People have used garlic for hundreds of years to prevent colds, flu, menstrual pain, high blood pressure, coughs, atherosclerosis, bronchitis, and gastrointestinal problems. Garlic is known for its ability to kill different fungal infections, viruses, bacteria and intestinal parasites. This plant is also an antioxidant and as such it may help for the prevention of some cancer forms, and can increase the activity of the immune system.

Garlic is also very effective for promotion of cardiovascular wellness. The herb is very effective in the treatment of atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, respiratory infections and triglyceride levels.

The main ingredient of garlic is alliin. This ingredient is chemically similar to cysteine which is an amino acid that contains sulfur and has no odor. After garlic is crushed, alliin is converted into allicin. This is the compound that gives the strong odor of garlic and its large number of beneficial properties.

Garlic has some other side effects aside from its strong and unpleasant smell. The combined usage of garlic and warfarin may cause serious bleeding. The ingestion of large doses of garlic is not recommended during the usage of warfarin, indomethacin, dipyridamole, aspirin or other medicines that make the blood thinner.

Garlic is usually administered in the form of a capsule that contains between 1000 and 3000 mg of garlic. The common dosage is one capsule daily. In case you are using garlic oil, it is recommended that you take between 0,03 and 0,12 ml three times per day.