Garlic

Overview

Garlic is an herb that is grown around the world. It is related to onion, leeks, and chives. It is thought that garlic is native to Siberia, but spread to other parts of the world over 5000 years ago.

Garlic is most commonly used for conditions related to the heart and blood system. These conditions include high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia), and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

In foods and beverages, fresh garlic, garlic powder, and garlic oil are used to add flavor.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): While garlic may have some benefit for preventing the common cold, there is no good evidence to support using it for COVID-19. Follow healthy lifestyle choices and proven prevention methods instead.

Classification

Is a Form of:

Herb

Primary Functions:

Heart and blood system

Also Known As:

Aged Garlic Extract, Ail, Ail Blanc, Ail Cultive, Ail Rocambole, Ajo, Alho

How Does It Work?

Garlic produces a chemical called allicin. This is what seems to make garlic work for certain conditions. Allicin also makes garlic smell. Some products are made "odorless" by aging the garlic, but this process can also make the garlic less effective. It's a good idea to look for supplements that are coated (enteric coating) so they will dissolve in the intestine and not in the stomach.

Uses

  • Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). As people age, their arteries tend to lose their ability to stretch and flex. Garlic seems to reduce this effect. Taking a specific garlic powder supplement (Allicor, INAT-Farma) twice daily for 24 months seems to reduce how much hardening of the arteries progresses. Higher doses of this product seem to provide more benefits in women than men when taken over a four-year period. Research with other products containing garlic along with other ingredients (Kyolic, Total Heart Health, Formula 108, Wakunaga) have also shown benefits.
  • Diabetes. Garlic seems to modestly reduce pre-meal blood sugar levels in people with or without diabetes. It seems to work best in people with diabetes, especially if it is taken for at least 3 months. It's unclear if garlic reduces post-meal blood sugar levels or HbA1c levels.
  • High levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia). While not all research agrees, the most reliable evidence shows that taking garlic may reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, "bad" cholesterol) in people with high cholesterol levels. Garlic appears to work best if taken daily for more than 8 weeks. But any benefit is probably small. And taking garlic doesn't help increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL, "good" cholesterol) or lower levels of other blood fats called triglycerides.
  • High blood pressure. Taking garlic by mouth seems to reduce systolic blood pressure (the top number) by about 7-9 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) by about 4-6 mmHg in people with high blood pressure.
  • Prostate cancer. Men in China who eat about one clove of garlic daily seem to have a 50% lower risk of developing prostate cancer. Also, population research shows that eating garlic may be associated with a reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. But other research suggests that eating garlic does not affect prostate cancer risk in men from Iran. Early clinical research suggests that taking garlic extract supplements might reduce the risk of prostate cancer or reduce symptoms associated with prostate cancer.
  • Preventing tick bites. People who consume high amounts of garlic over about an 8-week period seem to have a reduced number of tick bites. But it's not clear how garlic compares to commercially available tick repellants.
  • Ringworm (Tinea corporis). Applying a gel containing 0.6% ajoene, a chemical in garlic, twice daily for one week seems to be as effective as antifungal medication for treating ringworm.
  • Jock itch (Tinea cruris). Applying a gel containing 0.6% ajoene, a chemical in garlic, twice daily for one week seems to be as effective as antifungal medication for treating jock itch.
  • Athlete's foot (Tinea pedis). Applying a gel containing 1% ajoene, a chemical in garlic, seems to be effective for treating athlete's foot. Also, applying a garlic gel with 1% ajoene seems to be about as effective as the medicine Lamisil for treating athlete's foot.

