Spices Health Facts: Garlic
Garlic is one of the most versatile spices. They go well with almost any type of dish such as stew, stir-fry and fried dishes. Because of their usefulness in the kitchen, fresh and powdered garlic became a staple in many kitchens around the world. And since they are readily available in most homes, it is best that we understand the other uses of garlic apart from its culinary use so we can maximize its benefits.
For hundreds of years, garlic has been used by many people for medicinal purposes. It is known to have anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties.
Medicinal Uses of Garlic
Allergies. Because of the antiviral properties of garlic, it is an excellent home remedy to soothe allergies. Simply mince 1 clove of garlic and add to a cup of warm water. You can also add a teaspoon of honey to taste. Mix and drink.
Athlete’s Foot. If you are suffering from athlete’s foot, don’t worry because garlic makes an effective cure for this condition. Fill a tub with warm water, add a splash of alcohol in it together with 3 cloves of crushed garlic. Soak your feet in the footbath for about 30 minutes and dry with a towel afterwards. When dry, rub fresh garlic juice on the affected area. Do this at least once a day until the affected area clears up.
Bruises. To cure bruises, prepare fresh garlic juice from one clove of garlic then add salt. Apply this solution to your bruises and it will help alleviate the pain. The same goes if you have sprains.
Bug Bites and Rashes. Get rid of itchy bug bites or stings and rashes by applying raw garlic juice to the affected area. Itching will stop immediately.
Cold and Flu. To prevent cold and flu, eat fresh garlic as soon as you start to feel the symptoms.
Cough Relief. The antibacterial properties of garlic make it an effective reliever of coughs as well as other throat irritations. Drinking 2 tbsp of garlic juice three to four times a day will do the trick.
High Blood Pressure. To help regulate your blood pressure, include garlic in your daily diet. You can either take one clove of fresh garlic everyday or add fresh garlic liberally to the food you eat. Garlic can lower blood pressure and help improve blood flow, reducing your risk of stroke.
Tonsillitis. There are several ways on how you can alleviate the symptoms of tonsillitis using garlic. But one of the best ways is to prepare 1 clove of crushed garlic and boil it with 2 cups of water. Drink this mixture at least once a day until you can find relief from tonsillitis.
Toothaches. Garlic is known to have antibacterial, anesthetizing and analgesic properties which make it an excellent home remedy for toothaches. Just put crushed garlic on the affected tooth to relieve the pain.
Warts and other Skin Problems. Garlic has the ability for fighting bacteria and infections making it an excellent cure for skin problems including warts. All you have to do is cut the tip of a fresh clove of garlic and rub the open tip to the affected area for several seconds. Do this every day before going to sleep until the wart clears up.
For many centuries now, garlic has proven itself to be one of the most effective home remedies for many types of diseases. Be sure to keep a clove of garlic or two in your pantry so they’ll come in handy when you need them.