Herbs

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Garlic

Technical Name:	(Allium sativum) Fresh or dried pieces of the garlic bulb
Used for:	Common cold, sore throat, ear infections in children, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fungal or yeast infections, chronic or recurrent infections, low resistance to infection; it is a natural antibiotic and antiviral agent.
Available In:	Raw cloves, dehydrated powder, oil, extract in tablets or capsules, tinctures
Herb Drug:	Garlic thins blood, so large amounts should not be taken if using coumadin or other blood-thinning agents. Regular use of garlic should be avoided prior to surgery.
Interaction:	Remember: A clove of garlic is one segment of the head (not the entire bulb).
When Buying:	Buy fresh, raw garlic. Chopping or mashing garlic releases the herb's full potential as the active component, allicin, forms only on contact with air. Commercial garlic capsules do not preserve the full activity of the fresh bulb and are consequently less effective. To make garlic oil, crush a few cloves into some olive oil. Let the oil sit a few days at room temperature, and then strain. Keep the oil in a container in the refrigerator and warm a bit as needed. If you use powders, tinctures or other commercial garlic products, choose those standardized for allicin content.
Dosage and Warning:	Take two cloves of raw garlic at the first sign of a cold. Mash them or chop finely and mix with food, or cut cloves into chunks and swallow them whole like pills (if you don't chew, the garlic won't stay on your breath); two cloves per day for chronic or recurrent yeast infections or low resistance to infection.
Child Dosage:	Raw garlic is too strong. Use garlic pills instead. For ear infections, a few drops of warm garlic oil in the ear canal.

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