All About Garlic 



· Uses: medicinal, culinary, crafts (dried flowers), and in gardening, for pest-control 
· Origin uncertain, may be indigenous to southern Siberia
· Eaten as a vegetable in medieval times, rather than in discreet amounts
· Entire bulbs pickled in Southeast Asia
· Once thought to possess magical powers against evil and was widely used in charms and spells 
· Egyptians swore on a clove of garlic when they took a solemn oath
· Many of the legends surrounding it have to do with strength, speed, and endurance
· Egyptian slaves ate it when they built the pyramids, Israelites ate it before escaping from 
    Egypt
· Romans took it to strengthen them in battle, since it was the herb of Mars, the Roman god of 
    war  
· Legend has it that if a man nibbles on a bulb of garlic during a foot race, no one will be 
    able to get ahead of him (and it's doubtful anyone would want to draw close)
· Used for medicinal purposes since pre-biblical times
· Ancient Far East herbalists used it for high blood pressure and for respiratory problems
· Mentioned in a calendar which dates back to 2000 BC
· An Egyptian medical listing of 1550BC recommends it as a remedy for 22 different problems,
    including headaches, bites, worms, tumors, and heart ailments
· Old-time medicines include cough syrup, tea for sore-throat gargling, tincture, to lower blood 
    pressure, smelling salts, to relieve hysteria, and oil, to relieve ear aches
· Studies show it has powerful ingredients that earn it a place in modern medicine
· Effective component is allicin, equivalent in antibacterial power to 1% penicillin
· Has been shown effective against some influenza viruses, fungi, and yeasts, such as the ones 
    that cause athletes foot
· Has been found to reduce blood clotting, thus lessening the risk of heart attack and stroke
· Traditional cure for worms and other parasites in pets and people- its sulfur content is noxious
    to parasites
· Studies in India give cholesterol-lowering credit to garlic 
· Considered good for pest-control in the garden, particularly aphids: interplant with roses, 
    cabbages, eggplant, tomatoes, and fruit trees 
· Japanese scientists discovered that it breaks dormancy in some bulbs, tubers, and woody plants
· Researchers in the Northwest found  that garlic spray keeps deer away from tender saplings
. The active components of garlic are odoriferous; deodorized varieties have some of its benefits
    removed

			(Source: Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs)