Page 37 - DIVA_No.23_2006

Why is it that the garlic bulb The old French name then- China for its beneficial effect
smells of hardly anything at aque des pauvres (theriac of on the heart and circulation.
all and yet one crushed clove the poor) reflects the medical Many well-documented stud-
can fill a room with its aroma value of garlic. In the Middle ies confirm that garlic,
and taint your breath for Ages, a mixture of exotic because it thins the blood, can
hours? ingredients called "theriac" reduce cholesterol and heart
was believed to be an disease. These positive effects
The intact clove contains extremely potent medicine. In are not the result of any one
derivatives of a stable amino 1858 Louis Pasteur studied single pharmacological mech-
acid called cysteine. One of garlic and confirmed that it anism, but rather a number of
them is alliin (pronounced al- had powerful antiseptic prop- effects working in concert.
lean), which is in fact odour- erties. During the Second Garlic has been shown to
less and has no antibacterial World War, Russian military lower blood pressure. It not
properties. When the garlic doctors who were running out only lowers low-density
bulb is cut or crushed, an of disinfectant used it to heal lipoprotein in the blood, buts
enzyme called allinase is wounds and keep gangrene at shifts the ratio of low-density
freed and combines with the bay—which led to garlic lipoproteins in favour of high-
lipoproteins—so-
alliin. Several compounds are being called "Russian peni- density
formed—a typical one, cillin". Modem evidence has called "good" cholesterol—
allicin, is the main biological- now confirmed that garlic— which helps the liver metabo-
ly active component and a although pungent—can dis- lize fat substances in the
potent antibacterial agent— able a wide variety of infec- blood, rather than allowing
and they then create the typi- tious agents, as well as block- them to be deposited in tissue.
cal garlic taste and smell. It is ing amoebas causing dysen- It also increases the flow of
these chemicals, released tery. blood to the capillaries,
upon cutting or crushing gar- reducing blood pressure and
lic, that provide its health-giv- The anti-parasitic nature of speeding up the dissipation of
ing benefits. Although they garlic is widely recognized coagulated blood.
can be prepared artificially, since it has traditionally been
allicin and its "cousins" do used to treat parasitic worms If there's one herb sold on the
not last very long—just a few in such diverse cultures as market today that has stood
hours. However, other deriva- East Asia, India, Italy, North the test of time, and has been
tives can be dissolved in edi- America, Peru, Saudi Arabia, accepted by the medical com-
ble oil and stored for much Tunisia and the West Indies. munity following the quality
longer periods of time. The Much modem research on and quantity of research, it is
enzyme is deactivated by garlic has focused on its value certainly garlic. No other herb
heat, which explains why the as a "preventer of disease". comes close.
effects of cooked garlic are Garlic has become recognized
not as unmistakable as those for its great value in the pre- HAYWARD BEYWOOI)
of raw garlic. When garlic is vention of arteriosclerosis. Its
heated, a different compound cancer preventing effects
is formed that has beneficial have been the subject of a
effects on blood and choles- number of studies. Some
terol. researchers have focused on
its anti-diabetic activity. New
Since time immemorial garlic research shows that taking
has been used as a remedy for garlic during pregnancy can
illness. In ancient times it was reduce the risk of pre-eclamp-
prescribed for asthma, diges- sia (raised blood pressure and
tive troubles, leprosy, cancer, protein in the urine) and can
the plague, bladder infections, boost the birth weight of
heart disease, bone fracture under-sized babies before
and also as a dressing for they are bom.
snake and dog bites. In short
garlic has been used for just Garlic has been used since
about every human ailment. ancient times in India and

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