garlic

Garlic Introduction

Garlic is also called garlic, garlic, Hu garlic, gourd, single garlic, single-headed garlic, which is a general term for garlic plants. It is a semi-annual herbaceous plant of the genus Allium in the Liliaceae family, and its bulbs are used as medicine. It is harvested in spring and summer, tied into bunches, hung in a ventilated place, and dried in the shade for later use. A farmer's proverb says "If you plant garlic before September, it will grow into a single head after September". It is dug up in June when the leaves are dry, and the sand is removed. It is ventilated and dried or baked until the skin is dry.

Garlic is oblate or short conical, with grayish white or light brown membranous scales on the outside. When the scales are removed, there are 6 to 10 garlic cloves inside, which are arranged in a circle around the flower stem. The base of the stem is disc-shaped and has many fibrous roots. Each garlic clove is covered with a thin film. When the film is removed, white, thick and juicy scales can be seen. It has a strong garlic odor and a spicy taste. It has a pungent smell and can be eaten or used for seasoning, and can also be used as medicine. The underground bulb is divided into purple and white varieties according to the color of the skin. Garlic was introduced to China from the Western Regions during the Qin and Han Dynasties. After artificial cultivation and breeding, it has anti-cancer effects and is deeply loved by the public.

Garlic efficacy and function

⒈Powerful sterilization.

The sulfur compounds in garlic have extremely strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, and can inhibit and kill a variety of cocci, bacilli, fungi and viruses. It is one of the most powerful antibacterial plants discovered so far.

⒉Prevent and treat tumors and cancer.

Germanium and selenium in garlic can inhibit the growth of tumor cells and cancer cells. Experiments have found that the people with the lowest cancer incidence are those with the highest selenium content in their blood. The National Cancer Organization of the United States believes that among the plants with the greatest anti-cancer potential in the world, garlic ranks first.

⒊ Detoxify and cleanse the intestines to prevent gastrointestinal diseases.

⒋Lower blood sugar and prevent diabetes.

Garlic can promote the secretion of insulin, increase the absorption of glucose by tissue cells, improve the body's glucose tolerance, quickly lower blood sugar levels in the body, and kill various pathogens that induce diabetes due to infection, thereby effectively preventing and treating diabetes.

⒌Prevent and treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Garlic can prevent fat deposition in the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems, induce fat metabolism in tissues, significantly increase fibrinolytic activity, lower cholesterol, inhibit platelet aggregation, reduce plasma concentration, increase the dilatation of arterioles, promote vasodilation, regulate blood pressure, and increase vascular permeability, thereby inhibiting the formation of blood clots and preventing arteriosclerosis.

6. Prevent colds

Garlic contains a capsaicin called "propylene sulfide", which has a good killing effect on pathogens and parasites. It can prevent colds and relieve cold symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and nasal congestion.

7. Anti-fatigue effect

Some studies have found that pork is one of the foods rich in vitamin B1. Vitamin B1 combined with allicin contained in garlic can effectively eliminate fatigue and restore physical strength.

8. Anti-aging effect:

Certain ingredients in garlic have antioxidant and anti-aging properties similar to vitamin E and vitamin C.

9. Protect liver function:

The trace element selenium in garlic protects the liver by participating in the aerobic metabolism of the blood, removing toxins and reducing the liver's detoxification burden.

10. Increase energy and treat impotence:

Studies have shown that garlic does have a therapeutic effect on impotence. Garlic is good for blood circulation, which is important for erectile function. It is unclear what the mechanism is, but a possible explanation is that garlic can stimulate the body to produce nitric oxide synthase, which is an enzyme necessary for male erection.

11. Anti-allergic effect:

Eating raw garlic every day can reduce the severity of allergic reactions, especially those caused by temperature changes. The best way is to start eating raw garlic a few weeks before allergy season arrives.

12. Prevent female vaginal candidal infection:

Candidal vaginitis is caused by fungal infection. Garlic contains a large amount of allicin, allicin and other substances, which are natural and powerful bactericidal substances with great bactericidal effects. They can inhibit the excessive growth and reproduction of Candida albicans in the vagina. Therefore, women can effectively prevent the occurrence of candidal vaginitis by eating more garlic foods on a daily basis.

13. Improve sugar metabolism:

Studies have confirmed that eating raw garlic can improve the glucose tolerance of normal people. It can also promote the secretion of insulin and increase the utilization of glucose by tissue cells, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.

These potential benefits of garlic have opened up a new natural care approach for preventing and improving atherosclerosis and preventing heart disease. At the same time, garlic also has a certain effect on lowering high blood pressure. As long as the blood is kept normal, it is not easy to suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, cerebral hemorrhage and other diseases.

Medicinal value of garlic

Detoxification, swelling, insecticide, dysentery. Used for carbuncle, ulcer, scabies, tuberculosis, cough, diarrhea, dysentery.

