Since we are in Gilroy, California, the Garlic Capital of the World, I thought it would be fitting to take a moment and write about the history of garlic and its many health benefits.
My Mother does not take any medication. She is active, healthy and so full of energy that we cannot keep up. She attributes her good health to taking a piece of garlic once a day. She peels the skin, places it in a small cup with olive oil and microwaves the garlic for 8 - 12 seconds depending on its size. When the garlic begins to spin in the container, it's ready. She uses a toothpick to retrieve it and pops it in her mouth. Sounds simple but the key is to do it everyday, year after year, until it becomes a part of your daily routine like brushing your teeth..
Use of garlic to prevent disease and for the maintenance of health dates back to early recorded history. Garlic is referenced in the Bible. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Chinese and Indian medical texts mentions the medicinal use of garlic. Here is a list of health benefits of garlic from History of Garlic in medicinal use over the past 5,000 years.
1) To maintain and increase strength and productivity.
2) To treat circulatory ailments, general malaise and infestations with insects and parasites..
3) To give more courage
4) To enhance performance in athletes.
5) To protect the skin against poisons or toxins.
6) To improve cardiovascular status
7) To treat gastrointestinal tract disorder, treatment of animal bites
8) To alleviation of joint disease and seizures.
9) To aid respiration and digestion, diarrhea and worm infestation.
10) To lift depression.
11) To improve male potency.
12) To treat heart disease and arthritis.
13) To combat fatigue, parasites, digestive diseases and leprosy
14) To alleviate constipation when consumed with beverages.
15) To prevent heat strokes
16) To treat toothache, constipation, dropsy and plague.
17) To treat flu-like symptoms
18) A leading physician of the 16th Century, Dr. Pietro Mattioli of Siena, prescribed garlic for digestive disorders, kidney stones and expelling afterbirth.
19) Garlic was used in Shaker herb catalogs as a stimulant, expectorant and tonic (1825).
20) Dr. John Gunn used garlic in the book “Home: Book of Health” as a diuretic, expectorant and treatment for worms (1878).
21) Dr. Joseph Richardson, author of Health Remedies, used garlic for all lung diseases.
Before we leave Gilroy, J.J. and I will purchase a garland of garlic to take back to my Mother. We certainly will be more conscientious about including garlic in our daily diet.
Aloha -- Cathi