Garlic "GAR-lik "
What are other names for this remedy?
Type of medicine: natural remedy
Scientific and common names: Allium sativum, garlic, allium, stinking rose, nectar of the
gods, camphor of the poor, garlic extract, ajo, poor man's treacle
What is garlic?
Garlic is a bulb with a tall, flowering stem that grows 2 to 3
feet tall. The bulb has a distinct odor.
What is it used for?
Garlic is used all over the world as a spice in cooking.
As a medicine, garlic has been used to:
- treat hardening of the arteries
(atherosclerosis)
- treat diarrhea
- treat earaches
- lower cholesterol
- control high blood pressure
- reduce blood-sugar levels
- prevent colon cancer, prostate
cancer, and stomach cancer
- prevent tick bites
- treat the common cold
- treat fungal infections such as
athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm
Although some sources may list garlic as a treatment for cancer,
there is no evidence that shows that it is an effective way to treat cancer.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses
for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the
way they do prescription medicines.
How is it taken?
You can use cloves of garlic in your cooking.
Garlic also comes in the form of tablets and capsules. Follow
the directions printed on the product label or given by your healthcare
provider.
What if I overdose?
Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.
What should I watch out for?
Do not take garlic if you have:
- a bleeding disorder
- HIV/AIDS
- stomach or digestive problems
- surgery scheduled within 2
weeks
Females of childbearing age: If you are pregnant or
breast-feeding, do not take large doses of this remedy without your healthcare
provider's approval. You may eat it in normal amounts in foods.
Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural
remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not
tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do
not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not
understand. Remember:
- Natural remedies are not always
safe.
- You should not take them if you
are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's
approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults
without your provider's approval.
- They affect your body and may
interact with prescription medicines that you take.
- Natural remedies are not
standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be
contaminated.
What are the possible side effects?
Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some
unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects
may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider
if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life threatening (report these to your healthcare provider right
away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency
medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash;
trouble bleeding; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue or
throat).
Garlic can cause an unpleasant odor on your breath or from your
skin. Garlic may cause heartburn, gas, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. When used
on the skin as a thick paste, garlic can cause skin blistering and irritation
that is similar to a burn.
What products might interact with this remedy?
When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change
the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also
interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects.
Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
- antifungal medicines such as
ketoconazole (Nizoral) and itraconazole (Sporanox)
- birth control pills
- medicine that reduces the
chance of blood clots forming such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin,
clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), enoxaparin (Lovenox),
dalteparin (Fragmin), and heparin
- calcium channel blockers such
as diltiazem (Cardizem), nicardipine (Cardene), verapamil (Calan, and
Isoptin)
- cyclosporine (Neoral,
Sandimmune)
- fexofenadine (Allegra)
- natural remedies such as
angelica, anise, arnica, asafoetida, capsicum, celery, chamomile, clove,
fenugreek, fish oil, ginger, ginkgo, Panax ginseng, horse chestnut,
horseradish, licorice, onion, papain, passionflower, red clover, turmeric,
and willow
- high doses of vitamin E
- isoniazid (Nydrazid, Tubizid)
- losartan (Cozaar)
- medicines to treat HIV/AIDS
such as saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), nevirapine (Viramune), delavirdine
(Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), amprenavir (Agenerase), nelfinavir
(Viracept), and ritonavir (Norvir)
- midazolam (Versed)
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin),
naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen, nabumetone
(Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac
(Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and
oxaprozin (Daypro)
- some medicines used to treat
cancer such as etoposide (VePesid), paclitaxel (Taxol), vinblastine
(Velban), vincristine (Oncovin), and vindesine
