The Use of Garlic in Home Remedies and Herbalism

Garlic’s use as a medicinal herb dates back over thousands of years, and there are signs of its use in ancient Egypt, China, India, and Greece. Hippocrates, often called the father of modern medicine, prescribed garlic for respiratory issues, poor digestion, and fatigue (1). Roman soldiers reportedly took it to enhance endurance and strength (1).

In traditional Chinese medicine, garlic is used for headache, fatigue, and insomnia (1), while in Ayurveda, garlic is known as Lasuna, which signifies “destroyer of diseases” (2).

Another remedy that has stood the test of time is Black Cumin Seed Oil. To learn more, read this article: Black Cumin Seed Oil: Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science

Garlic contains over 200 biologically active compounds (3). Many of garlic’s key healing properties come from sulfur-containing compounds, especially:

Allicin: Formed when garlic is crushed or chopped, allicin is the compound behind garlic’s strong aroma. It has been widely studied for its ability to help maintain a healthy microbial environment in the body.

Ajoene: A naturally occurring sulfur compound in garlic, ajoene has been researched for its potential to support healthy circulation and contribute to overall microbial balance.

Diallyl Disulfide & S-Allyl Cysteine: These bioactive compounds are known for supporting the body’s natural antioxidant defenses, promoting immune system balance, and aiding in the bodies detoxification processes.

One of the most well-known traditional uses of garlic is to support immune system health. It has been used for generations during seasonal wellness challenges and has been studied for its role in promoting a balanced immune response (4) and supporting healthy microbial balance (5) in the body.

Garlic can be a powerful ally in your immune support routine, especially when incorporated regularly during the colder months. Here are some simple and time-honored ways to use it:

• Raw garlic in honey: A classic remedy to soothe the throat and offer gentle immune support. Honey is suitable for ages 1 and older.
• Broths and soups with lots of garlic: Nourishing and warming, ideal when feeling run-down.
• Garlic-containing herbal remedies: A convenient way to get garlic plus other immune supporting herbs in.

Garlic is especially helpful for supporting the sinuses and lungs. It helps:

• Loosen mucus and congestion,
• Manage microbial load in the upper respiratory tract,
• Soothe occasional inflammation in the airways.

Garlic-infused oil has long been used in traditional herbalism to support comfort during occasional ear discomfort, especially in children.

Ear Relief & Resolve™✝ Kids

A carefully crafted herbal oil blend made with garlic, coptis, arnica, and mullein. Designed to be used topically, this remedy offers a gentle and natural option for supporting ear comfort.

Bonus: In a pinch, I like to use this recipe to make a homemade ear oil: Soothe Ear Pain With This Simple DIY Ear Oil Recipe

Due to the sulfur compounds naturally present in garlic, it is supportive of detoxification, especially when it comes to heavy metals and environmental toxins.

Metal Mend™ (Heavy Metal Detox)

Suitable for ages 4+, this remedy includes garlic alongside chlorella, cilantro, and other herbs to support the body’s natural elimination of environmental toxins.

To learn more about detoxification, read this article: How Does Detoxification Work? Understanding Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III Detoxification

Garlic is also supportive of gut health. As a natural prebiotic, garlic helps nourish beneficial bacteria in the digestive system, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, and members of the Lachnospiraceae family. At the same time, it helps discourage the growth of less friendly microbes, promoting a balanced microbiome environment.

One of the key components responsible for this is a group of plant fibers called fructooligosaccharides (FOS), which are naturally found in garlic. These act as food for probiotics, helping them grow and thrive. In one study, garlic extract at just a 4% concentration significantly increased the growth and resilience of L. acidophilus, especially under stress conditions like acidity, temperature, and bile salts (6). This means that regularly incorporating garlic into the diet may help support digestion, immune health, and even overall wellness by keeping your gut flora happy and balanced.

Garlic is widely used in food and herbal medicine and is generally considered safe when used appropriately. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

• Digestive sensitivity: Some individuals may find large amounts of raw garlic to be irritating to the digestive tract. Cooking garlic or using it in formulas may improve tolerance.
• Topical use: Garlic oil should never be applied to broken skin or used in the ear canal if the eardrum is ruptured.
• Children, pregnancy, and lactation: Garlic is commonly consumed during pregnancy and breastfeeding in culinary amounts and is often well-tolerated in gentle herbal formulations. Consuming garlic may temporarily alter the flavor and/or odor of breast milk, and for some babies, this may temporarily influence feeding. This temporary change in flavor/aroma may happen regardless of the garlic being roasted, cooked or raw. It appears that the sulphur compounds in milk peak at 1-2 hours after ingestion, but some women may notice changes even 6 hours after ingestion. This change is not harmful for babies (7). 

For young children, cooked garlic or gentle herbal preparations tend to be more digestible than raw garlic.

Garlic continues to be one of the most beloved and researched herbs in natural medicine. Whether you’re looking to boost immune resilience, soothe a stuffy nose, support your child’s achy ears, or gently detox from environmental exposure, garlic offers a potent natural option.

Our garlic-infused formulas like Clear My Sinuses™✝, D-Congest™, Ear Relief & Resolve™✝ Kids, and Metal Mend™ are a great way to incorporate more garlic into your wellness routine!

1. Rivlin RS. (2001). Historical Perspective on the Use of Garlic. The Journal of Nutrition, 131(3), 951S954S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/131.3.951s
2. Joshi VK, & Joshi A. (2021). Garlic in Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurveda) for Health and Healing. IntechOpen EBooks. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97495
3. Melguizo-Rodríguez L, García-Recio E, Ruiz C, Luna-Bertos ED, Illescas-Montes R, & Costela-Ruiz VJ. (2022). Biological properties and therapeutic applications of garlic and its components. Food & Function, 13(5), 2415–2426. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1FO03180E
4. Arreola R, Quintero-Fabián S, López-Roa RI, Flores-Gutiérrez EO, Reyes-Grajeda JP, Carrera-Quintanar L, Ortuño-Sahagún D. Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds. J Immunol Res. 2015;2015:401630. doi: 10.1155/2015/401630. Epub 2015 Apr 19. PMID: 25961060; PMCID: PMC4417560.
5. Ankri S, Mirelman D. Antimicrobial properties of allicin from garlic. Microbes Infect. 1999 Feb;1(2):125-9. doi: 10.1016/s1286-4579(99)80003-3. PMID: 10594976.
6. Sunu P, Sunarti D, Mahfudz LD, Yunianto VD. Prebiotic activity of garlic (Allium sativum) extract on Lactobacillus acidophilus. Vet World. 2019 Dec;12(12):2046-2051. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.2046-2051. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 32095058; PMCID: PMC6989317.
7. Scheffler L, Sauermann Y, Zeh G, Hauf K, Heinlein A, Sharapa C, Buettner A. Detection of Volatile Metabolites of Garlic in Human Breast Milk. Metabolites. 2016 Jun 6;6(2):18. doi: 10.3390/metabo6020018. PMID: 27275838; PMCID: PMC4931549.