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597 From: "zarembadavid" <rudra@graffiti.net>
Date: Tue Apr 5, 2005 3:40pm
Subject: - Garlic + Side effects zarembadavid
Offline
Send Email
- Garlic
Overview
Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for
thousands of years, dating as far back as the time that the Egyptian
pyramids were built. Later, gravediggers in early eighteenth-century
France drank a concoction of crushed garlic in wine which they
believed would protect them from getting the plague that killed many
people in Europe. More recently, during both World Wars I and II,
soldiers were given garlic to prevent gangrene and today people use
garlic to help prevent atherosclerosis (plaque build up in the
arteries causing blockage and possibly leading to heart attack or
stroke), improve high blood pressure, and reduce colds, coughs, and
bronchitis.
Medical research has been underway to assess whether these
traditional uses of garlic have scientific validity. While the
science is not definitive at this point, much of the research is
showing real promise and many clinicians continue to report
improvements in the areas of infection and heart-related risk factors
for their individual patients. For example, test tube and animal
studies suggest that garlic can kill many types of bacteria, some
viruses and fungal infections, and even intestinal parasites. The
belief is that properties of garlic may prove to help support immune
function and prevent infection in people. Some experts believe that
science may prove that garlic is particularly useful when taken
together with medications (like antibiotics) prescribed for these
infections.
Garlic also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help scavenge
free radicals -- particles that can damage cell membranes, interact
with genetic material, and possibly contribute to the aging process
as well as the development of a number of conditions including heart
disease and cancer. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but
environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation,
cigarette smoking, and air pollution) can also increase the number of
these damaging particles. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals
and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause
over time.
The conditions for which garlic is showing the most promise include:
Atherosclerosis
Studies suggest that fresh garlic and garlic supplements may prevent
blood clots and destroy plaque. Blood clots and plaque block blood
flow and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis. Blockage
of blood flow to the heart, brain, and legs, can lead to heart
attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease (PVD). People with PVD
experience pain in the legs when they walk and move. If garlic does
reduce the build up of plaque, then stroke, heart attacks, and PVD
may be less likely to occur in people who eat garlic or take garlic
supplements.
Garlic may also be beneficial for risk factors for heart disease,
including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. An
animal study suggests that garlic may help lower homocysteine levels
as well. Homocysteine, similar to cholesterol, may contribute to
increasing amounts of blood clots and plaque in blood vessels.
High Cholesterol
Long hailed for its beneficial effects, a number of studies have
found that garlic reduces elevated total cholesterol levels more
effectively than placebo. However, the extent to which garlic lowers
cholesterol in these studies has been small, and study limitations
make it somewhat difficult to draw any firm conclusions. More
research with better-designed studies is needed in order to fully
assess the safety and effectiveness of garlic and to determine the
most appropriate dose and form (see Available Forms).
In the meantime, work with a qualified healthcare practitioner,
knowledgeable in herbal medicine, to determine if garlic is safe and
appropriate for you to try. The specialist will assess what other
medications you are taking to make sure that there are no potentially
dangerous interactions, and will follow your cholesterol levels
closely.
High Blood Pressure
Studies suggest that raw garlic may lower blood pressure. Similar to
cholesterol, however, the drop in blood pressure caused by garlic is
fairly small. For this reason, further research is necessary before
it can be routinely recommended for people with high blood pressure.
Since garlic is considered relatively safe and has a number of other
potentially healthful benefits for the heart, a professional
herbalist may recommend the use of this herb. Again, work closely
with a knowledgeable herbal specialist to determine if garlic is safe
and appropriate for you. A healthcare provider will also monitor your
blood pressure closely while you are taking this herbal supplement.
Diabetes
Garlic has been used as a traditional dietary supplement for diabetes
in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Preliminary studies in rabbits,
rats, and limited numbers of people have demonstrated that garlic has
some ability to lower blood sugars. One well-designed study conducted
in Thailand, however, found that garlic was no better than placebo in
lowering blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. More
research in this area is warranted. (See Possible Interactions
regarding some concern about using garlic with certain medications
for diabetes.)
Common Cold
A well-designed study of nearly 150 people supports the value of
garlic for preventing and treating the common cold. In this study,
people received either garlic supplements or placebo for 12 weeks
during "cold season" (between the months of November and February).
Those who received the garlic had significantly fewer colds than
those who received placebo. Plus, when faced with a cold, the
symptoms lasted a much shorter time in those receiving garlic
compared to those receiving placebo.
Cancer
Test tube and animal studies suggest that garlic may have some anti-
cancer activity. Observational, population-based studies (which
follow groups of people over time) suggest that people who have more
raw or cooked garlic in their diet are less likely to have certain
types of cancer, particularly colon and stomach cancers. Dietary
garlic may also offer some protection against the development of
breast, prostate, and laryngeal (throat) cancers. However, these
types of cancer have not been as extensively studied as colon and
stomach cancer.
While these results are intriguing, more research is needed to best
understand whether dietary intake of garlic and other substances in
the same family (such as onions, leeks, scallions, chives, and
shallots) truly help to prevent cancer. In addition, studies looking
at garlic supplements (as opposed to dietary garlic) and cancer have
been limited. Thus far, however, use of garlic supplements does not
appear to reduce the risk of developing prostate, colon, stomach,
lung, or breast cancer.
