Benefits and Uses of Garlic

Garlic is by no means an uncommon herb, as many people use it in their cooking on a 
regular basis. But what you might not realize is that it has a host of health benefits, 
making it one of the best healing herbs around. The good news is that you can often 
just use it in food to get these medicinal benefits. 


About Garlic

What exactly is garlic? It is an herb that belongs to the onion family, a reason why onion 
and garlic flavors go so well together. Some other seasonings and herbs within this 
family include shallots, chives, and leeks. 

In recent years, as more people get interested in holistic medicine, garlic has been used 
more for its natural healing properties, and not just as a delicious and healthy way to 
flavor food. This information is going to provide you a look into how garlic can be used 
in natural healing.


 





1. What Healing Properties Does Garlic Have?

You are probably most curious about what kind of healing properties and medicinal 
qualities garlic has. That is why we’re here after all! Here is a bit of information about 
the history of garlic, and what it is in garlic that gives it those healing benefits. In the 
next section, we will get more specific of how you can benefit from it. 


The History of Garlic

Before understanding where the healing properties come into place, it can help to know 
a little about how it became a popular way for natural healing in the first place. 

The history of garlic goes as far back to 5,000 years ago in Egypt and India. During this 
time, it was one of the first horticulture crops and called the stinking rose. It was used to 
ward off evil, then over the years used for seasoning food, and for holistic remedies. 


Where Do the Healing Properties Come From?

The reason garlic has so many health benefits comes down to the different properties, 
but mainly an oil in garlic called allicin. This is also where it gets both its pungent odor 
and the intense flavor. Allicin is a natural antibacterial, which is why health benefits are 
often related to antibacterial properties. 

In addition to this, there are more than 40 healthy compounds, including selenium, 
flavonoids, and arginine in garlic. 



2. Healing Benefits of Garlic

Now for the actual healing benefits you can get from garlic. 


Boost Your Immune System

One of the benefits people look to the most is improving their immune system. While 
taking or eating garlic isn’t going to provide a cure or full prevention of illnesses, it can 
definitely reduce the risk when you have a stronger immune system. In fact, immunity 
shots that are natural often contain garlic, thanks to how well it works to boost your 
immunities naturally.





Balance Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

Another excellent health benefit of garlic is that it can help to balance your cholesterol 
and blood pressure levels. This includes lowering your blood pressure, and lowering 
your bad cholesterol, while helping to support good cholesterol levels. It is particularly 
beneficial with garlic extract, which has shown to improve your blood lipid levels.


Improve Your Cardiovascular Health

Your heart health is not something you ever want to mess around with. This is why 
boosting your cardiovascular health is such an amazing health benefit of garlic. Many 
studies have been performed with garlic extract and placebos, to show that the people 
with garlic extract indeed improved their overall cardiovascular health, including 
reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure. 


Use as a Natural Antibiotic

When you get an infection, you typically go to your doctor for a harsh antibiotic 
prescription. It can be expensive and a little hard on your body and gut. Plus, you can 
build an immunity to antibiotics when you take them too often. But what if there was a 
natural solution? Garlic has actually been shown to be a powerful antibiotic.


Possible Benefits: Brain Health and Reducing Your Risk of Cancer

This last section we want to preface by saying studies are still being performed to look 
at exactly how well garlic can help with cancer and brain health. However, the results do 
look good so far. It may help protect from certain types of cancers, including colon, 
prostate, and stomach cancer by helping to kill off some of the cancer cells in your 
body. 

Studies have also been done to look at the effectiveness of garlic for your cognitive 
function, and reducing the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease.










 


3. How to Use Garlic for Healing

Understanding what garlic can do for you is only the first step. You next to be a little 
more familiar with how to use it. The good news? In most cases, just consuming it is 
going to let you benefit from it! 


Different Ways to Use Garlic

Consume it – The easiest way to benefit from using garlic for its health benefits is by 
eating it. This is with either eating it raw, or using it more in your cooking. Raw garlic 
does have more potent healing properties, so that is something to keep in mind. 

Crush it an apply on your skin – A few different health remedies with garlic require 
actually using it on your skin, as opposed to ingesting it. For example, it can help a lot 
with athlete’s foot. You actually crush raw garlic and rub it on your feet. Another option 
is to rub it on pimples to help them go away, though be careful not to use it with any 
cracks in the skin or open wounds.

Use garlic oil or extract – Other options include getting a garlic oil to consume or rub 
on your body, or use a garlic extract.





4. Alternative: Using Garlic in Cooking

As we mentioned, just cooking with garlic is one of the ways you can get the healing 
benefits of garlic, while also seasoning your food. Here are a few quick tips for cooking 
with this herb.


Choose the Right Garlic Bulb

When you are shopping for a garlic bulb at the grocery store, look for a plump, fresh 
garlic where the skin doesn’t look dry and is not peeling off. If it is, it is likely old and not 
going to stay fresh for very long. Pick up the garlic and make sure the skin is smooth 
and doesn’t come off in your hands. 


A Little Goes a Long Way

Be careful how much garlic, whether pressed or minced, you add to your dishes. If you 
are new to using garlic, start with a small amount, no more than a clove or two. As you 
start cooking more with it, you will become more familiar with how much you want to 
use. 


Don’t Burn it! 

Garlic cooks fast, often much faster than other ingredients in your pan. It is best to leave 
it until the end in most cases, after you have heated your oil and sautéed onions. If you 
throw it in first thing, it will likely burn before you are done cooking. Once it turns bitter, it 
has been overcooked and your dish won’t taste the same.


 
5. More Tips and Tricks for Using Garlic

Before you go out and buy some garlic to achieve all these wonderful holistic benefits, 
we have some final tips and tricks for you.


You Can Eat it Raw

Something that tends to surprise most people is that if you want to consume your garlic 
for its health benefits, you can actually eat it raw! You definitely need to be okay with the 
smell and flavor, since it is still pretty pungent when it isn’t cooked. However, the 
antibacterial properties are much higher in raw garlic, especially when consumed on an 
empty stomach.


Reducing the Breath Odor

Once you start eating garlic, whether raw or in a dish you prepared, your breath might 
smell strongly of garlic. It can last quite a long time, as well as the lingering taste in your 
mouth. To remedy this, try chewing on some mint or apple slices after you eat the garlic, 
and that should help freshen your bit a little.


Be Careful When Infusing Garlic

A lot of different herbs can be infused in oil like olive oil or cooking oil, but with garlic, 
you need to use it right away. This should not be done with oil you intend to store for a 
long time, or it is going to spoil and can even grow bacteria. Make sure you infuse it 
close to when you plan to cook with it.

