The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Bronchitis
Posted by Hillary (Jonesboro, Georgia) on 09/27/2007
★★★★★
After years of suffering with horrible bouts of bronchitis, a lady, claiming to be a "witch" told me to soak my feet in hot garlic water, blanket over myself and the bucket, to inhale steam. She told me to do this for at least 6 hrs. I did not have bronchitis for 5 years. It is time to do it again (and I will), but was wondering, has anyone else heard of this "method" and what is is called?
Bronchitis
Posted by Natalie (Tillamook, Or) on 12/09/2009
Yes I have heard of this sort of thing. My doctor gave me a nebulizer and told me to use ______ (garlic drops) in the nebulizer and she said it works miracles. Iv used garlic for many other things its amazing. Natures antibiotic. :-)
Bronchitis
Posted by Dejan (Toronto, Ontairo) on 01/06/2010
This treatment is very common in Europe especially in the countries of Eastern Europe. We have all sorts of remedies with garlic, herbal tea, honey, red wine, etc. If there is a problem with breathing due to bronchitis or a horrible cold or flu, beside the garlic treatment, you can always brew a big pot of herbal tea, cover yourself with a towel and inhale the steam. You'd feel much better in no time.
Runny Nose
Posted by Toma (Chicago, IL) on 09/16/2007
★★★★★
Running Nose Remedy: Cut 2 pieces of garlic that it would fit in in the nostrils, and stick one in each nostril. If it hurts in your nostrils and you sneeze a lot, it's good, it means that there's infection and garlic is killing it. If in some time you stop sneezing, blowing your nose, and it won't hurt in your nostrils any more, put new pieces of garlic into your nostrils. But don't overdo it, otherwise, your nose may start bleeding.
Migraines
Posted by Sylviecha (Sherbrooke, Qc, Canada) on 02/15/2011
They are called ophtalmic migraines. I've had these a few times, in a 15 years period. It comes usually with seeing bright zig-zag-type lines in the central or side vision (to me, it's similar to the lines we could see back then on the black and white TVs, when the program wasn't getting through). There can also be flashing white light sensations. These symptoms usually resolve spontaneously after several minutes ( generally in less than one hour). I did some tests, and the DR told me these migraines are not dangerous. After the initial panic from not knowing what that was, I became accustomed to them and since I don't have them frequently, I don't bother anymore. But I know they can be accompanied by headaches (this is not my case), and that can be troublesome.
Migraines
Posted by Ellen (Leander, Tx) on 11/16/2014
Thank you sooooo much for posting this information about Ophthalmic migraines. I have experienced this several times and was worried I had a brain tumor or was going to lose my vision. I went to the ophthalmologist who didn't know what the problem was, but prescribed glasses for me.
It was soo comforting to read your response. I realize your post is over three years old, but if you see this again, THANK YOU!!!
Eliminate Garlic Breath
Posted by K-mac (West Hollywood, Ca) on 06/10/2010
Shane,
Thank you for this information about cloves and olive oil to eliminate garlic breathe. I am having asthma and bronchial problems and completely forgot all about my natural remedies (it has been a number of years since I have asthma). Now I am eating garlic like it is my job. Thanks for the information!
Kelley
Sensitive Teeth
Posted by Nina (Jonesboro, GA) on 03/30/2007
★★★★★
I just returned from the grocery store and spent $26 on Tylenol rapid release, aleve, oral gel powder, toothpaste for sensitive teeth and something else that you you put in your cavity to temp. fill it. Any how after trying the powder and 2 aleve, the pain is still here. I don't know why I didn't try the internet first. Anyhow I tried the only thing that I had on hand---RAW GARLIC. I peeled and sliced it and rubbed it on my gums and tooth but I didn't stop there I got a really big piece of raw garlic and peeled it. I cut all the sides off so that the juices were flowing then I placed it on the tooth and bit down on it I couldn't even hold it in my mouth for a whole minute, it burned that bad but that was o.k. because I read that if it burns its killing the infection. So I spit it out and tried it again. IT'S AMAZING IT STOPPED HURTING. But this is the thing I also have a cavity on the tooth right above it to the top side when the pain went away it seemed to move up into the other tooth so i tried it again and it seemed to dulling the pain I'm about to repeat the process again because it seems to be coming back again But now as bad as it was!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for this web site. I'm going to make my husband try it his mouth has been hurting really bad lately, just until we can go to the dentist.