Tuberculosis
Numerous test tube studies have demonstrated that garlic extract
inhibits the growth of different species of bacteria, including
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the organism responsible for
tuberculosis. However, very high concentrations of garlic extract
were needed to slow down the growth of M. tuberculosis in these
studies, so some experts are concerned that these levels may be toxic
to people. While further research in people is needed, one animal
study found that garlic oil (which is a higher concentration than the
extract) also inhibited M. tuberculosis and reduced the tuberculosis
lesions in the lungs of these animals. Some scientists speculate that
a combination of garlic extract or garlic oil with anti-tuberculosis
drugs may eventually prove effective against the disease. Research to
test this theory is needed.
Intestinal Parasites
Laboratory studies suggest that large quantities of fresh, raw garlic
may have antiparasitic properties against the roundworm, Ascaris
lumbricoides, which is the most common type of intestinal parasite.
Garlic for this purpose, however, has not yet been tested in people.
Ear Pain from Otitis Media
Most children with an ear infection known as otitis media experience
pain. Often, ear drops with pain killers are prescribed to relieve
this discomfort. A recent study compared this standard treatment to a
combination herbal extract (also used as ear drops) containing garlic
as well as calendula, St. John's wort, and mullein flower. The herbal
combination worked as well as the prescription ear drops. The number
of children included in the study, however, was small. More research
in this area would be helpful.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Plant Description
Garlic originally came from central Asia, and is now cultivated
throughout the world. Garlic is a perennial that can grow two feet
high or more. The most important part of this plant for medicinal
purposes is the compound bulb. Each bulb is made up of 4 to 20
cloves, and each clove weighs about 1 gram. The parts of the plant
used medicinally include fresh bulbs, dried bulbs, and oil extracted
from the garlic.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
What's It Made Of?
There are several important components of garlic that have been
identified, and many more that have not. Alliin is an odorless sulfur-
containing chemical derived from the amino acid cysteine. When garlic
bulbs are crushed, alliin is converted into another compound called
allicin. Allicin appears to be at least one of the primary active
compounds that gives garlic its characteristic odor and many of its
healing benefits.
Allicin appears to have infection-fighting action as well as
potential cardiovascular effects including, possibly, the ability to
lower blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, test tubes have
shown that allicin has anti-cancer activities.
Allicin is further broken down to a compound called ajoene, which may
be the substance that inhibits blockage in blood vessels from clots
and atherosclerosis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Available Forms
Garlic products are made from whole fresh garlic, fresh or dried
garlic cloves, garlic powder made from the dried cloves, freeze-dried
garlic, or oil garlic extracts.
Not all garlic contains the same amount of active ingredients. In
fact, there is a fairly wide variation in the amount of allicin and
other important ingredients in both fresh garlic and commercial
products. The amount present depends on where the garlic is grown as
well as how the product is prepared. Some experts believe that the
wide variation in the quantity of active ingredients in garlic
preparations explains why there is some variability in how well the
substances lower cholesterol, improve blood pressure, and fight
infection in different people.
Aged garlic products are made by fermenting garlic. Fermentation may
reduce the amount of active ingredients in garlic. In addition,
cooking garlic at very high temperatures may destroy its active
components.
It is important to carefully read the label on all garlic products.
It is best to use standardized garlic products to ensure that you are
getting a specified concentration of allicin and other active
substances. Also, follow the directions of a qualified healthcare
practitioner with knowledge and experience in herbal medicine.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
How to Take It
Pediatric
An appropriate medicinal dose for children has not been established.
For this reason, use of garlic for health-related reasons in children
should be directed by a qualified healthcare practitioner who has
experience treating children with herbal remedies.
Adult
Whole garlic clove: 2 to 4 grams per day of fresh, minced garlic
clove (each clove is approximately 1 gram)
Capsules or tablets of freeze-dried garlic standardized to 1.3%
alliin or 0.6% allicin: 600 to 900 mg daily
Infusion: 4 grams in 150 mL of water/day
Fluid extract of 1:1 (g/mL) solution: 4 mL/day
Tincture of 1:5 (g/mL) solution: 20 mL/day
Oil: 0.03 to 0.12 mL three times a day
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Precautions
The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body
and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that
can trigger side effects and that can interact with other herbs,
supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken
with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in
the field of botanical medicine.
Garlic is considered to have very low toxicity and is listed as
Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) of the United States.
Side effects from garlic include upset stomach, bloating, bad breath,
body odor, and a stinging sensation on the skin from handling too
much fresh or dried garlic. Handling garlic may also cause the
appearance of skin lesions. Other side effects that have been
reported by those taking garlic supplements include headache,
fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches, dizziness described as
vertigo (namely, the room spinning), and allergies such as an
asthmatic reaction or contact dermatitis (skin rash).
Garlic has blood-thinning properties so people with bleeding
disorders, such as hemophilia or platelet disorders, should not use
garlic supplements or medicinal doses of garlic. This is also
important to know if you are going to have surgery or deliver a baby.
Too much garlic can increase your risk for bleeding during or after
those procedures.
Some experts recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid
garlic. This may be due to the fact that a safe dose of medicinal
garlic has not been established for infants and children.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Possible Interactions
If you are currently being treated with any of the following
medications, you should not use garlic supplements without first
talking to your healthcare provider.
