Garlic Historical use

 2. Historical Use of Garlic in Traditional Medicine

Throughout history, many cultures have used garlic for medicinal purposes,

 particularly in relation to the heart and blood pressure. In ancient Egypt, the Ebers Papyrus prescribed garlic for heart-related issues.

 It was also implemented in treating tumors, abscesses, malaise, and parasitic or insect infestations [11]. 

In Greece and Rome, garlic was used to “cleanse the arteries” and linked to cardiovascular health by figures like

 Hippocrates and Dioscorides [11].

 Charaka, the father of Ayurvedic medicine from 3000 B.C., claimed that “garlic maintains the fluidity of blood and strengthens the heart” [12]. 

In India, Ayurvedic medicine uses garlic to maintain blood fluidity and strengthen the heart.

Garlic is now well known to reduce blood pressure if used appropriately [13] and a diuretic effect was attributed to it,

 where it is believed that the mobilization of fluid from the extravascular space results in improved cardiovascular function due to garlic treatment. 

Furthermore, it was thought to improve elevated serum cholesterol, decrease the aggregation of 

platelets, and protect the vascular endothelium 

from damage by LDL [11].

3. Garlic’s Broader Historical Uses

Beyond its cardiovascular benefits, garlic has a rich history of use in various cultures for a wide range of ailments, including respiratory problems and infections. 

For digestive issues, garlic was used to treat diarrhea, worm infestations, and stomach problems [11].

 Additionally, it was applied externally for conditions such as skin diseases and dandruff [14]. 

As for infections, it was believed to have antiseptic properties and was used against plagues, cholera, and other infections. 

The Talmud, which is a Jewish religious text from the second century AD, prescribes garlic to treat parasitic infections and other disorders [11]. 

Celsius used garlic to cure tuberculosis and fever in the second century [14]. 

The authors also state that in 1720, the inhabitants of Marseille were saved from the spread of the epidemic of plague by garlic, and in 

1858, Louis Pasteur wrote about garlic killing bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori [14]. 

The antiseptic properties of garlic were affirmed in the suppression of cholera in 1913, typhoid fever

 and diphtheria in 1918 in Beirut, and the influenza 

pandemic in Spain and the influenza epidemic in America during 1917 and 1918 [14]. As for reproductive issues, it was also used to improve male potency [11].

Ref

Nutrients. 2024 Aug 29;16(17):2895. doi: 10.3390/nu16172895

Garlic and Hypertension: Efficacy, Mechanism of Action, and Clinical Implications

Christopher Sleiman 1, Rose-Mary Daou 1, Antonio Al Hazzouri 1, Zahi Hamdan 1, Hilda E Ghadieh 1, Bernard Harbieh 1,*, Maya Romani 2,*

Editors: Kenneth Ka-Hei Lo, Aimin Yang