Fight High Blood Pressure With Garlic: Some Clinical Evidence

For several decades, traditional healers have used garlic as a high blood pressure herbal treatment. Today, many more people have discovered the effectiveness of this herb, not only in regulating blood pressure but in the treatment of other illnesses as well. This article will detail some of the recent studies and clinical trials that back up the use of this herb as a blood pressure therapy.

Several scientific studies showed that those who have heart problems could benefit from taking up to 10 cloves of raw garlic per day, which is roughly equivalent to 300 mg of garlic extract. Despite the effectiveness of garlic, people should not take it as a substitute for medications that have been prescribed by their doctors. But they can take garlic to supplement their prescribed medications and to help them lower their cholesterol level.

Scientists have discovered several healing elements in garlic. There is selenium, which helps normalize one's blood pressure. Sulphides, on the other hand, help lower blood pressure. Cooking does not diminish the presence of sulphides in garlic. Germanium in garlic is recognized for its ability to prevent cancer growth, while selenium is believed to have the ability to normalize blood pressure. Aside from these three, there are still other compounds in garlic that heal:

* Allicin (this is recognized to have antibiotic properties. However, cooking decreases its content.)

* Alliinase and Allyls (these increase the effectiveness of vitamin B1)

* Allin (makes the digestion of protein easier)

* Ajoene (allicin turns into ajoene and is useful for preventing blood clots)

Garlic has been used by traditional healers (Egyptians, Babylonians and the Chinese) for over 5 millennia. Its effectiveness to lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels has been further bolstered by several clinical studies in the United States, Germany and India. However, most doctors are still wary of giving a formal statement about garlic and its blood pressure lowering powers.

A laboratory study done by the Michigan School of Health shows that garlic is effective in controlling cholesterol levels. Rats were given a high cholesterol diet. One batch was given garlic, while another was not. The rats which were fed garlic showed only a 4% increase in cholesterol level, while the ones which were not given garlic showed an increase of 23% in their cholesterol levels.

Eating garlic does not yield serious contraindications or side effects. A word of warning, though. As garlic is known to prevent blood clotting, it also tends to make wounds bleed longer. Thus, those who are about to go into surgery should avoid any intake of garlic before the operation. Garlic is also not compatible with anticoagulants. To be sure, consult your doctor before taking garlic, particularly if you are taking any medications.

Of course, eating garlic is also a matter of taste. Some people cannot stand the smell, much less the taste, of raw garlic or even cooked garlic. However, there are some ways to make garlic a tasty treat. You can top it on toasted bread or use it in pasta. You can also replace salt with garlic - this makes your food so much tastier. Keep in mind, though, that garlic, taken raw, is more effective when it comes to lowering blood pressure levels.