Antiplatelet medications
Garlic may exaggerate the activity of medications that inhibit the
action of platelets in the body. Examples of such medications include
indomethacin, dipyridamole, and aspirin.
Blood-thinning medications
There have been reports of a possible interaction between garlic and
warfarin that could increase the risk of bleeding in people taking
this blood thinning medication. Therefore, when taking medications
that may thin the blood, such as aspirin and warfarin, you should
refrain from consuming large quantities of garlic, either fresh or
commercially prepared.
Diabetes medications
When used with a class of medications for diabetes called
sulfonylureas, garlic may lower blood sugar considerably. Medications
from this class include chlorpropamide, glimepiride, and glyburide.
When using garlic with these medications, blood sugars must be
followed closely.
Protease inhibitors
Garlic may reduce blood levels of protease inhibitors, a medication
used to treat people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
including indinavir, ritinavir, and saquinavir.
Other
It is thought that garlic may behave similarly to a class of
cholesterol lowering medications called statins (such as
atorvastatin, pravastatin, and lovastatin) and to a class of blood
pressure lowering medications called ACE inhibitors (including
enalapril, captopril, and lisinopril). It is not known, therefore,
whether it is safe to take this supplement in large quantities with
these medications or not. This possible interaction has never been
tested in scientific studies.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Supporting Research
Ackermann RT, Mulrow CD, Ramirez G, Gardner CD, Morbidoni L, Lawrence
VA. Garlic shows promise for improving some cardiovascular risk
factors. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:813-824.
Ang-Lee MK, Moss J, Yuan C-S. Herbal medicines and perioperative care
[review]. JAMA. 2001;286(2):208-216.
Apitz-Castro R, Escalante J, Vargas R, et al. Ajoene, the
antiplatelet principle of garlic, synergistically potentiates the
antiaggregatory action of prostacyclin, forskolin, indomethacin, and
dipyridamole on human platelets. Thromb Res. 1986;42(3):303-311.
Bailey C, Day C. Traditional plants medicine as treatments for
diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1989;12:553-564.
Berthold HK, Sudhop T. Galic preparation for prevention of
atherosclerosis. Curr Opin Lipidol. 1998;9(6):565-569.
Berthold HK, Sudhop T, von Bergmann K. Effect of a garlic oil
preparation on serum lipoproteins and cholesterol metabolism. JAMA.
1998;279.
Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine:
Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine
Communications; 2000: 139-148.
Caron MF, White CM. Evaluation of the antihyperlipidemic properties
of dietary supplements. Pharmacotherapy. 2001;21(4):481-487.
Delaha EC, Garagusi VF. Inhibition of mycobacteria by garlic extract
(Alliumsativum). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1985;27(4):485-486.
Dorant E, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA. A prospective cohort study
on the relationship between onion and leek consumption, garlic
supplement use and the risk of colorectal carcinoma in The
Netherlands. Carcinogenesis. 1996;17(3):477-484.
Dorant E, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA. Allium vegetable
consumption, garlic supplement intake, and female breast carcinoma
incidence. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 1995;33(2):163-170.
Dorant E, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA, Hermus RJ, Sturmans F.
Garlic and its significance for the prevention of caner in humans: a
critical view. Br J Cancer. 1993;67(3):424-429.
Fleischauer AT, Arab L. Garlic and cancer: a critical review of the
epidemiologic literature. J Nutr. 2001;131:1032S-1040S.
Fleischauer AT, Poole C, Arab L. Garlic consumption and cancer
prevention: meta-analyses of colorectal and stomach cancers. Am J
Clin Nutr. 2000;72:1047-1052.
Fugh-Berman A. Herb-drug interactions [review]. Lancet. 2000;355:134-
138.
Fugh-Berman A. Herbs and dietary supplements in the prevention and
treatment of cardiovascular disease. Prev Cardiol. 2000;3:24-32.
Garlic supplements can impede HIV medication. J Am Coll Surg. 2002;194
(2):251.
Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C et al, eds. PDR for Herbal
Medicines. 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company 2000:327-
331.
Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between
alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2000;57
(13):1221-1227.
Heron S, Yarnell E. Treating parasitic infections with botanical
medicines. Altern Complement Ther. 1999;8:214-224.
Izzo AA, Ernst E. Interactions between herbal medicines and
prescribed drugs: a systematic review. Drugs. 2001;61(15):2163-2175.
Jain RC. Anti tubercular activity of garlic oil [letter]. Indian J
Pathol Microbiol. 1998;41(1):131.
James JS. Garlic reduces squinavir blood levels 50%; may affect other
drugs. AIDS Treat News. 2001;375:2-3.
Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a
double blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2001;18(4):189-
193.
Kannar D, Wattanapenpaiboon N, Savige GS, Wahlqvist ML.
Hypocholesterolemic effect of an enteric coated garlic supplement. J
Am Coll Nutr. 2001;20(3):225-231.
Kendler BS. Recent nutritional approaches to the prevention and
therapy of cardiovascular disease. Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 1997;12(3):3-
23.
Koscielny J, Klubendorf D, Latza R, Schmitt R, Radtke H, Siegel G,
Kiesewetter H. The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum.
Atherosclerosis. 1999;144:237-249.
