About garlic / Medicine

		Alliin, an agent of garlic. It is widely known that alliin (essential oil), containing 1% of sulphur, has an antibiotic effect. When garlic is cut or crushed, alliin is converted into a compound, called allicin, exhibiting a typical smell. Allicin enters into a reaction with the thiol (SH) group of the proteins containing sulphur, and found in the bacteria or parasites attacking the organism, hindering its functioning. Besides, allicin is also an antioxidant compound, so it binds free radicals. The long-lasting, intensive and typical smell of garlic is caused by a compound containing sulphur, and called allyl sulphide. The agents of garlic successfully fight bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. According to researchers, a medium-sized garlic clove equals to the bactericidal effect of 100 00 penicillin units.
Depending on the type of infection, penicillin doses administered orally range between 600 000 and 1.2 million. This amount corresponds to 6-12 garlic cloves. Garlic is also efficacious against the fungal infection candidiasis, and is suitable for expelling tapeworm and other intestinal parasites. It increases the functioning of the digestive system, the bile and the liver, and disinfects the intestines.

It also cleanses the respiratory track. In traditional folk medicine, garlic plays an important role in curing cold, as raw garlic cloves or the tea made from them loosen up phlegm. In the event of asthma, cough, whooping cough and bronchitis, garlic boiled in milk has a soothing effect on the mucous membrane. Regular garlic consumption successfully reduces high blood pressure, and helps prevent arteriosclerosis. It not only inhibits cholesterol and fat settling in the blood, but is also capable of decomposing the mass already settled, as well as reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. Apart from the reduction of LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol level may also decrease, so one should be careful with the quantity of garlic consumed. Garlic can reduce the lipid level in the blood within two months. It prevents blood plaques from sticking together, and increases the dissolution of fibrin, the major component of the blood clot.
Today, a large number of medicinal and curative preparations made of the essential oil of garlic are available at the pharmacies.