1. Prevent influenza: Mash garlic to extract juice, add 10 times the amount of water and use it as nose drops, or you can also hold two slices of raw garlic in your mouth.

2. Cold, headache, nasal congestion, chills and fever: Take equal amounts of garlic, scallion and ginger, decoct them into a warm soup and drink it. You will recover after sweating.

3. Acute and chronic rhinitis and sinusitis: Mash garlic into juice and add twice the amount of glycerin. After washing your nose with salt water, wipe it dry and use a cotton ball dipped in the medicine to plug the nose (honey can be used if there is no glycerin).

4. Whooping cough, upper respiratory tract infection, chronic bronchitis, etc.: Peel and chop 1 bulb of purple garlic, and chop 1 tangerine cake. Add 1 bowl of water and boil for 1 to 2 times. Filter and remove the residue, then add appropriate amount of white sugar and take it 2 to 3 times a day.

5. Tuberculosis, tuberculous pleurisy: Cut a single garlic into thin slices, place it flat on the "Dazhui" point, rub it into a ball as big as a red bean with moxa, place it on the garlic slice and ignite it (burn out completely), roast it for 2-3 times in a row until you feel burning pain but no blistering, and apply it every other day or every 2-3 days.

6. Nosebleed does not stop: Mash 2 to 3 cloves of raw garlic and spread them on a cloth as big as a coin. Stick them on the Yongquan acupoint on the sole of the foot and bandage it to fix it. If the left nose is bleeding, stick it on the left foot. If there is a nosebleed, stick it on both feet. Stick it on both noses until the sole of the foot is very painful and blisters appear, then remove the acupoints.

7. Malaria: Crush raw garlic, grind goose grass into powder, and mash them together with garlic to make cakes as big as chess pieces. Apply to the "Dawei" or "Taizhou" acupoints until blistering occurs. Crush 30g of garlic and make it into small balls with 15g of realgar powder. Take 3g each time, 2-3 times a day.

8. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: 4 parts garlic cloves, 1 part Xuanming powder, mix and mash, take 90 grams, wrap with 4 layers of gauze, apply to Yongquan acupoint on the sole of the foot, remove after 3 to 4 hours, apply once a day until the bleeding stops and then stop taking the medicine. Note that a layer of vaseline should be applied to the sole of the foot before applying the medicine to prevent blistering on the sole.

9. Abdominal pain due to indigestion, heatstroke, chest tightness, vomiting and diarrhea (including acute gastroenteritis): 1 bulb of raw garlic, peel and cut into fine grains, take with warm water, 2 to 3 bulbs a day, double the dosage for severe cases.

10. Enteritis, dysentery: Mash 12g of garlic and boil 40g of Portulaca oleracea in 1 bowl of water. Pour in the mashed garlic and filter out the juice. You can also add sugar. Take it twice a day (or burn the garlic and grind it into powder. Take 3g each time, 2-3 times a day).

The beauty effect of garlic

Wrinkle Removal

Garlic is as effective as wrinkle cream. Some ingredients in garlic have antioxidant and anti-aging properties similar to vitamin E and vitamin C, which help protect the skin from free radical damage. Its anti-wrinkle effect is comparable to expensive anti-aging chemical ointments. This folk remedy has been widely circulated in India and South Asia for a long time: mash three garlic cloves and apply them to the wrinkles on the skin. Apply it every day, and it will obviously help restore the skin's youthful vitality.

Acne

Garlic's antibacterial properties can help cleanse your skin and improve your complexion. Cut a garlic clove in half and rub it gently on the pimples. You can see visible results after a few days.

Remove stretch marks

Garlic is one of the few secret recipes for getting rid of stretch marks. Crush the garlic cloves to extract the juice, drip it into hot oil, and apply it on the stretch marks. It will be effective after two weeks.

Strengthen nails

Garlic can not only protect the skin, but also strengthen nails and prevent them from cracking and breaking. Slice or mash garlic cloves and take the juice to rub your nails every day. After a few weeks, the texture of your nails will be significantly improved and their strength will be restored. In addition, peel and chop or mash garlic, add vinegar and soak for 3 to 4 days, then apply it on onychomycosis (onychomycosis) 2 to 3 times a day. After a few weeks, the symptoms of fungal infection can be significantly improved.

Preventing Psoriasis

Mash several garlic cloves into a paste, add vegetable oil and mix well, and apply to the affected area. The anti-inflammatory effect of garlic has a certain effect in relieving psoriasis (commonly known as psoriasis).

Garlic Edible Value

Anti-cancer effect

The National Cancer Institute of the United States is promoting a "designed food plan" that aims to improve national eating habits and reduce the incidence of cancer by half. In the pyramid structure of "important foods that may prevent cancer", garlic is at the top, which means it is the most effective.

In addition, the results of a survey conducted on women in Iowa, USA, published by the agency in 1994 showed that those who ate garlic more than once a week had only half the risk of developing colorectal cancer as those who did not eat it.