Larkin M. Surgery patients at risk for herb-anaesthesia interactions.
Lancet. 1999;354(9187):1362.
Levi F, Pasche C, La Vecchia C, Lucchini F, Franceschi S. Food groups
and colorectal cancer risk. Br J Cancer. 1999;79(7-8):1283-1287.
Loy MH, Rivlin RS. Garlic and cardiovascular disease. Nutr Clin Care.
2000;3(3):146-151.
Mantle D, Lennard TW, Pickering AT. Therapeutic applications of
medicinal plants in the treatment of breast cancer: a review of their
pharmacology, efficacy and tolerability. Adverse Drug React Toxicol
Rev. 2000;19(3):223-240.
Mashour NH, Lin GI, Frishman WH. Herbal medicine for the treatment of
cardiovascular disease. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:22252234.
Miller LG. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations
focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions [review]. Arch
Intern Med. 1998;158:2200-2211.
Morelli V, Zoorob RJ. Alternative therapies: part I. Depression,
diabetes, obesity. Am Fam Physician. 2000;62(5):1051-1060.
Munday JS, James KA, Fray LM, Kirkwood SW, Thompson KG. Daily
supplementation with aged garlic extract, but not raw garlic,
protects low density lipoprotein against in vitro oxidation.
Atherosclerosis. 1999;143(2):399-404.
Pinto JT, Rivlin RS. Antiproliferative effects of allium derivatives
from garlic. J Nutr. 2001;131(3S):1058S-1060S.
Rahman K. Historical perspective on garlic and cardiovascular
disease. J Nutr. 2001;131(3s):977S-979S.
Rose KD, Croissant PD, Parliament CF, Levin MB. Spontaneous spinal
epidural hematoma with associated platelet dysfunction from excessive
garlic ingestion: a case report. Neurosurgery. 1990;26:880882.
Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Efficacy of naturopathic extracts
in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:796-799.
Schulz V, Hansel R, Tyler V. Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's
Guide to Herbal Medicine. 3rd ed. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag;
1998:107123.
Siegers CP, Steffen B, Robke A, Pentz R. The effects of garlic
preparations against human tumor cell proliferation. Phytomedicine.
1999;6(1):7-11.
Silagy CA, Neil AW. A meta-analysis of the effect of garlic on blood
pressure. J Hypertens 1994;12:463-468.
Spigelski D, Jones PJ. Efficacy of garlic supplementation in lowering
serum cholesterol levels. Nutr Rev. 2001;59(7):236-241.
Steiner M, Khan AH, Holbert D, Lin RI. A double-blind crossover study
in moderately hypercholesterolemic men that compared the effect of
aged garlic extract and placebo administration on blood lipids. Am J
Clin Nutr. 1996;64:866870.
Steinmetz KA, Kushi LH, Bostick RM, Folsom AR, Potter JD. Vegetables,
fruit, and colon cancer in the Iowa Women's Health Study. Am J
Epidemiol. 1994;139(1):1-15.
Stevinson C, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Garlic for treating
hypercholesterolemia. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133(6):420-429.
Stockley IH. Drug Interactions, 5th ed. London, England:
Pharmaceutical Press; 1999:240-241.
Superko HR, Krauss RM. Garlic powder, effect on plasma lipids,
postprandial lipemia, low-density lipoprotein particle size, high-
density lipoprotein subclass distribution and lipoprotein(a). J Am
Coll Cardiol. 2000;35(2):321-326.
Wang HX, NG TB. Natural products with hypoglycemic, hypotensive,
hypocholesterolemic, antiatherosclerotic and antithrombotic
activities. Life Sci. 1999;65(25):2663-2677.
Witte JS, Longnecker MP, Bird CL, Lee ER, Frankl HD, Haile RW.
Relation of vegetable, fruit, and grain consumption to colorectal
adenomatous polyps. Am J Epidemiol. 1996;144(11):1015-1025.
Zhang XH, Lowe D, Giles P, Fell S, Connock MJ, Maslin DJ. Gender may
affect the action of garlic oil on plasma cholesterol and glucose
levels of normal subjects. J Nutr. 2001;131:1471-1478.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Garlicch.html
614 From: "Kathy" <nagoyasea@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed Apr 6, 2005 11:20am
Subject: Re: - Garlic + Side effects nagoyasea
Offline
Send Email
WOW!!
Everything you wanted to know about garlic and more! Thank you
Zarembadavid for taking the time to provide all this information.
Kathy
--- In AYPforum@yahoogroups.com, "zarembadavid" <rudra@g...> wrote:
>
>
>
> - Garlic
>
>
> Overview
>
> Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures
for
> thousands of years, dating as far back as the time that the
Egyptian
> pyramids were built. Later, gravediggers in early eighteenth-
century
> France drank a concoction of crushed garlic in wine which they
> believed would protect them from getting the plague that killed
many
> people in Europe. More recently, during both World Wars I and II,
> soldiers were given garlic to prevent gangrene and today people
use
> garlic to help prevent atherosclerosis (plaque build up in the
> arteries causing blockage and possibly leading to heart attack or
> stroke), improve high blood pressure, and reduce colds, coughs,
and
> bronchitis.
