What diseases can garlic cure?

In most Vietnamese kitchens, garlic is an almost indispensable spice. However, few people know that for centuries, garlic has been classified as a "food and medicine" – serving as both a food and a medicinal herb.

Garlic (Allium sativum L., Amaryllidaceae family) contains essential oils rich in sulfur compounds such as alliin, allicin, ajoene, and diallyl sulfides.

When garlic cloves are crushed or chopped, the enzyme alliinase converts alliin into allicin – the active compound that creates the characteristic smell and is believed to possess many biological benefits.

In traditional medicine, garlic has a pungent taste, a warm nature, and acts on the spleen, stomach, and lung meridians; its functions include warming the body, promoting qi circulation, eliminating stagnation, detoxifying, and disinfecting. Therefore, garlic is used in many remedies to treat colds, bloating, poor digestion, boils, and some skin diseases.

Today, many studies have confirmed that garlic has antibacterial, antioxidant, and cardiovascular-supportive properties. However, garlic is not a substitute for medication.

1. Garlic helps relieve colds and coughs caused by exposure to cold.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, a cold occurs when wind-cold invades the body, obstructing lung qi. Patients often experience symptoms such as chills, nasal congestion, cough, little sweating, and headache. Due to its warming properties and pungent taste, garlic is used to dispel wind-cold, warm the body, and clear the respiratory tract.

Suggested remedy: Steamed garlic with rock sugar consists of 3-5 cloves of fresh garlic and 15-20g of rock sugar.

Instructions: Peel and crush the garlic, then steam it with rock sugar for about 15 minutes; strain and drink the liquid while it's still warm.

Traditionally, this remedy is used for the early stages of a cold, coughs caused by cold, and mild sore throats. Studies have shown that allicin has antibacterial and antiviral activity in laboratory settings. Some reviews suggest that garlic preparations may help reduce the risk of catching a cold or shorten the duration of the illness.

Garlic is used in many remedies to treat colds, bloating, poor digestion, boils, and some skin diseases. (Image: AI)

2. Helps relieve bloating, indigestion, and slow digestion.

This is one of the oldest applications of garlic in traditional medicine. According to Eastern medicine, garlic has the effect of warming the stomach and spleen, promoting the circulation of qi in the digestive tract, thereby helping to reduce bloating, gas, and indigestion caused by cold.

Suggested remedy: Garlic porridge consists of 50-60g of rice, 3-5 cloves of garlic, and a little fresh ginger.

Use: Cook the rice porridge until soft, then add the roasted garlic and ginger when the porridge is almost done, and serve hot.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this dish is suitable for people with indigestion, cold stomach, or poor digestion after catching a cold. The sulfur compounds in garlic can inhibit many types of pathogenic bacteria in the digestive tract under laboratory conditions. However, eating too much raw garlic can cause stomach irritation, heartburn, or diarrhea in some people.

3. Supports the prevention of intestinal infections.

Garlic is classified as a medicinal herb with detoxifying and antiseptic effects, often used in cases of contaminated food or suspected parasitic infections. Today, many studies have proven that allicin has a fairly broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against many strains of bacteria and fungi in laboratory settings.

Suggested remedy: Garlic soaked in vinegar consists of 200g of peeled garlic and 500ml of rice vinegar; soak for about 3-4 weeks, then consume a small amount with meals.

In folk medicine, this is considered a way to aid digestion and prevent intestinal diseases. In vitro studies show that allicin has the ability to inhibit many bacteria such as Escherichia coli , Salmonella spp. , Staphylococcus aureus , and some species of fungi.

4. Supports cardiovascular and circulatory health.

Unlike many medicinal plants that are only used based on folk experience, garlic is one of the few traditional remedies that has been extensively studied for its effects on cardiovascular health.

According to traditional medicine, garlic has the effect of promoting qi circulation and invigorating blood flow, thus it is used in cases of blood stasis, chest pain, or in people with a cold constitution that causes poor qi and blood circulation.

Meanwhile, modern medicine focuses on studying the effects of sulfur compounds, particularly allicin and ajoene. Several systematic reviews suggest that garlic preparations may help slightly reduce total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure in some groups of people. However, the improvement is usually moderate and does not replace medication.

Suggested remedy: Garlic wine consisting of 40g of peeled dried garlic and 100ml of 35-40% white wine.

Instructions: Slice the garlic and soak it in alcohol in a glass bottle for about 10-15 days until the alcohol turns a light yellow color. According to folk experience and some modern Traditional Chinese Medicine texts, garlic wine is consumed in very small amounts after meals to aid blood circulation and digestion.

Note: People with high blood pressure, liver disease, pregnant women, or those taking anticoagulants should not use this product without consulting a doctor.

5. Helps treat boils and insect bites.

According to traditional Chinese medicine, garlic is warm in nature and pungent in taste, helping to detoxify and disinfect, so it is used externally for newly formed boils or insect bites.

Suggested remedy: Diluted garlic water is made by adding crushed garlic to cooled boiled water, then filtering the liquid; it is used to wash the affected skin area according to folk remedies.

Unlike in the past, experts now discourage applying fresh garlic directly to the skin, as many reports have documented cases of chemical burns, contact dermatitis, and blistering, especially in children. If the affected area shows signs of infection, swelling, pus discharge, or spreading, the patient should seek medical attention.

6. Supports individuals with a weak constitution and cold hands and feet.

People with weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, cold abdomen, and cold hands and feet often need to use warming herbs to restore their yang energy. Garlic is one of the herbs incorporated into dishes and medicinal recipes to warm the body.

Suggested recipe: Chicken soup with garlic, consisting of 1 small free-range chicken, 1 clove of garlic, fresh ginger, and seasonings to taste.

Instructions: Simmer until the meat is tender, serve hot. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this dish is suitable for people recovering from illness, those with poor appetite, or those who frequently experience stomach chills and are sensitive to cold. However, it should not be consumed by people with high fever, acute inflammation, or symptoms of "heat syndrome."

7. Who should not use garlic as medicine?

Despite its many uses, garlic is not suitable for everyone and caution should be exercised in the following cases:

•  People who are taking blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs should be aware that garlic may increase the risk of bleeding.
•  Patients preparing for surgery should inform their doctor if they are using garlic products.
•  People with stomach ulcers or severe gastroesophageal reflux may experience increased irritation when consuming large amounts of raw garlic.
•  People allergic to garlic or other plants in the onion family should not use it.
•  Do not apply or spread fresh garlic directly on the skin for extended periods to avoid burns.

For chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, or infections, patients still need to adhere to their doctor's treatment plan. The use of garlic or traditional remedies should be considered as supplementary measures, not a replacement for proven effective medications.