Garlic Benefits Latin Name Allium sativum (Linn.

) English Name Garlic Sanskrit / Indian Name Lasuna Garlic has been chosen as Herb of the Year for 2004. What a great choice. This is one of the most widely used culinary and medicinal herbs. Garlic or Allium Sativum is a nerve stimulant and revigorating tonic that has been known for its value in cases of sexual weakness. It has also been tested recently for cases of nervous debility. Garlic Benefits: Garlic is used as a carminative, aphrodisiac, expectorant, and stimulant. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, hypolipidemic ,anticoagulant, hypoproteinemic, hypocholesteremic, antibacterial, antifungal, antihypertensive and hypoglycemic action. It increases prothrombin time and fibrinolytic action. It is used in dermatophytosis, cough, febrifuge, in intermittent fever, earache, dyspepsia, flatulence, colic, reduction of mineralization and antifertility. It is also used as a rubefacient, hepatoprotective and anti-androgenic. The platelet and hypolipidemic activities of Garlic ensures smooth coronary function. Action: The platelet and hypolipidemic activities of Lasuna ensures smooth coronary function. Indications: Extensive tests on humans have concluded that a regular intake of garlic can: * Lower total cholesterol (but raise the good-type HDL cholesterol) * Produce more "natural killer" cells in the blood that will tackle infections and tumours * Lower blood pressure * Reduce the risk of blood clots (that are responsible for most heart attacks and strokes) * Destroy infection causing viruses and bacteria * Regulation of stomach function * Improvement of blood circulation Garlic: a wonder of nature, wonderful for humans

Introduction These days there have been big talks that we humans have got derooted from our natural world and are becoming a part of such an artificial environment. We are constantly trying to modify ourselves and our surrounding into a place that is just comfortable to us. We really dont care about the fact that we are with our wrong attitude is completely trying to disturb the homeostasis of nature. It might be said as irony that we do know that what can be the consequences by disturbing the natural balances of nature. Same is with our body. We know very well that the lifestyle we nowadays leading are extremely dangerous for our health. We can easily experience certain inconveniencies our body faces. No doubt we have to

carry on with the work pattern we are leading but still their has to be some solution to make our body attain that natural tinge with which proper equilibrium can be maintained between our body and nature. This can easily be achieved with the help of lasuna or garlic. Garlic can be said as the Gods blessing to mankind. It has been a companion of man since prehistoric times. Garlic is one of those rarest herbs that have diversified field of action. It is used as both food supplements as well as medicine. Ayurveda, the oldest health science has been deriving benefits from lasuna of garlic since time immemorial. What is garlic? Garlic is an ayurvedic herb that has been extensively as medication and as the taste enhancer of the food. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, being derived from gar (a spear) and lac (a plant), in reference to the shape of its leaves. Garlic is a herb that belongs to the onion group. It is both cultivated and also grows in wild. As per modern point of view it belongs to liliaceae family and according to ayurveda it belongs to rasone kul (family) What are other names for garlic? Garlic is known with many names. As the availability of garlic is diversified that it is available almost all over the world. Owing to its distribution it is known in many names as per its availability geographically. Various other names of garlic are given below. Sanskrit Rasone (meaning without the sour taste), Lashun and Ugragandha (due to sharp odor) Hindi name lahsuna Bengalese rashun Arabic seer English name garlic Latin name Allium sativum

How garlic herb looks like? It is a perennial herb that attains a height of 1 to 2 feet. The stalk is soft and bears a covering on it. Garlic is a herb whose leave are long, narrow and elongated. It appears as a grass. The bulb of garlic consists of many bulblets usually 5 to 12 in number. These bulblets are known as garlic cloves. These cloves are clustered together and are wrapped in a thin whitish- pinkish scaly sheet. The flowers arise from the apex of the stalk that arises directly from the garlic bulb. These flowers are present in the group having globular head or are present in the umble presentation. Where is garlic found? Garlic is an herb that is found almost in all the continents this world has. Widely it is seen in Indian subcontinent, Africa, southern European countries, southern part of America and Australia . Historical back ground of garlic There are several historical events related to garlic and it usage indicating that garlic was considered very sacred and precious herb. In ancient Greece people use to place garlic on the pile of the stones at crossings of roads as food for Gods. As per Pliny lasuna and onions were considered very sacred and were used for taking oaths. References of garlic can be traced back in Virgils Eclogue where it is aid that Romans and Greek relied heavily on garlic and consumed lots in food. There is a famous Mohammedan prodigy which states that 'when Satan stepped out from the Garden of Eden after the fall of man, Garlic grew up from the place where

