Ahh the Wonders of that "Stinky Rose"

Garlic has long been touted as a health booster, but it’s never been clear why the herb might be good for you. Garlic is also known as "the stinking rose", the term going back to Greek and Roman times. Garlic is claimed to help prevent heart disease including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cancer. Garlic is characterized by it’s strong flavor and smell, stemming from its sulfur compounds.


Garlic is both an anti-viral (hence its use in flu's, colds, earaches) and an anti-bacterial (germs, infections including yeast. Garlic is also alleged to help regulate blood sugar levels. Garlic is good as an Anti fungal, lowers blood pressure, prevents mosquito bites, Cholesterol lowering, fights insomnia, and boosts the immune system.


Garlic is currently under study for its ability to reduce cancer risk. Garlic is claimed to help prevent heart disease including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cancer. The power to boost hydrogen sulfide production may help explain why a garlic-rich diet appears to protect against various cancers, including breast, prostate and colon cancer, say the study authors. In addition, observational studies have also suggested a cancer benefit from a high-garlic diet. For many people with yeast infections, parasites (Crohn’s and colitis sufferers), or even colon cancer, a crushed clove of garlic might be a natural cure.


The health benefits of garlic have been documented at least since ancient Greece. There have been hundreds of scientific studies on the chemistry and medical benefits of garlic going back at least to the 1920s. Animal studies, and some early investigational studies in humans, have suggested possible cardiovascular benefits of garlic. Not only does it have wonderful health benefits, it has been shown to act as a natural flea repellent. Garlic is also the best natural mosquito repellent.


Garlic is probably the best natural product and is on par with vitamin C especially when it comes to colds. Garlic is only a part of a larger system of maintaining good health. Garlic is bursting with powerful allicin and phytochemicals, substances found only in plants, that help your body fight diseases like cancer and promote good health.



In my own experience, many of my older family members swore by the stuff, and consumed it daily "raw". The results were very impressive; in a family were health issues and early departure was the norm, this group of elders lived longer and healthier than many of their offspring, who turned up their noses at the stuff in favor of "modern" medicine. I recommend an orderless garlic, or lots of chewing gum. If garlic causes you gastric discomfort, I recommend reading the post before this one. The report mentioned in that post can really help solve many digestive issues.