>
> Medical research has been underway to assess whether these
> traditional uses of garlic have scientific validity. While the
> science is not definitive at this point, much of the research is
> showing real promise and many clinicians continue to report
> improvements in the areas of infection and heart-related risk
factors
> for their individual patients. For example, test tube and animal
> studies suggest that garlic can kill many types of bacteria, some
> viruses and fungal infections, and even intestinal parasites. The
> belief is that properties of garlic may prove to help support
immune
> function and prevent infection in people. Some experts believe
that
> science may prove that garlic is particularly useful when taken
> together with medications (like antibiotics) prescribed for these
> infections.
>
> Garlic also has antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help scavenge
> free radicals -- particles that can damage cell membranes,
interact
> with genetic material, and possibly contribute to the aging
process
> as well as the development of a number of conditions including
heart
> disease and cancer. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but
> environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation,
> cigarette smoking, and air pollution) can also increase the number
of
> these damaging particles. Antioxidants can neutralize free
radicals
> and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause
> over time.
>
> The conditions for which garlic is showing the most promise
include:
>
> Atherosclerosis
> Studies suggest that fresh garlic and garlic supplements may
prevent
> blood clots and destroy plaque. Blood clots and plaque block blood
> flow and contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
Blockage
> of blood flow to the heart, brain, and legs, can lead to heart
> attack, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease (PVD). People with
PVD
> experience pain in the legs when they walk and move. If garlic
does
> reduce the build up of plaque, then stroke, heart attacks, and PVD
> may be less likely to occur in people who eat garlic or take
garlic
> supplements.
>
> Garlic may also be beneficial for risk factors for heart disease,
> including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. An
> animal study suggests that garlic may help lower homocysteine
levels
> as well. Homocysteine, similar to cholesterol, may contribute to
> increasing amounts of blood clots and plaque in blood vessels.
>
> High Cholesterol
> Long hailed for its beneficial effects, a number of studies have
> found that garlic reduces elevated total cholesterol levels more
> effectively than placebo. However, the extent to which garlic
lowers
> cholesterol in these studies has been small, and study limitations
> make it somewhat difficult to draw any firm conclusions. More
> research with better-designed studies is needed in order to fully
> assess the safety and effectiveness of garlic and to determine the
> most appropriate dose and form (see Available Forms).
>
> In the meantime, work with a qualified healthcare practitioner,
> knowledgeable in herbal medicine, to determine if garlic is safe
and
> appropriate for you to try. The specialist will assess what other
> medications you are taking to make sure that there are no
potentially
> dangerous interactions, and will follow your cholesterol levels
> closely.
>
> High Blood Pressure
> Studies suggest that raw garlic may lower blood pressure. Similar
to
> cholesterol, however, the drop in blood pressure caused by garlic
is
> fairly small. For this reason, further research is necessary
before
> it can be routinely recommended for people with high blood
pressure.
>
> Since garlic is considered relatively safe and has a number of
other
> potentially healthful benefits for the heart, a professional
> herbalist may recommend the use of this herb. Again, work closely
> with a knowledgeable herbal specialist to determine if garlic is
safe
> and appropriate for you. A healthcare provider will also monitor
your
> blood pressure closely while you are taking this herbal supplement.
>
> Diabetes
> Garlic has been used as a traditional dietary supplement for
diabetes
> in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Preliminary studies in
rabbits,
> rats, and limited numbers of people have demonstrated that garlic
has
> some ability to lower blood sugars. One well-designed study
conducted
> in Thailand, however, found that garlic was no better than placebo
in
> lowering blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. More
> research in this area is warranted. (See Possible Interactions
> regarding some concern about using garlic with certain medications
> for diabetes.)
>
> Common Cold
> A well-designed study of nearly 150 people supports the value of
> garlic for preventing and treating the common cold. In this study,
> people received either garlic supplements or placebo for 12 weeks
> during "cold season" (between the months of November and
February).
> Those who received the garlic had significantly fewer colds than
> those who received placebo. Plus, when faced with a cold, the
> symptoms lasted a much shorter time in those receiving garlic
> compared to those receiving placebo.
>
> Cancer
> Test tube and animal studies suggest that garlic may have some
anti-
> cancer activity. Observational, population-based studies (which
> follow groups of people over time) suggest that people who have
more
> raw or cooked garlic in their diet are less likely to have certain
> types of cancer, particularly colon and stomach cancers. Dietary
> garlic may also offer some protection against the development of
> breast, prostate, and laryngeal (throat) cancers. However, these
> types of cancer have not been as extensively studied as colon and
> stomach cancer.
>
> While these results are intriguing, more research is needed to
best
> understand whether dietary intake of garlic and other substances
in
> the same family (such as onions, leeks, scallions, chives, and
> shallots) truly help to prevent cancer. In addition, studies
looking
> at garlic supplements (as opposed to dietary garlic) and cancer
have
> been limited. Thus far, however, use of garlic supplements does
not
> appear to reduce the risk of developing prostate, colon, stomach,
> lung, or breast cancer.
>
> Tuberculosis
> Numerous test tube studies have demonstrated that garlic extract
> inhibits the growth of different species of bacteria, including
> Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the organism responsible for
> tuberculosis. However, very high concentrations of garlic extract
> were needed to slow down the growth of M. tuberculosis in these
> studies, so some experts are concerned that these levels may be
toxic
> to people. While further research in people is needed, one animal
> study found that garlic oil (which is a higher concentration than
the
> extract) also inhibited M. tuberculosis and reduced the
tuberculosis
> lesions in the lungs of these animals. Some scientists speculate
that
> a combination of garlic extract or garlic oil with anti-
tuberculosis
> drugs may eventually prove effective against the disease. Research
to
> test this theory is needed.
