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Focus on Herbs: Garlicby Lynne Latella Despite the
many jokes about unpleasant breath, garlic remains a popular
culinary and
medicinal staple. This is evidenced by all the garlic festivals held
throughout
the Of
Anglo-Saxon origin, the name “spear plant” was based on the shape of
its
leaves. Vestiges of garlic have been found in caves inhabited 10,000
years ago.
The first garlic prescription, carved into a clay tablet, dates from
3000
B.C.E. It was so revered that Egyptians swore on it when taking oaths.
It was
also buried in tombs of the pharaohs and provided as a daily ration to
slaves
who built the pyramids. Garlic
wasn’t always so highly regarded, however. Because of its aroma after
ingesting, it was considered a sign of vulgarity by ancient upper-class
Romans
and Greeks. In fact, Greeks weren’t allowed to enter temples if they
consumed
it. Nevertheless, it was eaten by soldiers before battles and athletes
before
races. Later on, it became popular with Europeans who hung garlic
braids near
doorways to repel evil spirits. Garlic has
been used as an antiseptic during wars and flu epidemics. It was
prescribed for
leprosy, infections, heart and digestive problems, cancer, plague and
worms. It
was so popular with the Red Army that it was labeled Russian
penicillin. Garlic
has been such a remarkable remedy that it has been highly prized for
numerous
ailments throughout the ages, such as acne, the common cold and flu,
and as a mosquito
repellant. Garlic is a
powerful broad-spectrum antibiotic and antioxidant. Besides being
useful as an
expectorant, stimulant and digestive aid, garlic has been known to
eliminate heavy
metals from the body and to prevent anthrax in cattle. It has also been
used in
treating: • Asthma Raw garlic
must be chopped, crushed or chewed to release its full effect, and is
generally
less effective when cooked. Fearing offensive breath, it’s a pity that
some
people avoid eating garlic. Perhaps they are unaware that parsley,
fennel and
fenugreek are effective in remedying the situation. Although
garlic has relatively few sided effects, as a precaution it shouldn’t
be used with
blood thinners or by those with clotting disorders. Ingesting high
quantities
of garlic may cause irritation in the digestive tract. It may also
cause skin
rash due to allergic reaction, and nursing infants may become colicky
if their
mothers eat garlic. The Co-op
carries a wide variety of garlic and products for medicinal and
culinary purposes.
Fresh and powdered garlic, tablets and capsules, combination formulas,
extracts,
healing oil and dressings are some of the available products. Some of
the
medicinal products have been deodorized without affecting the potency
of the
product. |
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