Allium sativum
Liliaceae
Form
-native to Northern Hemisphere, grows 1-3 feet in height
Culture
-full sun in ordinary soil
-plant cloves in fall and allow to sit in ground over winter
-harvested in late summer
Use
-never produces fertile seeds
-enhances flavor of most meats, seafood, and vegetables
Foliage
-long flat leaves with crease down middle, standing erect
Interesting Facts
-has been cultivated for more than 5000 years
-first mentioned in traditional Chinese medicine c. A.D. 500
Medicinal Uses:
-Anitbacterialm antimycotic, and lipid-lowering effects. Inhibits platelet aggregation, prolonging bleeding and clotting time, while enchancing fibrinolytic activity
Conditions Treated in Modern Medicine:
-Arteriosclerosis
-Common cold
-Cough and Bronchitis
-Fevers and Colds
-Inflammation of the mouth and pharynx
Pharmacological Substances and Properties:
-Alliins (alkylcystein sulfoxides) especially allylalliin and its gamma-glutamyl conjugates
-Saponins
-Fructosan polysacharides
Medicinal Parts Used:
the whole Fresh Bulb, the Dried Bulb, and the oil of the garlic can all be taken internally and the oil (once extracted from bulbs) can also be used externally as a mild antiinflammatory
Banner Photo by Mathew J. Wilson