he put his left foot and Onion from that where his right foot touched.' Even their is a famous superstition in European countries that the person who eats the bulb of the garlic will always make his competitor lose. Even Hungarian jockeys used to tie a clove of garlic to their horses in anticipation of win as they believed that other competitors would lag behind when they smell odorous smell. Many other references can be traced in various books written in ancient times that are full of praises of garlic due to its medicinal properties. Pliny has given long phrases in the praise of garlic. Garlic is mentioned in numerous Old English herbarium from the tenth to the fifteenth centuries, and is described by the herbal physicians of the 16 th century from Turner (1548) onwards. It is stated to have been grown in England before the year 1540. In Cole's Art of Simpling we are told that cocks which have been fed on Garlic are 'most stout to fight and 50 are Horses': and that if a garden is infested with moles, Garlic or leeks will make them 'leap out of the ground presently.' What are the Chemical constituents of garlic ? Garlic is rich in minerals and vitamins. It contains almost a dozen compounds that enrich it with the properties it possesses. Below are some of the many chemical constituents that are helpful in providing garlic, the properties that it possesses. Allicin Beta-carotene Beta-sitosterol Caffeic acid Chlorogenic acid Diallyl disulfide Ferulic acid Geraniol Kaempferol Linalool Oleanolic acid P-coumaric acid Phloroglucinol Phytic acid Quercetin Rutin S-Allyl cysteine Saponin Sinapic acid Stigmasterol Alliin

Below are some of the minerals and vitamins that garlic possesses Calcium Folate Iron Manganese Magnesium Phosphorus Selenium Potassium

Zinc Vitamin Vitamin Vitamin Vitamin

B1 (Thiamine) B2 (Riboflavin) B3 (Niacin) C

As per ayurvedic view point garlic contains snigdh (slimy), tikshan (peneterating) , pichill (sticky), guru (heavy) and sar (easy to flow). These all properties make it act in number of diseases. The rasa (taste) present in the garlic also helps it in its a diversified actions. It contains five rasa (taste). These are madhur (sweet), lavana (salty), katu (pungent), tickta (bitter) and kahsya (astringent) . It has hot potency and is pungent in taste after it gets digested. In general garlic is very helpful in treating diseases that are originating from vata and kapha vitiations. How does garlic work? Local application garlic has been very effective in suppressing the inflammation and reducing pain. It has the potential to increase the blood circulation and also regularizes it to attain normal blood flow. It is also very much effective in increasing the blood flow to the applied area. Nervous system it is a hot potency herb that is helpful in stimulating various bodily activities and also increases the metabolism. It is helpful in toning up of the complete nervous system. It is also beneficial in suppressing the aggravated vata dosha as it is hot in temperament. In general it has been seen that all the major problems of nervous system are due to vata vitiations. Garlic is extremely helpful in managing the vata problems thereby are very effective in treating these disorders. It is also very effective in increasing the vision and helpful in treating eyes related problems. Digestive system it is wonderful agent that is very effective in regularizing the digestive tract. It is a wonderful appetizer and extremely helpful in regularizing the peristaltic movements. It is also very helpful in increasing the secretion of gastric glands thereby facilitating easy digestion. It is also helpful in stimulating the liver and hence is extremely beneficial in section of bile juices. It is very beneficial as reducing the spasmodic condition in the gastrointestinal tract so is extensively used in relieving stomach ache. It also has the properties by which is extremely beneficial in suppressing the wormal infestation in the body. Carminative action of garlic has also been observed that makes it more effective in dealing with abdominal problems. Cardiovascular system it also plays a very beneficial role on heart and complete cardiovascular system. As it is hot in potency and penetrative in nature it is helpful in providing stimulation to the heart hence provides the proper rythmicity to the heart. It helps in providing proper contraction and relaxation of the heart. Respiratory system being hot in potency and penetrative nature it is extremely essential for expelling out the extra amount of mucus that gets accumulated in the lungs and respiratory tract. It also helps in toning up of the respiratory system. It is also very beneficial in toning up of the throat. It is also helpful in reviving the smell sensation of the nose. Excretory system being penetrative in nature it is helpful in excreting out the urine from the body. It nourishes urinary bladder and is also acts as diuretic in nature. It is also beneficial in curbing any kind of infection in the

