Garlic

Allium; Allium sativum; Rustic Treacle; Stinking Rose

... Much of garlic''s reputation is based on observation and tradition. While numerous animal and human studies have been carried out to test garlic''s effectiveness for a wide range of health conditions, many of the studies have been small and short in duration. Not all of the studies used standardized garlic products or similar dosing regimens. Therefore, many of the study results are unreliable. However, taking garlic appears to have few if any serious negative effects and it may be a useful addition to conventional treatments for certain conditions.

In the United States, oral garlic supplements are sold mainly to reduce high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Garlic''s possible positive effect on cholesterol levels -- as seen in multiple small studies done mostly in the 1970s and 1980s -- has not been substantiated by more recent research. However, garlic does seem to be better than placebo (sugar pills with no medical effectiveness) for lowering high blood levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides. Garlic does not lower blood cholesterol to the same extent achieved by dietary changes plus prescription drugs known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (HMGs), Also called statins, HMGs include Lipitor, Lescol, lovastatin, Pravachol, and Zocor. In general, these medications in combination with low-fat diets may produce a 28% to 60% reduction in total cholesterol. Garlic may be responsible for cholesterol reductions in the 6% to 12% range. Additionally, several studies appear to show that garlic''s cholesterol-lowering effects may be only short-term. Lower cholesterol seen after one month of treatment, may return to near pre-treatment levels after 6 to 12 months of garlic therapy. One study of 30 children with an inherited type of high cholesterol known as familial hypercholesterolemia found no effect from garlic on their cholesterol levels. ...

?Garlic Garlic plants Scientific classification Kingdom: Planta ...