Garlic: Yes, Garlic

Garlic: Yes, Garlic

Originally drafted August 5, 2018; refined January 19-20, 2019

The garlic plant, or Allium sativum, has a history of human consumption dating back as far as we've kept records. Our name for garlic stems from the Old English word garleac, which translates to "spear leek." Since the dawn of time, humans have enjoyed garlic for its flavor, regarded it with mystery, and noticed its medicinal qualities, a traditional anecdote confirmed by modern medicine in the relatively recent past. 

Probably originating somewhere in Siberia or Central Asia, Egyptians regularly ingested the plant as far back as the 4th millennium BCE. All classes of people enjoyed the plant: workers ate it to boost strength and endurance, as they believed it did at the time; the Codex Ebers, an ancient medical document, prescribed it for insect infestation, circulatory problems, and unusual growths; even the pharaohs found it an important crop, seeing as King Tut's tomb contains well-preserved cloves.

Upon their exodus from Egypt, the ancient Jews mourned the initial loss of garlic from their diets. Ancient Greeks, too, utilized the plant as a performance enhancer for soldiers and athletes in the Olympic games. The Romans 'adopted' the Greek affinity for garlic, along with pretty much every other part of their culture. To the east, garlic found mainstream use in both China and India. Fast forward to the 14th century and desperate plague victims took garlic in hopes of remedying the deadly disease. Aside from isolated pockets of use in early American history, garlic remained a food of primarily immigrants until the mid-20th century, when the odorous plant became integrated into mainstream recipes in the United States. Meanwhile across the globe, Russian troops up through the World Wars-lacking antibiotics-applied garlic to their wounds and for infections, frequently enough to earn it the nickname "Russian Penicillin."

Alongside its consumption as a food, the purported medicinal value of garlic cloves dates back to when dates began. After the Codex Ebers, the Greek genius Hippocrates-sometimes called the Father of Medicine and immortalized by the eponymous "Hippocratic oath"-suggested garlic for respiratory problems, abdominal growths, wounds, infections, leprosy, and in general as a cleansing agent. The Jewish Talmud credits it with the ability to ward off parasites.  Historica Naturalis, a Roman-era volume about medicine, cited its use for liver-related diseases, breathing issues, and warding off parasites (a common theme across all cultures, it seems). The Chinese used it for this purpose, too, along with depression, diarrhea, and erectile dysfunction. Indian medical texts such as the Charaka-Samhita and the Bower manuscript recommend it for heart disease, malaise, leprosy, digestive disturbances, and-you guessed it-parasites. Over the next two millennia, scholars in Europe continued to promote the use of garlic for a variety of ailments. 

On top of food and medicine, garlic holds a mystical and superstitious position in many cultures across time and space. Most famously in pop culture, garlic has been featured as the go-to vampire repellant. Its perceived power to combat villainous forces dates back thousands of years: Ancient Egyptians and more recent Europeans have noted its ability to ward off the evil eye. Hanging garlic gloves or otherwise displaying them around the house became a common custom in most of Europe to bring about good luck in a more general sense or to ward off malevolent spirits. In the East though, Buddhists avoided garlic for nearly a millennium. Mohammad references garlic in a negative light: Islamic writings repeatedly discourage its consumption, going as far as to tell Muslims not to come near the mosque after eating it. The relationship between Arabs and garlic gets even weirder, with one source saying that Palestinian men customarily insert cloves into their butt holes on their wedding day for good luck. However, the only place to say that was one source (if I hadn't double-checked, people might read this and take that as fact; that's why it is important to do research!). Shakers incorporated garlic in their "herb catalogues," encouraging its use as a stimulant, among other properties.

While the mystical qualities of garlic lack much empirical backing, modern medicine has come to verify a variety of garlic's medicinal properties. As mentioned above, doctors even thousands of years ago postulated the plant's benefits, though given their lack of scientific methods, we can only consider these educated guesses. However in 1858, Louis Pasteur-the man who came up with pasteurization to eradicate pathogens from products like milk-noted its antibiotic abilities. 

