Garlic April 2020

HERB OF THE MONTH! April 2020

💥Garlic💥 Garlic Latin name= Allium sativum

For nearly as long as there has been a written record of History garlic has been mentioned as a food it probably originated in Central Asia but is now cultivated in many countries then grows wild in Italy and southern Europe. The Ebers papyrus an Egyptian medical Papyrus dated sometime around 1500 BC mentions garlic 22 times as a remedy for a variety of diseases. Epocrates the father of modern medicine used garlic as a laxative, a diuretic for tumors of the uterus, leprosy, epilepsy, chest pains, toothaches, and for wounds incurred. Aristotle also mentions the value of garlic. According to Jethro Kloss in his book Back to Eden raw garlic when eating to excess is not completely harmless it may cause anemia as well as various digestive problems.

There are fewer herbs that are as loved or as notorious as garlic. Rosemary Gladstar claims if she were forced to only have one Herb in her kitchen garlic would be that herb. Garlic bread, garlic and tomato pasta, pesto or hummus with lots of garlic, garlic potatoes, garlic chicken, roasted garlic, aioli. Yum! What can’t we do with garlic, not only does it tastes delicious in our food but it is a favorite carminative herb. Carminative herbs help with stagnant digestion, which can include bloating, painful stuck gas, a sensation of food sitting heavy in your stomach, and constipation.

Garlic contains inulin an important Prebiotic, prebiotics are starchy substances that feed the healthy gut Flora of your large intestine. Having a disrupted gut Flora has been linked to many health problems including digestive complaints (especially inflammatory bowel disease), autoimmune disease, hormone imbalances, and weight gain. Garlic can help play a role in relieving these conditions.

When crushed, garlic produces a constituent called Allicin. When you eat garlic, your body metabolizes the Allicin into several other compounds, and the only way to fully metabolize and eliminate them is through your bloodstream which releases them through your sweat and through the lungs. This is part of the wonderful Medicine of garlic and the reason it has a very potent, lingering smell.

Growing Garlic

Garlic is easy and fun to grow it thrives in well-drained fertile soil with a pH 4.5 -8.5 and does best in full sun. Harvest the bulbs after the blooms die back and the leaves begin to fall over to increase the size of the bulbs cut back flowering stocks. Remember to save some of your biggest best cloves for replanting. Flowering stocks are lovely in the garden, you can add them to Floral bouquets, and they make flavorful additions to Pestos, soups, and stir fries.

For Immune System Support

Garlic has long been heralded as a medicinal herb for infections. It was used during the 1600s against the plague in Europe. Paul Bergner describes its use in the twentieth century in his book The Healing Power of Garlic. Practically every herbal text in the World includes references to Garlic’s antimicrobial properties and science has been validating Garlic’s effects against infections for years. Some people refer to garlic as an “herbal antibiotic” but when we look closely this term doesn’t quite fit. Where there is an active infection pharmaceutical antibiotics indiscriminately wipe out bacteria in the body thus affecting a cure but that is not how garlic works. Blouse small to moderate amounts of garlic have been shown to inhibit many types of bacteria viruses and even amoebas, you’d have to take a ridiculously large amount of it to negatively affect your Healthy gut flora. Garlic isn’t something that simply kills other organisms, it also stimulates your immune system. Studies have shown that it increases the natural killer cells of the immune system, reduces inflammatory cytokines( chemical messengers of the immune system), and can decrease specific pathogens such as bacterial cells like streptococcus and fungi such as Candida albicans. Because garlic can support the immune system and not just kill things it has been shown to have a positive effect on patients with cancer.

For Colds and the Flu

Garlic has been used for colds and the flu for centuries and remains a favorite of herbalist today. Garlic can stimulate the immune system to reduce the severity of the illness, break up lung congestion, and even address ear infections. Garlic is a hot herb after taking a bite of raw garlic you may notice the heating sensation on your tongue you might also notice your sinuses starting to run. Both heat and pungent help to break up mucus in the body this makes garlic perfect for cold and flu symptoms that include feelings of coldness and four symptoms of congestion in the sinuses and lungs.

