Garlic is one of the most beneficial foods for the digestive systemThe ancient Indians thought it to be an aphrodisiac and the monks too believed it to be a stimulant which aroused passionsGarlic may not always bring good luck, protect against evil or ward off vampires, but it is guaranteed to transform any meal into a bold, aromatic and healthy culinary experience
History of garlic and the role of garlic in health and disease Some of the earliest
references to this medicinal and culinary plant are found on Sumerian clay tablets dating
from 2600–2100 BC. Garlic was an important medicine to the ancient Egyptians listed in
the medical text Codex Ebers (ca. 1550 BC) specially for the working class involved in
heavy labor. There is evidence that during the earliest Olympics in Greece, garlic was fed
to the athletes for increasing stamina. In ancient Chinese medicine, garlic was prescribed
to aid respiration and digestion, most importantly diarrhea and worm infestation. The
leading Indian ancient medical text, Charaka-Samhita recommends garlic for the treatment
of heart disease and arthritis for over many centuries. In another ancient Indian medical
textbook, Bower Manuscript (~300 AD), garlic was used for fatigue, parasitic disease,
digestive disorder and leprosy. With the onset of Renaissance, increasing attention was
paid in Europe to the medical use of garlic. A leading physician of the 16th century,
Pietro Mattiali of Siena, prescribed garlic for digestive disorders, infestation with
worms and renal disorders, as well as to help mother during difficult childbirth.
In England, garlic was used for toothache, constipation,
dropsy and plague. Ancient History of The Garlic Garlic was placed by the ancient Greeks on the piles of
stones at cross-roads as a supper for Hecate, and according to Pliny garlic and onion were
invocated as deities by the Egyptians at the taking of oaths. It was largely consumed
by the ancient Greeks and Romans, as we may read in Virgil´s Eclogues. Horace, however,
records his detestation of Garlic, the smell of which, even in his days
(as much later in Shakespeare's time), was accounted a sign of vulgarity.
He calls it "more poisonous than hemlock" and relates how he was made ill by eating
it at the table of Maecenas. Benefits of regular garlic consumption Although garlic may not always bring good
luck, protect against evil or ward off vampires, it is guaranteed to transform any meal
into a bold, aromatic and healthy culinary experience.
Numerous studies have demonstrated potential benefits of regular garlic consumption
on blood pressure, platelet aggregation, serum triglyceride level, and cholesterol
levels. Routine eating of garlic may also help stimulate the production of nitric oxide
in the lining of blood vessel walls, which may help to relax them. As a result of these
beneficial actions, garlic can be described as a food that may help prevent
atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, as well as reducing the risk of
heart attack or stroke. Garlic is one of the most beneficial foods for the digestive system It exercises a beneficial effect on the lymph,
aids in elimination of noxious waste matter in the body. It stimulates peristaltic
action and the secretion of the digestive juices. Crushed cloves of garlic may be
infused in water or milk and taken for all types of disorders of the digestion. It
has an antiseptic effect and is an excellent remedy for infectious diseases and
inflammations of the stomach and intestine. The oil of garlic is absorbed into
the alimentary tract and is eliminated partly through the urine.
Garlic produces a very marked effects on the intestine. It is an excellent agent as
a worm expeller. It has also a soothing effect on the various forms of diarrhoea.
Problems such as colitis, dysentery and many other intestinal upsets can be successfully
treated with fresh garlic or garlic capsules One garlic capsule taken three times a day
is usually sufficient to correct mild cases of diarrhoea or dysentery. The ancient Indians valued the medicinal properties of garlic and thought it to be an aphrodisiac But it was not considered to be suitable food for the upper classes who despised
its strong odour. It was also forbidden by monks who believed it to be a stimulant
which aroused passions. Widows, adolescents and those who had taken up a vow or were
fasting could not eat garlic because of its stimulant quality. As a culinary and
medicinal plant, garlic spread in ancient times to the Mediterranean region
and beyond. It was used in Egypt by 3000 BC. It was also known by the advanced
ancient civilisations.... Home grown garlic can be disappointing... ...small bulbs, bulbs with only one big soft clove,
no bulb. The causes of unsatisfactory production come down to the quality of the garlic 'seed',
growing conditions, the variety, the vagaries of the season, and disease.
Give the best possible drainage.
It is important to have a free draining soil. While cloves put in early in winter
will have a longer cold treatment and will respond to lengthening days more quickly
than those put in later, there is always a risk of the cloves rotting in a cold wet
soil. Especially if the garlic cloves are of dubious quality, or if you have a history of
disease problems in your own saved seed cloves. Commercially, the seed cloves
are often soaked in rugged fungicides prior to sowing to minimize this problem,
but this is not an option for most of us. Excellent drainage is very important
to give the edge on climate and disease. Books about garlic 
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