Recommended Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis): A 300 mg garlic powder tablet (Kwai, Lichtwer Pharma), taken as a single dose or three times daily for up to 4 years, has been used. Also, 150 mg of a specific garlic supplement (Allicor, INAT-Farma) twice daily for 24 months has been used. Combination products containing garlic have also been used. A specific aged garlic extract supplement (Kyolic, Total Heart Health, Formula 108, Wakunga) containing 250 mg of aged garlic extract taken daily for 12 months, has been used. Also, a combination product containing 300 mg aged garlic extract, taken at a dose of four tablets daily for one year, has been used.
  • For diabetes: Garlic powder 600-1500 mg daily has been used for at least 12 weeks. A 300 mg garlic tablet (Allicor, INAT-Farma) taken two to three times daily with medications called metformin or sulfonylurea, for 4 to 24 weeks has been used.
  • For high levels of cholesterol or other fats (lipids) in the blood (hyperlipidemia): A dose of 1000-7200 mg of a specific aged garlic extract (Kyolic, Wakanuga) has been used daily in divided doses for 4-6 months. A dose of 600-900 mg of a specific garlic powder tablet (Kwai, Lichtwer Pharma) has been taken daily in two or more divided doses for 6-16 weeks. Also, 300 mg of another specific garlic powder product (Garlex, Bosch Pharmaceuticals) taken twice daily for 12 weeks has been used. Also, 1,200 mg of garlic powder plus 3 grams of fish oil daily for 4 weeks, or 500 mg of garlic oil plus 600 mg of fish oil daily for 60 days, has been used.
  • For high blood pressure: 300-1500 mg of garlic tablets taken in divided doses daily for 24 weeks has been used. 2400 mg of a specific garlic powder tablet (Kwai, Lichtwer Pharma) taken as a single dose or 600 mg daily for 12 weeks has been used. Capsules containing 960-7200 mg of aged garlic extract, taken daily in up to three divided doses for up to 6 months, have been used. Specific products containing aged garlic extract include Kyolic (Garlic High Potency Everyday Formula 112, Wakunga/Wagner). 500 mg of garlic oil plus 600 mg of fish oil daily for 60 days has been used.
  • For prostate cancer: 1 mg/kg of a water-soluble garlic extract, taken daily for one month, has been used.
  • For preventing tick bites: Capsules containing 1200 mg of garlic taken daily for 8 weeks have been used.

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

  • For ringworm (Tinea corporis): Garlic ingredient ajoene as a 0.6% gel applied twice daily for one week has been used.
  • For jock itch (Tinea cruris): Garlic ingredient ajoene as a 0.6% gel applied twice daily for one week has been used.
  • For athlete's foot (Tinea pedis): Garlic ingredient ajoene as a 1% gel has been used.

Garlic Supplements Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of garlic pills?

11 Proven Health Benefits of Garlic

  • GarlicContains Compounds With Potent Medicinal Properties
  • GarlicIs Highly Nutritious But Has Very Few Calories
  • GarlicCan Combat Sickness, Including the Common Cold
  • The Active Compounds in GarlicCan Reduce Blood Pressure
  • GarlicImproves Cholesterol Levels, Which May Lower the Risk of Heart Disease.

How many garlic pills should I take a day?

Dosages generally recommended in the literature for adults are 4 g (one to two cloves) of raw garlic per day, one 300-mg dried garlic powder tablet (standardized to 1.3 percent alliin or 0.6 percent allicin yield) two to three times per day, or 7.2 g of aged garlic extract per day.

Are garlic supplements safe?

Garlic has been used safely in research for up to 7 years. When taken by mouth, garlic can cause bad breath, a burning sensation in the mouth or stomach, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, body odor, and diarrhea. These side effects are often worse with raw garlic. Garlic may also increase the risk of bleeding.

Are garlic pills as good as fresh garlic?

When a person eats fresh garlic, allicin is released by chewing or mincing the herb. It's more challenging to get allicin from a garlic pill, however. In some cases, if the pills dissolve in the stomach, the garlic enzyme needed to produce allicin becomes inactivated. "That's not the same as eating garlic."

What are the side effects of garlic pills?

Garlic has been used safely in research for up to 7 years. When taken by mouth, garlic can cause bad breath, a burning sensation in the mouth or stomach, heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, body odor, and diarrhea. These side effects are often worse with raw garlic. Garlic may also increase the risk of bleeding.

Does garlic help sexually?