>
> Intestinal Parasites
> Laboratory studies suggest that large quantities of fresh, raw
garlic
> may have antiparasitic properties against the roundworm, Ascaris
> lumbricoides, which is the most common type of intestinal
parasite.
> Garlic for this purpose, however, has not yet been tested in
people.
>
> Ear Pain from Otitis Media
> Most children with an ear infection known as otitis media
experience
> pain. Often, ear drops with pain killers are prescribed to relieve
> this discomfort. A recent study compared this standard treatment
to a
> combination herbal extract (also used as ear drops) containing
garlic
> as well as calendula, St. John's wort, and mullein flower. The
herbal
> combination worked as well as the prescription ear drops. The
number
> of children included in the study, however, was small. More
research
> in this area would be helpful.
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> ----------
>
>
> Plant Description
>
> Garlic originally came from central Asia, and is now cultivated
> throughout the world. Garlic is a perennial that can grow two feet
> high or more. The most important part of this plant for medicinal
> purposes is the compound bulb. Each bulb is made up of 4 to 20
> cloves, and each clove weighs about 1 gram. The parts of the plant
> used medicinally include fresh bulbs, dried bulbs, and oil
extracted
> from the garlic.
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> ----------
>
>
> What's It Made Of?
>
> There are several important components of garlic that have been
> identified, and many more that have not. Alliin is an odorless
sulfur-
> containing chemical derived from the amino acid cysteine. When
garlic
> bulbs are crushed, alliin is converted into another compound
called
> allicin. Allicin appears to be at least one of the primary active
> compounds that gives garlic its characteristic odor and many of
its
> healing benefits.
>
> Allicin appears to have infection-fighting action as well as
> potential cardiovascular effects including, possibly, the ability
to
> lower blood pressure and cholesterol. In addition, test tubes have
> shown that allicin has anti-cancer activities.
>
> Allicin is further broken down to a compound called ajoene, which
may
> be the substance that inhibits blockage in blood vessels from
clots
> and atherosclerosis.
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> ----------
>
>
> Available Forms
>
> Garlic products are made from whole fresh garlic, fresh or dried
> garlic cloves, garlic powder made from the dried cloves, freeze-
dried
> garlic, or oil garlic extracts.
>
> Not all garlic contains the same amount of active ingredients. In
> fact, there is a fairly wide variation in the amount of allicin
and
> other important ingredients in both fresh garlic and commercial
> products. The amount present depends on where the garlic is grown
as
> well as how the product is prepared. Some experts believe that the
> wide variation in the quantity of active ingredients in garlic
> preparations explains why there is some variability in how well
the
> substances lower cholesterol, improve blood pressure, and fight
> infection in different people.
>
> Aged garlic products are made by fermenting garlic. Fermentation
may
> reduce the amount of active ingredients in garlic. In addition,
> cooking garlic at very high temperatures may destroy its active
> components.
>
> It is important to carefully read the label on all garlic
products.
> It is best to use standardized garlic products to ensure that you
are
> getting a specified concentration of allicin and other active
> substances. Also, follow the directions of a qualified healthcare
> practitioner with knowledge and experience in herbal medicine.
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> ----------
>
>
> How to Take It
>
> Pediatric
>
> An appropriate medicinal dose for children has not been
established.
> For this reason, use of garlic for health-related reasons in
children
> should be directed by a qualified healthcare practitioner who has
> experience treating children with herbal remedies.
>
> Adult
>
> Whole garlic clove: 2 to 4 grams per day of fresh, minced garlic
> clove (each clove is approximately 1 gram)
> Capsules or tablets of freeze-dried garlic standardized to 1.3%
> alliin or 0.6% allicin: 600 to 900 mg daily
> Infusion: 4 grams in 150 mL of water/day
> Fluid extract of 1:1 (g/mL) solution: 4 mL/day
> Tincture of 1:5 (g/mL) solution: 20 mL/day
> Oil: 0.03 to 0.12 mL three times a day
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> ----------
>
>
> Precautions
>
> The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the
body
> and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances
that
> can trigger side effects and that can interact with other herbs,
> supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be
taken
> with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable
in
> the field of botanical medicine.
>
> Garlic is considered to have very low toxicity and is listed as
> Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug
> Administration (FDA) of the United States.
>
> Side effects from garlic include upset stomach, bloating, bad
breath,
> body odor, and a stinging sensation on the skin from handling too
> much fresh or dried garlic. Handling garlic may also cause the
> appearance of skin lesions. Other side effects that have been
> reported by those taking garlic supplements include headache,
> fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches, dizziness described as
> vertigo (namely, the room spinning), and allergies such as an
> asthmatic reaction or contact dermatitis (skin rash).
>
> Garlic has blood-thinning properties so people with bleeding
> disorders, such as hemophilia or platelet disorders, should not
use
> garlic supplements or medicinal doses of garlic. This is also
> important to know if you are going to have surgery or deliver a
baby.