For Heart Health

Historically garlic has been made famous for treating infections these days it often makes the headlines for its numerous positive effects on the heart and blood system. A few cloves of raw garlic a day has been shown to lower high blood pressure in people with uncontrolled hypertension. During a study that looked at the effects of garlic on people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after 24 weeks those receiving garlic not only had a decreased fasting blood sugar but also showed significant Improvement in their levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

Medicinal Uses

Garlic is the herb of choice for treating colds flu sore throats and poor or sluggish digestion. It stimulates the production of white blood cells boosting the body’s immune function and its sulfur compounds and essential oils make it a potent internal and external antiseptic antibacterial and antimicrobial agent effective for treating many types of infections. It has even been found effective against several forms of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. It is very effective for maintaining healthy blood cholesterol levels and helps prevent blood platelet aggregation making it the herb of choice for many circulatory issues.

Key Constituents: Alliin (which converts to allicin when crushed), essential oils, sulfur compounds, germanium, selenium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A, B vitamins, and vitamin C

Magical Attributes

Garlic was once worn to guard against the plague it is still used to absorb diseases. Simply rub fresh peeled cloves of garlic on to The Afflicted part of the body then throw into running water.

Gender: masculine Planet: Mars Element: Fire Powers: protection, healing, exorcism, lust, Anti-Theft

Magical Uses: Garlic is also extremely protective Sailors carry some while on board ships to protect against wreckage. Soldiers wore garlic as a defense in the Middle Ages, while Roman soldiers ate it to give them courage. Traditionally it is placed in the home to guard against the intrusion of evil, to keep out robbers and thieves, and is hung over the door to repel envious people. Garlic is especially protective in new homes. Garlic has been placed beneath children’s pillows to protect them while asleep. Brides once carried a clove of garlic in their pockets for good luck and to keep evil far from her on her big day. Rubbed onto pots and pans before cooking in them garlic removes negative vibrations which might otherwise contaminate the food.

How to use Garlic

When using garlic as an antimicrobial for cold and flu symptoms it is best to use fresh raw garlic to get the most potency. Crush a clove of garlic and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before continuing to make it into your desired remedy to really draw the oils to the surface. When enjoying garlic to support heart health you can cook the clothes in two meals and still reap the benefits. Cooking also transforms the garlic and decreases some of its heat making it easier to consume in larger quantities. Eating one to two garlic cloves a day can be a delicious way to get many health benefits from this herb. If using garlic to break up congestion in the lungs or to alleviate symptoms of a cold or flu then eating it frequently throughout the day will give the best results Rosalee De La Foret recommends eating it with other food especially oils to avoid nausea.

​PRECAUTIONS

Eating one to two entire bulbs not cloves of garlic for long periods of time has been shown to cause harmful effects such as anemia and bowel Flora disruption. Because of the heat association with this herb it is not a good match for someone with hot or dry conditions for some it may add too much heat causing them to be angry. Garlic can be a stomach irritant for small children and infants as such should be avoided by nursing mothers who find that after eating Garlic their child becomes fussy or colicky. If you are taking Pharmaceuticals or medications that thin the blood (including aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, coagulants, and antiplatelets) consult a doctor before consuming large amounts of garlic

Sources: Rosalee de la Foret’s Alchemy of Herbs chapter 9, Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs pg 71, Learningherbs.com herb of the month study, Jethro Kloss Back to Eden pg 623, Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs pg 122, Witchipedia.com

Favorite Recipe:

Pickled Garlic

• Fill a wide mouth glass jar with whole peeled garlic cloves

• Add enough apple cider vinegar to completely cover the garlic

• Place in a warm spot such as a sunny window for two weeks.

• Strain off the liquid. Set half the liquid aside to be used in salad dressings and marinades. (Garlic Vinegar Yum!)

• Place the rest of the liquid in a saucepan and add an equal amount of Honey warming over very low heat. Stirring until the honey is Thoroughly mixed into the vinegar pour this sauce back over the garlic recap and let sit another 2 to 4 weeks.

Store in a cool dark location where it will keep for 1 year or longer.

To use: Eat at will, pickled garlic is quite delicious with a sweet hot pungent flavor. This is a great way to eat raw garlic with all of its virtues intact without fear of the stomach distress that raw garlic is known to sometimes cause.

*Recipe from Rosemary Gladstar