This bud's for you: garlic, the king of herbs? (wellness).(Brief Article)

It's useful to know about the nature of herbs in order to use them to their full potential--and that's especially true in the case of garlic (Allium sativum).

Despite some of its potential drawbacks, garlic is useful in treating a variety of conditions. It's a wonderful remedy for lung ailments such as bronchitis and walking pneumonia, and it has also been shown to lower blood glucose levels when taken regularly over a period of time, making it beneficial for diabetics.

When used wisely and correctly, garlic is an excellent herb with many healthy benefits. But while most people think that garlic's only serious side effect is bad breath, there are other caveats to using it improperly.

According to the ancient Chinese method of herbal classification, garlic is a "hot" herb, meaning it increases internal heat in the body. This makes it useful in treating people who are weak, fatigued, cold or suffering from infections, tumors or poor digestion. Persons with osteoarthritis may also benefit from garlic, since osteoarthritis is classified as a "cold" condition, making garlic's warming properties a perfect foil.

bigger benefits

Because it alters the intestinal environment and improves digestion, garlic is a good choice for controlling problems such as candida infections and parasites--and it's a boon for travelers who want to avoid acute intestinal infections. Bad bacteria and yeast thrive on poorly digested food, while good bacteria such as acidophilus thrive on well-digested food. Since garlic improves digestion, it makes it harder for pathogenic organisms to live in the body. However, too much garlic can have a negative result because the herb's antibacterial action can also affect good bacteria.

In proper doses, garlic is especially useful in removing harmful substances from the body. The recommended ...