Day 4 Herb of the Day! GARLIC!
Magic and Medicinals. What our ancestors knew by The Magic Apothecary, Mary Elizabeth Micari
Disclamer: The following information is of an educational and general nature and should not be construed as legal advice. You should consult appropriate written and professional sources to answer questions related to your individual situation. Exercising one’s rights often entails some element of risk, and you should verify all information relevant to your situation before acting; the author and publisher disclaim any responsibility or liability for any loss incurred as a consequence of the use of any information herein.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Garlic, some of us love it, some not but Garlic, especially in its raw form, has been used for healing since ancient times. It was used for its powerful healing forces by the ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Romans who always planted garlic on the battlefield and any new conquests they had and the Chinese.
The healing properties of garlic are wide and varied, ranging from antioxidant, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties to cancer-fighting and immune-boosting activity. Raw garlic has been used as a medicinal plant to prevent — and in some cases, treat or even heal — various health complaints for centuries.
Many people look for a natural way to reduce their risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, asthma attacks, bouts of cold or flu, abnormal hair loss, or some skin conditions are likely to reap the most health benefits by regularly eating garlic.
Note: Check with your physician before using garlic for any medicinal purposes.
Garlic as an Antifungal Agent
The medicinal use of garlic as an antifungal has been validated by numerous research papers and publications. Most of the antifungal properties of garlic have been attributed to allicin. Allicin is called a phytochemical and is produced when raw garlic cloves are crushed or chopped. By chopping or crushing you can maximize the allicin-content and you should let the chopped or crushed garlic sit several minutes before using it. Allowing chopped or crushed garlic to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before using it can significantly increase the amount of allicin it produces.
Garlic has been used to treat acne and conditions linked to the overgrowth of Candida yeast in the body and works well to rid women of yeast infections (chop up finely, add to some yogurt and put into a gauze. Insert and watch it work!) Some herbalists also suggest that garlic may have dandruff healing properties due to its ability to fight Pityrosporum ovale (P. ovale), a small fungus that lives on the scalp and that may play a role in the development of dandruff.
Antioxidant
Properties of raw garlic are linked to its antioxidant qualities. These antioxidant properties are largely attributable to allicin, the same compound that is responsible for the antifungal properties of crushed raw garlic!! Allicin has shown to be one of the most potent antioxidants found in foods. In addition to allicin, garlic has large amounts of antioxidant vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, zinc and selenium.
Antioxidants in garlic help protect the body from free radicals, which are destructive oxygen molecules that attack healthy cells and can cause cellular damage. Due to their destructive effects on cells, free radicals are heavily implicated in several diseases including eye disorders, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, atherosclerosis, an impaired immune system, certain types of cancer, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition to helping with common diseases and conditions, the free radical neutralizing properties of garlic can help keep your skin looking young by fighting premature aging of the skin provoked by excessive exposure to sunlight.
When your skin is exposed to sunlight, it creates powerful enzymes called metalloproteinases which help repair sun-damaged connective tissue. However, not all metalloproteinases are good for us: some metalloproteinases destroy collagen fibers, which can lead to wrinkles and fine lines. Free radicals appear to activate these destructive metalloproteinases.
Natural Antibiotic
During the nineteenth century, the French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur examined the use of raw garlic juice as a potential antibacterial agent and found garlic to be capable of killing bacteria much in the same way as penicillin does. Garlic was used widely as an antibacterial agent to disinfect and heal wounds during World War II. Since then, several research studies published in medical journals have confirmed the antibacterial and antiviral properties of garlic. In addition to its ability to control bacterial and viral infections, garlic has been shown to fight and heal infections caused by other microbes and worms.
Due to the healing properties of garlic this medicinal herb has also used in the treatment of some infections that are difficult to treat due to the presence of bacteria that have become resistant to prescription drugs such as antibiotics. However, more research is needed in this area before definite conclusions about the efficacy of garlic as an antibiotic can be made.
Anti-Cancer
Many laboratory tests have also found garlic and garlic extracts to exert strong anti-cancer effects. Also, several epidemiologic studies support the idea that garlic — especially raw garlic — can help prevent certain types of cancer. According to a large-scale review of epidemiologic studies, the strongest evidence for anti-cancer effects of raw garlic pertains to stomach and colorectal cancers. This review, which appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2000, analyzed epidemiological studies published on stomach, colon, head and neck, lung, breast and prostate cancers since 1966.
Raw garlic appears to exert its anti-cancer effects through multiple mechanisms, including inhibition of free radical production, activation of enzymes that detoxify carcinogens, and regulation of cell-cycle arrest. Garlic has been shown to induce apoptosis. Apoptosis, also known as programmed cell death, is the body’s normal way of getting rid of unneeded or abnormal cells, but cancer cells employ mechanisms that allow them to evade apoptosis, so they can grow uncontrollably at the expense of healthy cells and tissues.
Insulin Resistant People
Research suggests that a healthy diet rich in garlic may be used successfully as a complementary treatment for insulin resistance, a physiological condition that remains a major medical challenge of the twenty-first century. Insulin resistance has been linked to many diseases and conditions including pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, excess body weight (especially around the waistline), adult acne and heart disease. In insulin resistant people, the body’s cells are no longer able to effectively respond to the actions of the hormone insulin.
According to a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology in 2005, the health benefits of garlic for insulin resistant people may be linked to the presence of garlic oil and diallyl trisulfide in garlic. In addition to having wide-ranging healing properties documented in previous studies, these two compounds appear to improve the body’s ability to effectively respond to the actions of insulin and thus fight insulin resistance.
Magic and Garlic
Garlic is masculine in nature and associated with the planet Mars, the element fire and the sign Aries. It is sacred to Hecate and is a suitable offering to her left at a crossroads.
A spell to rid oneself of an unwanted lover: Place a clove of garlic intersected with two crossed pins where he is sure to walk. When he walks over it, he will lose interest.
A potion to draw a lover made of a strand of the target’s hair, threads from his or her clothing, alcohol and garlic. You would have to make the target ingest this, and then he or she would fall madly in love with you.
Garlic cloves can also be used, with other things, to stuff poppets intended for banishing, hexing and removing curses or people from one’s life.
Garlic braids hung over the door repel thieves and envious people as well as bring good look. Change the braid every year. Hanging garlic over a bedroom door will draw lovers into it.
Garlic is said to have aphrodisiac powers when eaten.
Wiping a knife with garlic juice empowers it against negative energies.
A clove of garlic can be added to any mojo bag or spell to strengthen its energy.
Garlic is used for exorcism, spell-breaking, invoking passion, protection and strength.
Also used to protect against psychic and physical vampirism.
Interesting! You mean Garlic protects, heals, removes and saves us from death as well as making us strong and more attractive. Seems like the medicinal uses and magic are the same…once again!
Modern information: WebMD:https://www.webmd.com/vitam…/ingredientmono-300-garlic.aspx…
The Magic Apothecary \Green Witchcraft and Healing 