found through many health and herbal remedy books.


Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Posted by Cynthia (San Francisco, CA) on 02/03/2007
★★★★★

THIS INFORMATION WAS VERY HELPFUL FOR ME AND THE REMEDY GARLIC REMEDY WORKED FOR ME VERY WELL AND LOWERED MY BLOOD PRESSURE AND HIGH CHOLESTEROL. THANKS AGAIN HAVE A GOOD DAY....

EC: Taking garlic juice with fresh water regularly reduces high blood pressure (hypertension).

Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Posted by Gus (Missoula, Montana) on 09/28/2011

EC, please tell me how to make garlic juice? thanks


Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Posted by Crystal (Melissa, Tx) on 07/28/2012

How long does it take for garlic to start lowering your blood pressure? Does anyone know of an instant bp reducer(natural, of course).


Bronchitis
Posted by Michelle (Albuquerque, NW) on 01/09/2007
★★★★★

Fresh Garlic cured my Bronchitis and Sinus Infection. 1 finely diced clove (not the entire bulb) 3x's daily with any complimentary food that has been cooled almost to room temp (eg. diced tomatoes, avocado, chicken noodle soup, spaghetti sauce, pizza, or even apple pie.) Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antifungal. Within an hour or so, easier to breather and think, in 4 days cleared up symptoms. Took for 7 days to eliminate any chance of becoming ill again. Drawbacks: odoriferous breath, and the odor also emanates from the pores of the skin. Use strong breath mints/cologne/essential oils to your liking.

Chewing Raw Garlic
Posted by Nancy (Kingston, NY) on 10/26/2006
★★★★★

For the past month or so I have had a horrendous cough with watery eyes, sinus drip and tickling in my lungs. The coughs were sounding real bad - like honking almost. I did a search on the net and figured I would try the garlic before going to the doctor (fearing of course TB or cancer etc...) Well - after only 48 hours of chewing a piece of elephant garlic as soon as the tickling began -- the cough has greatly reduced!! This morning the tickling moved from one lung to the other -- and I'm still chasing it with the garlic. I have had Lymes twice and whatever this infection is - reminds me of Lymes in the way it seems to move around inside the body. Whatever this is can't escape the wonderful garlic fumes. I even dropped a few slices in my wine last night. IT WORKS!!! Thank you so much.


Mono
Posted by Dan (Pittsburgh, PA) on 05/13/2006
★★★★★

About 2 weeks ago i was diagnosed with mono had very achy legs and arms. i have been cutting little slivers of garlic up and take it like a pill. wow it's strong, burns my stomach some too, but believe it or not, i feel so much better. i think i'm ready to retest for the mono. i think it will come up negative. my dad has lung cancer found out 5 yrs ago doctors gave him 6 months. i was very sad and even if my dad would pass away, i'll still consider him beating his cancer because he really did he lose so much weight but my dad has been taking garlic and garlic. he loves it. he puts it on bread plain and eats it -- he's gained weight now. he feels so much better. i love my dad he showed me how effective garlic would be and i'll never forget that secret he gave me. keep taking garlic it really does help.



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