Since then, a lot of debate has transpired about what benefits garlic can be said to have. Allicin Facts lists five main benefits: "prevention of cardiovascular attacks, restore suppressed antibody responses, broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities, preventing the common cold, and prevention and treatment of cancer." Despite the website's name Allicin Facts, many experts would dispute the factual nature of some of these claims. Nonetheless, medical experts have conducted a lot of study on this cousin of the onion. Scientists say that the naturally occurring chemical allicin is in fact likely responsible for most of garlic's physiological activities. The smellier a clove of garlic or garlic pill, the more allicin it probably contains and thus the more effectively it will ultimately work on the human body. Consequently, odorlessness indicates a potentially inactive batch (or close to it). When speaking about the medical benefits of garlic and allicin, contemporary researchers can conclude with conviction-or at least reasonably debate-that it can in some way help improve the following conditions: 

High Blood Pressure. WebMD cites one particular study by Lichtwer Pharma which found that certain garlic products could reduce the blood pressure in some individuals by 7 to 8%. It also helps high cholesterol, which Health Line says that in studies it lowered LDL-or "bad" cholesterol-by 10-15%; meanwhile, it had no effect on HDL, or "good" cholesterol. In general it improves circulation, which reduces the risk of heart attack, heart disease, and other cardiovascular catastrophes. Better circulation can yield secondary, somewhat unexpected benefits, which I'll cover later.

Additionally, garlic lowers blood sugar, which improves the prognosis for diabetics-though certain sources like WebMD expresses skepticism about this.

Garlic has a number of digestive benefits, making Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) less irritable. Diarrhea seems to happen less or with less severity after consuming some amount of garlic products.

For women, garlic can help combat candidiasis, aka yeast infections. The plant possesses antiviral and antibacterial properties of a debatable caliber. Athlete's foot, another fungal infection, appears to diminish in the face of garlic.

And the oniony plant has other alleged benefits for the skin, though these don't have as much empirical evidence to support claims that it can relieve acne, psoriasis, rosacea, and warts. However, it does do something to scare away bugs from all around the body, including ringworms, tapeworms, scabies, and other parasites. Ticks in particular stay away from garlic according to one study where participants ingested large amounts of it for 8 weeks (though the study doesn't compare its efficacy to chemical tick repellants on the market). 

Though science has yet to prove garlic as a remedy for allergies, sore throats, or sinus or ear infections, some sources point to it helping improve asthma, cough, and other respiratory symptoms. Among its most hotly contested abilities is its effect on the common cold. Differing sources have claimed it to have a preventive power as an immune system booster, a means of easing symptoms, something that directly combats the germs responsible for the illness, or any combination thereof. Each of these claims have studies to back them up and also others which refute their findings. 

For thousands of years humans have used it to reduce fatigue, which it probably does via its effect on the circulatory system (among other potential mechanisms). The antioxidants in raw garlic may protect against neurodegenerative disorders like alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Researchers at the University of Washington have recently found that a compound in garlic can fight one common bacteria 100x better than two antibiotics. Campylobacter jejuni causes food-borne intestinal illness more than any other kind of bacteria, usually infiltrating the body through raw poultry and the like. In some cases, this bacteria can lead to the rare but debilitating Guillain-Barre syndrome; it is responsible for probably 1/3 of all new cases. Although garlic has ingredients which outrank two antibiotics in their ability to fight this one germ, the study does not compare its strength against all antibiotics. For a natural remedy, sure, having that kind of power makes it a really special plant. Nonetheless, many people have taken this fact and run with it, going on to say that garlic contains extremely potent and untapped antibiotic, antimicrobial, anti-everything abilities.

While we do not know of a cure for cancer (thus making certain sources that call garlic a treatment for cancer just sound outrageous), by some mechanism the consistent consumption of garlic seems to have the ability to prevent certain cancers from developing. In addition to probably providing preventative properties, garlic halts the formation of any new tumors in patients already diagnosed with cancer, and empirical studies demonstrate this as fact. Among the most notable, it may help curtail people from getting: digestive cancers, such as stomach, colon, and rectal; lung cancer; esophagus; liver; brain and breast, though these are subject to debate; and finally, prostate.

