Garlic

the bulb of garlic (Allii sativi bulbus)

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a bulb with narrow leaves and a white head made up of cloves, familiar from every kitchen. It is planted in autumn or early spring and ripens in summer, when the leaves dry off.

The bulbs are lifted when about a third of the leaves have yellowed, and are first dried with the stem still on, in the shade and in a draught; the stems are then cut off or plaited into strings. Fresh cloves are used for extracts, because some of the substances are lost in drying.

The characteristic smell appears only on cutting or crushing, when sulphur compounds are released in the cut tissue; a whole clove hardly smells at all. In Ašič's collection garlic appears in Garlic Drops, the best selling drops in the collection, and in Ašič's Apple Cider Vinegar with Garlic.

Use and evidence

The EMA monograph covers limited traditional or well established uses of particular preparations, and not the treatment of infections, cancer or hypertension in general. EMA.