urinary tract. Reproductive system garlic is pichill (sticky) and snigdh (slimy) in nature and hence works as an aphrodisiac agent. It helps in increasing the sperm count and also raises the quality of the sperms. It is also helpful in toning up of the female genital tract. Skin it is one of the best agent that is helpful in treating the skin related problems. Due to presence of gandhak (sulphur) compound in it. It is widely used in skin related problems in ayurvedic system of medicines.

Raw garlic homogenate (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg once daily for 30 days) was administered orally in Wistar albino rats. Thereafter, hearts were isolated and subjected to IRI (9 min. of global ischemia, followed by 12 min of reperfusion; perfusion with K-H buffer solution; 37C, 60 mm Hg.). Significant myocyte injury and rise in myocardial TBARS along with reduction in myocardial SOD, catalase, GSH and GPx were observed following IRI. Depletion of myocardial endogenous antioxidants and rise in TBARS were significantly less in the garlic-treated rat hearts. Oxidative stress induced cellular damage as indicated by ultra structural changes, like disruption of myofilament, Z-band architecture along with mitochondrial changes were significantly less. Oxidative stress is a well established etiopathogenic factor of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and its consequences. Reperfusion of the ischemic myocardium is the only logical approach for the successful management of patients with acute obstruction of coronary arteries. Morphologic observations of the ischemic myocardial tissue undergoing reperfusion suggest that reperfusion injury is a true pathologic phenomenon and a distinct entity from the preceding ischemic injury. Generation of reactive oxygen species immediately upon reperfusion has been documented in experimental conditions, as well as in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing thrombolysis, coronary angioplasty or open heart surgery.Upon reperfusion, molecular oxygen undergoes sequential reduction to form reactive oxygen species, including superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical, in addition to hydrogen peroxide. The interaction of oxygen-derived free radicals with cell membrane lipids and essential proteins contribute to myocardial cell damage, leading to depressed cardiac function and irreversible tissue injury with concomitant depletion of certain key endogenous antioxidant compounds, e.g., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) What are the health benefits of garlic? Garlic is a wonderful ayurvedic herb that can be used in so many herbal preparations as well as in single herb drug also. It is extremely beneficial in disorders attaining vata and kapha imbalance in the body. Heart related problems lasuna or garlic is extremely helpful in treating various kinds of heart related problems. It is helpful in diseases like congestive heart diseases High cholesterol garlic is one of the most effective herb in treating high level of cholesterol. It is helpful in decreasing the amount of LDL (low density lipo-protein) which is known as bad cholesterol and raises the level of HDL (high density lipo protein) that is known as good cholesterol. Hypertension garlic also plays a major role in regulating the blood pressure in the body. It also helps in normalizing the blood flow and also helps in removing the plaque formation that makes the blood vessels less