Animal experiments have also confirmed that garlic has the effect of inhibiting cancer. As one of the oldest cultivated plants, garlic has long been known for its antibacterial and body-strengthening effects. In ancient India, it was even used to treat measles, snake bites, pneumonia, and parasitic diseases.

【Healthy Recipes】

Garlic porridge: 30g purple garlic and 100g polished rice. Peel the garlic, boil it in boiling water for 1 minute and remove it. Then take the polished rice and put it into the garlic boiling water to make a thin porridge. Then put the garlic in (if it is used by tuberculosis patients, 5g of white jelly powder can be added) and cook together to make porridge. This porridge has the effect of lowering qi, strengthening the stomach, detoxifying and stopping diarrhea, and is suitable for patients with acute bacillary dysentery.

Garlic extract: 10 grams of garlic and an appropriate amount of sugar. Peel and mash the garlic, add 50 ml of boiling water, clarify and add an appropriate amount of sugar. This extract has the effect of relieving cough and detoxification, and is suitable for the spasmodic cough stage of whooping cough.

Garlic Consumption Methods

Common folk methods:

1. Used for carbuncle, furuncle, scabies. Garlic can be used externally or internally, and has good detoxification, insecticide and swelling reduction effects. For the initial onset of carbuncle, cut garlic into slices and apply to the swollen area (Essentials of Surgery).

2. Dysentery, diarrhea, tuberculosis, and sudden cough. It can be used alone or in combination with other prescriptions. For example, garlic porridge with white schizonepeta powder can be used to treat tuberculosis and hemoptysis. For diarrhea, it can be used alone or as a 10% garlic extract for enema. Garlic can also prevent and treat epidemic infectious diseases such as influenza, meningitis, and Japanese encephalitis.

3. Hookworm disease, pinworm disease. To treat pinworm disease, you can mash garlic, add a little tea oil, and apply it around the anus before going to bed. In addition, garlic can strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach and treat cold pain in the abdomen, loss of appetite or indigestion.

4. Garlic juice can relieve itching: If you suffer from skin eczema, ringworm and dermatitis, applying garlic juice can relieve the itching. Peel and chop half a head of garlic (preferably red-skinned garlic or single-headed garlic), put it on a piece of gauze 8 to 10 cm square, wrap the minced garlic, tie the mouth with a rubber band, put it on the chopping board, and mash the garlic through the cloth. Apply garlic juice to the affected area, and the itching can be eliminated immediately. If the skin is scratched, it will be slightly painful after applying it, but it will stop hurting after a while. The garlic bag will become dry after being used several times. Soak it in water and rub it for a while, and it can be used again one or two times.

5. Garlic can be eaten raw, mashed, stewed, boiled, or mashed for external application, sliced ​​and roasted on acupuncture points. The therapeutic effect of sprouted garlic is very small, and pickled garlic should not be kept for too long to avoid destroying the effective ingredients.

6. Add some minced garlic before cooking to make the dish more delicious. Add some garlic when cooking fish or meat to remove the fishy smell.

7. Add some mashed garlic when making cold dishes to make the spicy taste stronger. Mix sesame oil, soy sauce, etc. with mashed garlic and use it as a dip when eating jelly or dumplings.

8. Capsaicin is afraid of heat and decomposes quickly when exposed to heat, reducing its bactericidal effect. Therefore, garlic should be eaten raw to prevent and treat infectious diseases.

Garlic Contraindications

1. Avoid eating garlic when you have diarrhea.

This is because when patients have diarrhea, due to cold or eating unclean food with pathogenic bacteria, the local mucosal tissue in the intestine is inflammatory and infiltrated, the permeability of the intestinal wall blood vessels changes, the intestinal glands secrete hyperactively, resulting in protein, water and salt metabolism disorders, causing a large amount of body fluid to penetrate into the intestinal cavity, and bacteria and toxins stimulate the intestinal wall, causing intestinal peristalsis to accelerate and produce diarrhea. At this time, the entire intestinal cavity is in a state of "oversaturation" tension and stress. Eating garlic, a spicy food, will further irritate the intestinal wall, causing further congestion and edema of the blood vessels, causing more tissue fluid to flow into the intestine, aggravating diarrhea.

2. Avoid eating garlic on an empty stomach to prevent acute gastritis.

3. Avoid eating too much garlic.

Adults can eat two to three cloves of raw garlic and four to five cloves of cooked garlic every day. Children should eat half the amount. Eating more is not good.

4. Avoid long-term consumption of garlic.

Avoid long-term consumption of garlic

Garlic has the effect of hardening the intestines, which is often a cause of constipation. It can also kill a large number of intestinal bacteria, which can also cause certain skin diseases.

5. Avoid external use to avoid skin cracking.

6. Some people have special reactions to garlic, so if you feel uncomfortable after eating it, you should avoid eating it.