Two days ago as I harvested fresh produce for a bicycling traveler, I noticed my garlic was past the harvest time. So yesterday, I was determined to harvest my long 25’ row of varying kinds of garlic bulbs. Four hours later, I sat in the sun eating my leftover spaghetti and fresh green salad, admiring my garlic accomplishment. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera. However, I received a nice message as I sat quietly with my garlic friend.

Garlic speaks, I listen and record: “I will keep you healthy and strong, build your immune system, help with your digestive system, circulatory system and overall bodily cleanse and function. Eat me regularly. If others are offended by the smell so be it. This is their loss. I will comfort you. Use me often in lots of things and you will notice improvement in your vitality too. You are tempted to forget about me and have in the past. Forget that temptation and remember me and I will assist you in remembering too. I am your ally as I am for many.
Spiritually, I will make and keep your mind and heart strong. Help keep you on your way, your path of your own personal knowledge and as I said, to help you remember…”

Garlic is known on websites and books, and by herbalists, doctors and other healing folks, for its many health benefits. Here are a few.

Garlic is known to help with the circulatory system, help strengthen the heart, reduce blood pressure and its sulfur containing compounds, ajoene (ajo = Spanish for garlic) and allicin (what is released when the garlic is smashed and gives it the famous ‘garlic breath odor’) have anti-clotting properties, which protects the heart from becoming blocked thus works as a preventative in hardening of the arteries. Also, it helpful for reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Arthritis anyone? Garlic is also an anti-inflammatory and assists in reducing pain associated with arthritis. As well, its anti-inflammatory can be helpful for swollen throat caused by allergies and/or insect bites, and it may be helpful in preventing weight gain.

My aunt swears by eating a clove of garlic at the first signs of a cold. She’s right! Garlic is an anti-viral, anti-biotic, anti-fungal – can be helpful for vesicular stomatitis, vaccinia, human rhinovirus parainfluenza, and herpes simplex, Candidia (thrush and yeast infections) warts, corns and other skin infections (athlete’s foot, ringworm…) AND for other colds, flu and allergies, to name a few.

Cancer? Garlic is an antioxidant and preventative for cancer, and has been shown helpful in inhibiting tumor cells for many cancers- digestive cancers (colon, rectal, stomach), breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung and bladder cancers.

As well, garlic offers lung support for asthma, and respiratory infection.

Garlic regulates blood sugar levels and increases insulin release for diabetes.

The list goes on and on…here are a few others…increases your body’s circulation which may have some aphrodisiac effects…helps to improve iron metabolism in the body…may be helpful for toothache pain and infection…can be helpful with thyroid disorders…can help detoxify the liver and the body…and is an excellent source of sulfur, manganese and vitamin B6, a very good source of vitamin C, and a good source of selenium.

Thanks for reading and being interested in garlic. Eat lots and enjoy the effects in your body, mind and spirit. As my aunt would say, “A clove of garlic a day, keeps the doctor away”.

August 13, 2014