Roasting Garlic
Posted by Marie (GBG, PA) on 02/19/2007
★★★★★
Garlic is my friend! I agree with all the testimonies on the wonders of garlic. I do disagree however that roasting it is bad. I roast a whole bulb (roasted with olive oil) and eat it with my main meal and I have experienced the same amazing results as what I am reading on this website. The trick might be that I don't usually over roast it-- at least several of the cloves have retained firmness when consumed. Since studies has proven garlic to be a natural anticoagulant, some people might need to be careful about the amount they consume at one time, especially if they are taking aspirin,or are on prescription anticoagulant drugs. Yet, it is my personal belief that if they transition off of methods such as, blood thinning prescription drugs and aspirin, and embrace garlic as a preventive alternative, they will come to know and love the hidden benefits as well.
Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Posted by Gus (Missoula, Montana) on 09/28/2011
EC, please tell me how to make garlic juice? thanks
Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Posted by Crystal (Melissa, Tx) on 07/28/2012
How long does it take for garlic to start lowering your blood pressure? Does anyone know of an instant bp reducer(natural, of course).
General Feedback
Posted by Aditya (Hyderabad, A. P. India) on 01/05/2007
★★★★★
Garlic is used in India from times immemorial. We use it daily in our diet. It is used in our traditional medicine as a cure for many ailments.
Mono
Posted by Ross (Brooklyn, NY) on 07/16/2006
★★★★★
Garlic helps to reduce the length of, or even entirely cure, a bad case of mono. I was diagnosed with mono and immediately began a garlic treatment of as much sliced garlic as possible a day. I probably averaged a bulb or bulb and one half a day. My girlfriend was not happy to say the least, but I wiped out my mono in record time. I have tried garlic for other sicknesses since then and have found that it is not good for bacterial infections, but does wonders for viral infections. I am currently taking it now, to help battle swollen lymph nodes and achy back.
Mono
Posted by Dan (Pittsburgh, PA) on 05/13/2006
★★★★★
About 2 weeks ago i was diagnosed with mono had very achy legs and arms. i have been cutting little slivers of garlic up and take it like a pill. wow it's strong, burns my stomach some too, but believe it or not, i feel so much better. i think i'm ready to retest for the mono. i think it will come up negative. my dad has lung cancer found out 5 yrs ago doctors gave him 6 months. i was very sad and even if my dad would pass away, i'll still consider him beating his cancer because he really did he lose so much weight but my dad has been taking garlic and garlic. he loves it. he puts it on bread plain and eats it -- he's gained weight now. he feels so much better. i love my dad he showed me how effective garlic would be and i'll never forget that secret he gave me. keep taking garlic it really does help.
Chewing Raw Garlic
Posted by Jane (Leeds, UK) on 01/19/2009
★★★★☆
I have had a bad virus and coughing badly for the last few days and worse at night I got up and chewed a clove of garlic it tasted horrible and burned a bit but am sure it helped me and I'm going to take it again when symptoms come on through the day. As I able to stay home as I do not work due to suffering with ME/CFS I am not worried about the smell.
Chewing Raw Garlic
Posted by Superdry77 (Los Angeles, Ca) on 12/20/2011
I tested positive for HIV a few years back and went into a phase of denial and depression, up until a good friend of mine showed me a documentary "Food Matters" and my life has changed ever since. Still reluctant to take any sort of meds I opted for the all natural approach. I started eating super foods and vegetables, garlic especially, aside from my daily dose of super foods I started the treadmill cardio 30 mins and staying in a dry sauna after for 15 mins x 3, 3 times a week, I felt wonderful! Up until 1 day, I felt something was wrong, I started getting short breath and I started to have anxiety attacks because of this, so I went to my doctor and was diagnosed with Bacterial pneumonia! and was confined in the hospital for 3 days, sad.. Even worse of it all, the they had me taking this HUGE disgusting pills of antibiotics, which I think even made me more sick, resulted to splitting headaches and thrush in my throat... well to cut the long story short, do everything in moderation, with the right food and right exercise- things might actually work.