High in an ingredient called allicin, garlic can help stimulate circulation and blood flow to sexual organs in both men and women. However, because of garlic's mood-killing smell, eat it in moderation.

Is garlic pills bad for kidneys?

Levels that are too high or too low can cause health problems. Herbs such as garlic, turmeric, and cinnamon are healthy in normal amounts consumed in food. However, in pill form these herbs can alter liver enzymes, thin the blood, and change kidney functions.

What happens if I eat garlic everyday?

Consuming garlic on a daily basis (in food or raw) helps to lower cholesterol levels because of the anti-oxidant properties of Allicin. It is also immensely beneficial to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It is imperative to consume garlic raw or semi-cooked to derive any of its benefits.

Does garlic cause liver damage?

A 1.0 g/kg body weight/day dose of garlic was associated with marked histological damage in liver after 21 days. Therefore, the present study suggests that garlic with high dose has the potential ability to induce liver damage and low doses (0.1 or 0.25 g / kg body weight/day) are safe doses of garlic.

Does garlic pills help immune system?

Garlic Can Boost Immune Function

Garlic contains compounds that help the immune system fight germs. Whole garlic contains a compound called alliin. However, allicin is unstable, so it quickly converts to other sulphur-containing compounds thought to give garlic its medicinal properties.

What medications does garlic interact with?

Cyclosporine: Garlic may interact with cyclosporine, a medication taken after organ transplant, and make it less effective. Blood-thinning medications: Garlic may make the actions of blood-thinning medications including warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), and aspirin stronger, increasing the risk of bleeding.

When should I eat garlic morning or night?

Digestion And Weight Loss Benefits: Eating raw garlic first thing in the morning stimulates digestion and appetite. A smoother digestion, amongst other things also aids effective weight loss. Eating raw garlic is also effective for tummy problems like diarrhoea.

How much garlic should I take for erectile dysfunction?

Do it at home: Chew two to three cloves of raw garlic daily. Regularly chewing two or three cloves of raw garlic helps treating sexual impotence. In addition, eating garlic bread prepared with whole grains helps in the production of healthy sperms.

How long does allicin last in garlic?

In the case of alliin, the resulting sulfenic acids react with each other to form a thiosulfinate known as allicin (half-life in crushed garlic at 23°C is 2.5 days). The formation of thiosulfinates is very rapid and has been found to be complete within 10 to 60 seconds of crushing garlic.

Can I drink garlic water everyday?

Consuming raw garlic helps you reduce the blood glucose levels of the body. Having garlic with water every day helps you prevent the risk of such common problems. 6. By lowering the bad cholesterol in the body, garlic protects your heart by preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Does garlic burn fat?

Garlic is a known appetite suppressant. It helps keep you fuller for longer, further preventing you from overeating. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition, there is an association between garlic and fat-burning. The compounds in it are known to stimulate the fat-burning process.

Can I eat raw garlic everyday?

Consuming garlic on a daily basis (in food or raw) helps to lower cholesterol levels because of the anti-oxidant properties of Allicin. It is also immensely beneficial to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It is imperative to consume garlic raw or semi-cooked to derive any of its benefits.

What does garlic do to a man's body?

Men and women generally agree, garlic on the breath isn't pleasant. But according to a new study, men who eat garlic actually smell more pleasant and attractive to the opposite sex—not their breath, but their body odor.

Does garlic good for kidney?

Recent studies suggest that allicin may play a role in chronic kidney disease (CKD), reducing hypertension and oxidative stress and improving renal dysfunction.

Is garlic good for the liver and kidneys?

Garlic: Garlic contains selenium, a mineral that helps to detoxify the liver. It also assists the liver in detoxing metals, while boosting bile production. Walnuts: Walnuts are high in the amino acid arginine and assist the liver in detoxifying ammonia.

Can I eat garlic at night?

A fresh clove of garlic placed beneath a pillow is believed to bestow a calming effect on the nervous system, thanks to the sulphurous compounds which are released from the garlic. Of course, the garlicky scent may take some getting used to, but it's surely worth it for a good night's sleep!

Clinical Studies