elastic leading to blood pressure and causes heart problems. Platelet aggregation these are extremely required for stopping the blood let in case of any injury. Garlic helps in platelet aggregation there for is extremely helpful in avoiding any hemorrhages. Carcinomas as per the recent studies garlic is very helpful in blocking the formation of the carcinogens called as nitrosamines. The antioxidant properties of garlic also facilitate this action of garlic. Infections garlic is extremely helpful in curbing infection in the body, it is commonly known as the natural antibiotic due to its scavenging powers to suppress infections. Diabetes - garlic has the potential to lower the blood sugar levels. It is also helpful in stimulating pancreas to make available the desired amount of insulin to keep in balance the sugar or the glucose levels. Constipation due the properties by which it regulates the peristaltic movement hence is very helpful in avoiding the constipated condition. Indigestion garlic is also very helpful in supporting the digestive system. It is also helpful regulating the proper secretion of the gastric enzymes so as to carry out the digestive process in the most appropriate fashion. Wormal infestation garlic is also helpful in curbing the wormal infestation in the body and do not let any kind of protozoa creep in to our body. Allergies due to the presence of sulphur group in the garlic it possess the properties to treat the allergies and other related problems. It is also very helpful in asthmatic condition that is also caused due to allergic condition in the respiratory tract. Garlic is also helpful in treating various skin related problems. Cold and flues due to its antiviral properties and anti histaminic nature it is helpful in avoiding the conditions like clod and flues. It is also beneficial in chronic condition of cold as it is hot in potency. Toothache garlic is one of the best agents that are widely used in decreasing the tooth ache. Garlic oil or clove is directly applied in the affected tooth or the affected gum to get the instant relief. It has both analgesics as well as anesthising properties. Earache juice of garlic is very helpful in relieving from ear ache instantaneously.

Benefits Of Garlic - The extracts of Allium sativum bulb and compound preparation possess pharmacodynamic properties. The extract of garlic was found to have a significant protective action against a fat induced increase in serum cholesterol and plasma fibrinogen and in fibrinolytic activity. Garlic is used as a carminative, aphrodisiac, expectorant, and stimulant. Anticancer Actions: Human population studies show that eating garlic regularly reduces the risk of esophageal, stomach, and colon cancer. This is partly due to garlic's ability to reduce the formation of carcinogenic compounds. Animal and test tube studies also show that garlic, and its sulfur compounds, inhibit the growth of different types of cancerespecially breast and skin tumors. Circulatory Effects: More than 250 publications have shown that garlic supports the cardiovascular system. It may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, inhibit platelet

stickiness (aggregation) , and increase fibrinolysis- which results in a slowing of blood coagulation. It is mildly antihypertensive and has antioxidant activity. Antimicrobial Actions: Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal activity' It may work against some intestinal parasites. Garlic appears to have roughly 1 % the strength of penicillin against certain types of bacteria. This means it is not a substitute for antibiotics, but it can be considered as a support against some bacterial infections. Candida albicans growth is inhibited by garlic, and garlic has shown long-term benefit for recurrent yeast infections. High Blood Pressure: Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. The pressure and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasm of the small arteries. It also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm, besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness, shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive track As these days garlic capsules are available with the chemist shops, the average dosage of two to three capsules a day to be given to make a dent in the blood pressure. Digestive System Disorders: Garlic is one of the most beneficial foods for the digestive system. It exercises a beneficial effect on the lymph, aids in elimination of noxious waste matter in the body. It stimulates peristaltic action and the secretion of the digestive juices. Crushed cloves of garlic may be infused in water or milk and taken for all types of disorders of the digestion. It has an antiseptic effect and is an excellent remedy for infectious diseases and inflammations of the stomach and intestine. The oil of garlic is absorbed into the alimentary tract and is eliminated partly through the urine. Garlic produces a very marked effects on the intestine. It is an excellent agent as a worm expeller. It has also a soothing effect on the various forms of diarrhoea. Problems such as colitis, dysentery and many other intestinal upsets can be successfully treated with fresh garlic or garlic capsules One garlic capsule taken three times a day is usually sufficient to correct mild cases of diarrhoea or dysentery. For more persistent cases, upto six capsules a day can be taken. Garlic has the ability to destroy harmful bacteria in the intestines without affecting the beneficial organisms which aid digestion. Skin Disorders: Garlic has also been used successfully for a variety of skin disorders Pimples disappear without scar when rubbed with raw garlic several times a day. Even very persistent form of acne, suffered by some adults, has also been healed with garlic. The external use of garlic helps to clear the skin of spots and pimple, and boils. The process is further helped by taking the garlic orally also, to purify the blood-steam so as to secure a long term clearance of the skin. A regular course of three garlic capsules per day should help to clear minor skin infections quickly. Whooping Cough: Garlic is an excellent remedy for whooping cough. Syrup of garlic Should be given in doses of five drops to a teaspoonful two or three times a day in this condition. It should be given more often if the coughing spells are frequent and violent.