> Too much garlic can increase your risk for bleeding during or
after
> those procedures.
>
> Some experts recommend that pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid
> garlic. This may be due to the fact that a safe dose of medicinal
> garlic has not been established for infants and children.
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> ----------
>
>
> Possible Interactions
>
> If you are currently being treated with any of the following
> medications, you should not use garlic supplements without first
> talking to your healthcare provider.
>
> Antiplatelet medications
> Garlic may exaggerate the activity of medications that inhibit the
> action of platelets in the body. Examples of such medications
include
> indomethacin, dipyridamole, and aspirin.
>
> Blood-thinning medications
> There have been reports of a possible interaction between garlic
and
> warfarin that could increase the risk of bleeding in people taking
> this blood thinning medication. Therefore, when taking medications
> that may thin the blood, such as aspirin and warfarin, you should
> refrain from consuming large quantities of garlic, either fresh or
> commercially prepared.
>
> Diabetes medications
> When used with a class of medications for diabetes called
> sulfonylureas, garlic may lower blood sugar considerably.
Medications
> from this class include chlorpropamide, glimepiride, and
glyburide.
> When using garlic with these medications, blood sugars must be
> followed closely.
>
> Protease inhibitors
> Garlic may reduce blood levels of protease inhibitors, a
medication
> used to treat people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),
> including indinavir, ritinavir, and saquinavir.
>
> Other
> It is thought that garlic may behave similarly to a class of
> cholesterol lowering medications called statins (such as
> atorvastatin, pravastatin, and lovastatin) and to a class of blood
> pressure lowering medications called ACE inhibitors (including
> enalapril, captopril, and lisinopril). It is not known, therefore,
> whether it is safe to take this supplement in large quantities
with
> these medications or not. This possible interaction has never been
> tested in scientific studies.
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
---
> ----------
>
>
> Supporting Research
>
> Ackermann RT, Mulrow CD, Ramirez G, Gardner CD, Morbidoni L,
Lawrence
> VA. Garlic shows promise for improving some cardiovascular risk
> factors. Arch Intern Med. 2001;161:813-824.
>
> Ang-Lee MK, Moss J, Yuan C-S. Herbal medicines and perioperative
care
> [review]. JAMA. 2001;286(2):208-216.
>
> Apitz-Castro R, Escalante J, Vargas R, et al. Ajoene, the
> antiplatelet principle of garlic, synergistically potentiates the
> antiaggregatory action of prostacyclin, forskolin, indomethacin,
and
> dipyridamole on human platelets. Thromb Res. 1986;42(3):303-311.
>
> Bailey C, Day C. Traditional plants medicine as treatments for
> diabetes. Diabetes Care. 1989;12:553-564.
>
> Berthold HK, Sudhop T. Galic preparation for prevention of
> atherosclerosis. Curr Opin Lipidol. 1998;9(6):565-569.
>
> Berthold HK, Sudhop T, von Bergmann K. Effect of a garlic oil
> preparation on serum lipoproteins and cholesterol metabolism.
JAMA.
> 1998;279.
>
> Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J, eds. Herbal Medicine:
> Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine
> Communications; 2000: 139-148.
>
> Caron MF, White CM. Evaluation of the antihyperlipidemic
properties
> of dietary supplements. Pharmacotherapy. 2001;21(4):481-487.
>
> Delaha EC, Garagusi VF. Inhibition of mycobacteria by garlic
extract
> (Alliumsativum). Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1985;27(4):485-486.
>
> Dorant E, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA. A prospective cohort
study
> on the relationship between onion and leek consumption, garlic
> supplement use and the risk of colorectal carcinoma in The
> Netherlands. Carcinogenesis. 1996;17(3):477-484.
>
> Dorant E, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA. Allium vegetable
> consumption, garlic supplement intake, and female breast carcinoma
> incidence. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 1995;33(2):163-170.
>
> Dorant E, van den Brandt PA, Goldbohm RA, Hermus RJ, Sturmans F.
> Garlic and its significance for the prevention of caner in humans:
a
> critical view. Br J Cancer. 1993;67(3):424-429.
>
> Fleischauer AT, Arab L. Garlic and cancer: a critical review of
the
> epidemiologic literature. J Nutr. 2001;131:1032S-1040S.
>
> Fleischauer AT, Poole C, Arab L. Garlic consumption and cancer
> prevention: meta-analyses of colorectal and stomach cancers. Am J
> Clin Nutr. 2000;72:1047-1052.
>
> Fugh-Berman A. Herb-drug interactions [review]. Lancet.
2000;355:134-
> 138.
>
> Fugh-Berman A. Herbs and dietary supplements in the prevention and
> treatment of cardiovascular disease. Prev Cardiol. 2000;3:24-32.
>
> Garlic supplements can impede HIV medication. J Am Coll Surg.
2002;194
> (2):251.
>
> Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C et al, eds. PDR for Herbal
> Medicines. 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company
2000:327-
> 331.
>
> Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between
> alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2000;57
> (13):1221-1227.
>
> Heron S, Yarnell E. Treating parasitic infections with botanical
> medicines. Altern Complement Ther. 1999;8:214-224.
>
> Izzo AA, Ernst E. Interactions between herbal medicines and
> prescribed drugs: a systematic review. Drugs. 2001;61(15):2163-
2175.
