|
|

| General
Information |

Common Name: |

Garlic
|
|
Latin
Name:
|
Allium Sativum
|
|
Family:
|
Liliaceae
|
| Other
Names: |
 |
Allium,
|
 |
Camphor of the poor,
|
|
Nectar of the
gods.
|
 |
. Camphor of the poor,
|
|
| Indications
& Historical Uses |
|
·
Protect the
circulation, lower cholesterol.
·
Protect against and
fight infections, colds, and flu’s.
·
Enhances immune
function.
·
Aids in the treatment
of arthritis, arteriosclerosis, digestive problems, insomnia, and
liver disease.
|
| Contraindications
& Precautions |
|
Nil known. Please
see Caution
Precautions:
See
caution
Adverse
Side Effects:
Garlic
does not have many adverse effects. The most commonly reported
adverse effects are the taste or offensive odor of garlic. However
some commercial products do not have this odor. There are rare
reports of garlic extracts causing burning of the mouth and
stomach, nausea, sweating and light-headedness.
Raw garlic and garlic oil may irritate the digestive system
and therefore should be taken with meals.
Drug
Interactions:
Nil
known
|
| Dosage
Information |
|
How
Supplied:
|
100mg, 200mg,
400mg tablets enteric coated. It is important to note that both
Allin and Allicin are unstable in gastric fluid and therefore it
has been suggested the best formulations of garlic are
enteric-coated tablets or capsules of dried garlic or garlic
powder.
|
|
Dosage:
|
400
mg per day of standardized extract. (Equivalent to 1200mg of fresh
garlic per day)
|
| Pharmacology
|
|
The
intact cells of garlic contain an odorless sulfur-containing
amino-acid - Allin ((+) S-ALLYL-L-CYSTEINE SULFOXIDE) When
these cells are crushed, the allin combines with allinase in the
neighboring cells to produce allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate), which
is a very potent antibiotic: The allicin is unstable, and decomposes
to other strong smelling sulfur compounds, including various diallyl-sulfides
and ajoenes (ah-jo-weens). The ajoenes are responsible for the anti-thrombotic
properties of garlic, while allicin itself has been shown to possess
anti-platelet, antibiotic and anti-lipaemic properties.
The
effectiveness of garlic in reducing cholesterol and serum lipids is
still controversial. However in a number of experimental double
blind studies garlic has been shown to reduce total cholesterol on
the average by about 6-9%. LDL Cholesterol by about 11% and
triglycerides by as much as 17%. In many cases a rise in
HDLCholesterol was also noted. The mechanism by which garlic causes
reduction in cholesterol is not completely clear. It is speculated
that the disulphide compounds in garlic oil affect thiol groups
found in many enzymes.
The
blood pressure lowering and anti platelet effects of garlic are
probably due to the compounds that influence calcium dependent
processes. Some of these have an effect on platelet aggregation,
lysosomal enzyme release and maintenance of vascular muscle tone.
Reduction in platelet aggregation is due to the interference with
thromboxane synthesis.
The
antimicrobial and anticancer properties of garlic are probably
attributable to the organic sulphur compounds in garlic. These
compounds may fight infections by interfering with microbial
structure or function; they may fight cancer by reducing the
formation and the activity of carcinogens.
It
is important to note that although garlic may help reduce blood
pressure and cholesterol, it will be most effective in conjunction
with appropriate life style modifications, such as appropriate diet,
exercise and smoking cessation.
|
|
Active
Ingredients:
|
|
|
Enhancing
Agents:
|
|
| Origin |
|
Xianjiang
Province, China
Now
widely grown
Garlic
is the bulb of the tall flowering plant Allium savium that
bears pink to purple flowers. Humans have been cultivating garlic
for more than five thousand years. The bulb has been handed down
through the centuries as a preventive medicine and cure-all that
many medieval folk healers claimed could ward off vampires,
witches and other unwanted imaginary creatures. Widely used as an
antiseptic for generations, garlic became known as" Russian
penicillin" in the days of penicillin shortages during World
war II, when people resorted to applying garlic juice to open
wounds.
|
| Processing |
|
Chinese
garlic is meticulously dried at ultra-low temperatures to protect
its TAP and enzyme activity.
The
powder is compressed into tablets, coated with an enteric coating
and a clear protein coating to lock in freshness and to eliminate
odor.
|
|
| Scientific
References |
|
|
|
·
Foster S:
Garlic: Allium Sativum, Botanical series 311, American
Botanical Council, Austin Texas, 1991. 7pp.
|
|
|
|
·
Kleijpen J.,
Krispschild P, & Tao Peit, G: British Journal of
Clinical Pharmacology 28:535-544(1989).
|
|
|
|
·
Bordia, A.
(1981) Effect of garlic on blood lipids in patients with
coronary heart disease. Amer. J. Clin. Nurtr.34 (10): 2100.
|
|
|
|
·
Weiner, M.
(1990) Weiner's Herbal. Mill Valley: Quantum Books.
|
|
|
|
·
Nishimo, H. et
al. (1989) Antitumor-Promoting activity of garlic extracts.
Oncology 46(4): 277.
|
|
|
|
·
Mowrey, D.
(1986) The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine.
Cormorant Books.
|
|
|
|
·
McCaleb, R.
(1992) Garlic fantastic health aid. Better Nutrition for
Today's Living. Feb 92:36.
|
|
|
|
·
Bordia, A. and
Bansal, H.C. (1973) Essential oil of garlic in prevention of
atherosclerosis. Lancet ii: 1491.
|
|
|
|
·
Tyler V.E.,
Herbs of Choice, pp.104-108, 1994.
|
|
| Back
To Index |
|