Oddly enough garlic products show a unique propensity towards benefiting the male reproductive system. Beyond preventing prostate cancer in many men (in China, men who eat garlic daily had a 50% lower risk of getting diagnosed with it), since ancient times observers have noted the plant to have aphrodisiac effect. Though this may not have much basis, another equally bold allegation: that it can cure erectile dysfunction. Because of its positive influence on the circulatory system, garlic products probably serve as nature's best version of Viagra. Numerous men will attest to the efficacy of this particular remedy. They probably wouldn't want to put their names out their and attach themselves to that stigma, though they would probably want guys to know that whatever the source of their ED (be it too much beer or drugs, circulatory issues-anything but psychological causes), garlic stands a strong chance of alleviating it.

No, this eccentrically scented yet delicious clove doesn't cure it all. Nobody (except maybe that one website) is trying to tell you that. However, for a natural item, garlic sure can accomplish a lot-even if you discredit the things which don't have 100% concrete scientific evidence to support. And think about this: how many pills have a long list of unwanted, even dangerous side effects? And how much have you paid for these modern, top-of-the-line medications? Garlic you can get at any grocery store for a few bucks at the most, and the only major side effect you realistically face comes out your mouth in the form of bad breath. Sometimes this stench also seeps out your pores, so be wary of that; in addition, certain individuals might fart, get nauseous, or experience diarrhea from excessive consumption of the stuff. Rarely, individuals will bleed more after ingesting garlic than they would have if they didn't ingest it that day. Other than that, the plant has an impeccable safety profile. Hell, you'd probably risk more side effects taking an aspirin. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) definitely carries a higher chance of doing damage, what with the detrimental way it assaults the liver...

Speaking of aspirin and the like, WebMD lists possible interactions between garlic and a variety of medications and supplements. If you're seriously considering implementing garlic into your daily routine, research how it interacts with other things you take regularly to make sure you don't blow up your stomach or something. Since WebMD only provides three "major interactions" and they're all pretty obscure drugs, I'll list a few of the "moderate interactions" that garlic has:

-aspirin

-Allegra (fexofenadine)

-Halcion (triazolam)

-ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)

-warfarin (Coumadin)

-other anticoagulants

-birth control pills

As a final note, all the females reading this article need to know that garlic can interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptives aka birth control pills. If you take birth control and happen to eat a meal that contains a lot of garlic or any of its derivatives or pop an allicin capsule, and if you then go on to get busy that same night, wear a condom or do something extra to stop yourself from becoming pregnant!

By now you've certainly learned something new and/or interesting regarding the fascinating world of garlic and some things I think about it. While I apologize for the lame name of the article, you're welcome for the great content.

-Man of Jackistan

Please excuse my poorly compiled works cited:

-Vegetable Facts, etymology and some basic info. http://www.vegetablefacts.net/vegetable-history/history-of-garlic/

-Allicin Facts, the history of garlic. http://www.allicinfacts.com/garlic-history/

-"Garlic: Superstitions, Folklore, and Fact," superstitious trivia about garlic, though many incorrect tidbits. http://www.americanfolklore.net/folklore/2010/10/garlic_superstitions_folklore.html

-"Laws of Islam Concerning Food," says to stay away from the mosque after eating garlic, etc. http://www.religiousrules.com/Islamfood11notliked.htm

-"Garlic History," history of garlic. https://www.thespruceeats.com/history-of-garlic-1807602

-WebMD, a trove of info about the medical aspects of garlic. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-300/garlic

-HealthLine, some proven medical benefits of garlic. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic#section12

-Medical News Today, "Garlic: Proven Benefits," another compilation of garlic's health benefits. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265853.php

-Organic Facts, "25 Interesting Benefits of Raw Garlic," the title explains itself. https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-garlic.html

-Consumer Reports, "The Health Benefits of Garlic," another self-explanatory title. https://www.consumerreports.org/diet-nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-garlic/

-RedIce.TV, "Garlic Keeps  More Than Vampires Away," even more health benefits of garlic! https://redice.tv/news/garlic-keeps-more-than-vampires-away

-Science Daily, "Garlic compound fights source of food-borne illness better than antibiotics," the title tells the tale. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120501134203.htm