>
> Jain RC. Anti tubercular activity of garlic oil [letter]. Indian J
> Pathol Microbiol. 1998;41(1):131.
>
> James JS. Garlic reduces squinavir blood levels 50%; may affect
other
> drugs. AIDS Treat News. 2001;375:2-3.
>
> Josling P. Preventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a
> double blind, placebo-controlled survey. Adv Ther. 2001;18(4):189-
> 193.
>
> Kannar D, Wattanapenpaiboon N, Savige GS, Wahlqvist ML.
> Hypocholesterolemic effect of an enteric coated garlic supplement.
J
> Am Coll Nutr. 2001;20(3):225-231.
>
> Kendler BS. Recent nutritional approaches to the prevention and
> therapy of cardiovascular disease. Prog Cardiovasc Nurs. 1997;12
(3):3-
> 23.
>
> Koscielny J, Klubendorf D, Latza R, Schmitt R, Radtke H, Siegel G,
> Kiesewetter H. The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum.
> Atherosclerosis. 1999;144:237-249.
>
> Larkin M. Surgery patients at risk for herb-anaesthesia
interactions.
> Lancet. 1999;354(9187):1362.
>
> Levi F, Pasche C, La Vecchia C, Lucchini F, Franceschi S. Food
groups
> and colorectal cancer risk. Br J Cancer. 1999;79(7-8):1283-1287.
>
> Loy MH, Rivlin RS. Garlic and cardiovascular disease. Nutr Clin
Care.
> 2000;3(3):146-151.
>
> Mantle D, Lennard TW, Pickering AT. Therapeutic applications of
> medicinal plants in the treatment of breast cancer: a review of
their
> pharmacology, efficacy and tolerability. Adverse Drug React
Toxicol
> Rev. 2000;19(3):223-240.
>
> Mashour NH, Lin GI, Frishman WH. Herbal medicine for the treatment
of
> cardiovascular disease. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:22252234.
>
> Miller LG. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations
> focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions [review].
Arch
> Intern Med. 1998;158:2200-2211.
>
> Morelli V, Zoorob RJ. Alternative therapies: part I. Depression,
> diabetes, obesity. Am Fam Physician. 2000;62(5):1051-1060.
>
> Munday JS, James KA, Fray LM, Kirkwood SW, Thompson KG. Daily
> supplementation with aged garlic extract, but not raw garlic,
> protects low density lipoprotein against in vitro oxidation.
> Atherosclerosis. 1999;143(2):399-404.
>
> Pinto JT, Rivlin RS. Antiproliferative effects of allium
derivatives
> from garlic. J Nutr. 2001;131(3S):1058S-1060S.
>
> Rahman K. Historical perspective on garlic and cardiovascular
> disease. J Nutr. 2001;131(3s):977S-979S.
>
> Rose KD, Croissant PD, Parliament CF, Levin MB. Spontaneous spinal
> epidural hematoma with associated platelet dysfunction from
excessive
> garlic ingestion: a case report. Neurosurgery. 1990;26:880882.
>
> Sarrell EM, Mandelberg A, Cohen HA. Efficacy of naturopathic
extracts
> in the management of ear pain associated with acute otitis media.
> Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:796-799.
>
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> Guide to Herbal Medicine. 3rd ed. Berlin, Germany: Springer-
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> 1998:107123.
>
> Siegers CP, Steffen B, Robke A, Pentz R. The effects of garlic
> preparations against human tumor cell proliferation.
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> 1999;6(1):7-11.
>
> Silagy CA, Neil AW. A meta-analysis of the effect of garlic on
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>
> Spigelski D, Jones PJ. Efficacy of garlic supplementation in
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> serum cholesterol levels. Nutr Rev. 2001;59(7):236-241.
>
> Steiner M, Khan AH, Holbert D, Lin RI. A double-blind crossover
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> in moderately hypercholesterolemic men that compared the effect of
> aged garlic extract and placebo administration on blood lipids. Am
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> Clin Nutr. 1996;64:866870.
>
> Steinmetz KA, Kushi LH, Bostick RM, Folsom AR, Potter JD.
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> fruit, and colon cancer in the Iowa Women's Health Study. Am J
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>
> Stevinson C, Pittler MH, Ernst E. Garlic for treating
> hypercholesterolemia. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133(6):420-429.
>
> Stockley IH. Drug Interactions, 5th ed. London, England:
> Pharmaceutical Press; 1999:240-241.
>
> Superko HR, Krauss RM. Garlic powder, effect on plasma lipids,
> postprandial lipemia, low-density lipoprotein particle size, high-
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> Coll Cardiol. 2000;35(2):321-326.
>
> Wang HX, NG TB. Natural products with hypoglycemic, hypotensive,
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> activities. Life Sci. 1999;65(25):2663-2677.
>
> Witte JS, Longnecker MP, Bird CL, Lee ER, Frankl HD, Haile RW.
> Relation of vegetable, fruit, and grain consumption to colorectal
> adenomatous polyps. Am J Epidemiol. 1996;144(11):1015-1025.
>
> Zhang XH, Lowe D, Giles P, Fell S, Connock MJ, Maslin DJ. Gender
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> affect the action of garlic oil on plasma cholesterol and glucose
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>
>
> http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/Garlicch.html
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