Repels Insects
Posted by Judy (Concord, NH) on 06/02/2005
★★★★★
My husband and I use garlic in just about everything we eat. We have just started juicing (vegetables) and have found that garlic helps to tolerate the taste better. Also my husband works outdoors and he is finding that he is being less bothered by black flies and other nagging insects. Also for you dog lovers.... we crush about 4 or 5 garlic cloves and boil them in approximately 1 gallon of water. You strain and let cool down. Then put in a spray bottle and lightly spray your dog (as often as needed. Helps keep fleas and ticks away. In a more concentrated form, works great as a flea dip. I'm thinking that whereas garlic has antifungal and antiviral properties, it would also be great for animals with ear problems...ie yeast infections etc. If anybody has any input on that, I'd be very interested. I also want to say that my husband has slightly high blood pressure as well as his cholesterol levels are high. At the end of june he gets retested, and if he has been able to lower those, we will owe his success to garlic and of course a healthier diet. Hope my input helps someone out there. Judy
Heart Problems
Posted by Julia (Astoria, Ny) on 11/24/2009
What do you mean having milk with garlic boiled controls assimilation of cholesterol? I have a 94 year old neighbor who is as erect, incredibly active, looks younger and when I asked her what regiments she thought were helping her she answered that since she was about 25 she began to drink milk boiled with fresh garlic. Can you please explain more specifically how this combo aids in health? I remember Ted had warned that having milk with other foods would block the vitamins and minerals from being processed into the body and that, in fact, milk should be taken alone to get all the benefits of its vitamins and minerals.
EC: Sorry, that was a quote from a book on garlic and onion cures, which was missing the source link. Has been added back to the post.
Also, garlic in boiled milk is an ayurvedic formula traditionally used for tuberculosis and asthma!
Garlic Tea
Posted by Yakal (Philippines)
★★★★★
The tea was great. It helped me from my misery. It helped me solve my problems. It also helped my friends, Charmelle and Zandro. Also try putting SUGAR. Thank you very much!
Nausea
Posted by Amanda (Atlanta, GA)
★☆☆☆☆
I tried roasted Garlic to soothe a nauseous, upset stomach. The results were not good! Please do not roast garlic as a digestive aid, it does not work!
Garlic Tea
Posted by Susan (USA)
Marco, a well known soux chef in Santa Monica, California, gave us this simple soup recipe for nagging coughs. This is an old Mexican recipe from Marco's mother that aided him and his siblings' flu/cold recovery process.
Recipe:
- Cut a garlic cubed into quarters and add to two 2 quarts of H2O.
- Boil on low flame for at least one hour.
- Strain and sip slowly.
Believe or not, this warm garlic soup has a very pleasant taste!
Click here to see all books on the healing properties of garlic.
Garlic Tea
Posted by Ranjana (Arlington, TX USA) on 01/04/2009
What did you mean by garlic "cube"? Is it a clove of garlic or is it a whole head of garlic. Please post a reply. Thanks."
EC: A whole head of garlic!
09/12/2009: Tim from Portland, Or replies: "Actually its a bulb of garlic."
09/12/2010: Rh from Los Angeles, Ca replies: "Yes, a whole garlic head. I tried it and it works! Boil water with a whole garlic head. Take it at night you will immediately feel the difference the next morning."
02/01/2011: Tony from Antofagasta, Chile replies: "This is a bit confusing as Marcos uses the word cube that has been translated by Tim from Portland as a bulb and Rh from Los Angeles as a whole garlic head. Marcos says that the cube has to be cut into quarters, Does this mean that the whole garlic head has to be cut into four? I have never cut a garlic head into two or four as we usually divide it into cloves. Would Marcos be so kind in clarifying this to us, please?"
02/02/2011: Keri from California, Usa replies: "A bulb of garlic = a whole head of garlic. The individual pieces are the cloves."
02/25/2011: Soulflower from Verbena, Al replies: "2 quarts of water? That's more than a whole days' worth of water for me. In what time frame should it be drunk?
I've been following these instructions:
How to make garlic tea:
1) Peel and roughly chop 3-4 cloves of fresh garlic. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. The wait is to allow allicin to form. Allicin is the powerful anti-bacterial and anti-viral compund in garlic which only forms when garlic has been broken in some way (eg by chewing, chopping).
2) Add the chopped garlic to a mug and fill it with some hot water [I use boiling hot water, as I would with other teas. ]. Sip the garlic tea once it becomes cool enough.
If you have a mild case of the flu or a cold, garlic tea should start working for you fairly quickly. However, if you're down with a particularly bad bout of the flu, you might have to take garlic tea over a period of a few days."
04/22/2011: Grannykeeper from Vancouver, Wa, Usa replies: "An easy way to prepare garlic is to smash the clove with the blade of a vegetable knife a couple of times. Then it is easy to peel. Whack it again and smash it good, then it is very easy to mince, and there is no waiting. If you can capture the juice, that is good, too.
Garlic Tea
Posted by My2cents (Rock Hill, SC) on 11/18/2012
It is better to grate the garlic. If you have a zesting tool, grate the garlic and allow it to sit for 15 minutes so the beneficial allicin can fully form. Then proceed. The finer the chop or grate on garlic, the more beneficial compounds will be released. This is how I make my garlic tea and it works very well.
Garlic Side Effects
Posted by Teena (Melbourne, Australia) on 06/01/2019
★★★★☆
You may benefit from drinking marshmallow root tea daily, this puts a protective and restorative lining upon the entire gi tract, among many other benefits. https://draxe.com/marshmallow-root/
Eliminate Garlic Breath
Posted by Jess (Salem, Va) on 09/14/2016
★★★★★
I've been using Garlic, water and honey for 3 days now and it's been amazing. However, my husband is complaining of a strong garlic smell coming from my body and breath. I would love to know a way to rid of this, so I can continue to take this mixture for as long as I want, without "turning him off"! Thanks!!!
General Feedback
Posted by Morris Paul (Ireland) on 12/18/2013
Youtube/garlic is toxic to the body...............this was news to me. I used to be a big fan.....but not so sure anymore....because it deadens brain cells....some airlines do not allow their pilots to consume garlic 72 hrs.pre flight......decreases reaction time in an emergency by 30%. However it is nature's best incecticide......just spray on crops. Do you have an opinion on this issue.??
General Feedback
Posted by Beberobozo ( New York) on 12/18/2013
Hi; I also saw that on utube by Andrias Moritz that onions and garlic are poison.. don't know
Garlic Flu Shot Recipe
Posted by Wellspruce (Juneau, Ak, Usa) on 02/03/2013
For clarification, do you mean one HEAD of garlic with the 20 or so bulbs?
Tooth Abscess, Infection
Posted by Mellybell (Ohio) on 10/02/2012
I've never heard of the infused garlic water. Will that also help canker sores?
Tooth Abscess, Infection
Posted by Mike (Surrey, Bc, Ca) on 03/01/2015
When using garlic you want to mince it to get the oils out of it, this oil is called sulfenic acid and is the reason for the serious burning, it will break down in about 15 minutes into allicin, which is more potent, and fyi using ceyenne pepper helps increase the potency of antibiotics, pinicillon, painkilles and any natural remedies as well, hope this helps someone, ( by-the-way, garlic didn't work for my tooth absess, but oregeno oil with olive oil worked for oil pulling and on top of the skin, olive oil actually absorbs into bone). thanks earthclinic I share this site with as many people as possible
Garlic Bath
Posted by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 01/26/2012
Why garlic powder, why not fresh garlic? And I don't have a shower curtain around my bath..... Is HP safe to pour in the bath like that? My husband tells me to stay away from it as it is a powerful oxydant that can cause cancer. He is a chemist.....
Fresh Garlic vs. Garlic Supplements
Posted by Kathy (Benton, Arkansas) on 11/27/2011
★★★★★
High potency garlic pills are not as good for you as fresh garlic cloves. I took a garlic pill for awhile and had the most horrible heartburn I could possibly have. Today I cut up fresh garlic the size of pills and eat a teaspoon twice a day with 2 tbsp of apple cidar vinegar in 8 oz of water. I have been able to stop using Nexium. Use fresh garlic if you can. Acid reducers such as Prilosec, Nexium etc. Are very dangerous to continue for any length of time. If you have a germ in your stomach you need the acid to get rid of the germ.
Also, ignore the post that says you must cut or chop and eat the garlic in 30 seconds. Many such post come from people who work for big pharmaceutical companies. They have invaded many good sites. There is one called "quackbusters" and they say bad things about just about all natural healing foods and supplements. The man works for a pharmaceutical company.
You have 10 minutes to cut and eat to get the benefit.
Fresh Garlic vs. Garlic Supplements
Posted by Brenda (Charlotte) on 09/09/2026
★★★★★
Fresh garlic gives me headaches therefore I take the supplements. I can't say that the supplements are better or worse, just what works for me.
Broad Benefits
Posted by Francisca (Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France) on 08/07/2011
Minuck, what do you mean by garlic in socks at night? Do you mean applied to warts or something else? What do you use it for exactly?
