Garlic

Allium sativum · 大蒜

Vegetables. Western & European, Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Modern nutrition.

Also called Ajo, Common garlic, Stinking rose

Pinyin: Dà Suàn

Spanish: Ajo

Sanskrit: लशुन (Lashuna)

Bleeding risk with blood thinners

A strong-smelling bulb used as food and seasoning, and sold as a supplement that has been studied mainly for blood pressure and colds.

Did you know? Garlic's sharp smell only forms when a clove is crushed or chopped. Crushing mixes the enzyme alliinase with alliin, which makes allicin.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Blood pressure. Aged garlic extract and garlic powder lower blood pressure a little in some trials. Results vary, and the drop is small.
Early proof
Colds, flu & immunity. Small trials suggest garlic may reduce how often people catch colds. Trial quality varies.
Early proof
Cholesterol. Trials are mixed. Some show small LDL drops and others show none. Garlic is not a replacement for cholesterol medicine.
Traditional proof
Infections. Garlic kills many germs in lab tests. Human proof for infections is very limited.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Heart & vessels, Immune system, Liver

Traditional use

Garlic was used in ancient Egypt, Greece and China for worms, colds and wounds. Ayurveda calls it Lashuna and lists it as rejuvenating, and Chinese medicine uses it to clear toxins and kill parasites.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Antimicrobial, Hypotensive, Immune balancer. Energy: warming.
Ayurveda: Calms Vata and Kapha. Can raise Pitta. Taste (rasa): pungent, sweet. Energy (virya): heating. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Rasayana (rejuvenative).
Chinese medicine: 大蒜 Expel parasites. Nature: warm. Flavour: pungent. Enters the Spleen, Stomach and Lung channels.

How people take it

Eat 1 to 2 cloves a day as food. Supplement doses in trials varied, so follow the label on aged garlic extract products.

Food, capsule and tincture.

Where to get it

Grows from cloves planted in the fall in temperate regions. Sold as fresh bulbs, dried powder, aged extract and capsules. Avoid homemade garlic-in-oil stored at room temperature, since it can grow botulism germs.

Be careful

Common side effects are bad breath, body odor, heartburn, gas and stomach upset, and raw garlic can irritate the skin. Garlic supplements can add to bleeding risk and interact with blood thinners. Stop supplements about 1 to 2 weeks before surgery.

Avoid if: bleeding disorders; before surgery; low blood pressure.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Mullein flower oil and garlic oil are combined in old ear oil blends.
Works well together
Both are studied for heart and blood vessel health, and some blends combine them.
Works well together
Garlic also contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber that feeds helpful gut bacteria.
Works well together
Olive oil and garlic are staples of Mediterranean cooking.
Works well together
Sauteed spinach with garlic is a common home dish.
Works well together
Garlic is a key flavor in kimchi, a fermented cabbage dish from Korea.
Works well together
Onion and garlic are both alliums and often form the base of the same dishes.
Works well together
Garlic and ginger together flavor many Asian and Indian dishes.
Works well together
Cucumber, garlic and yogurt make Greek tzatziki.
Works well together
Garlic and olive oil are a common way to cook asparagus.
Works well together
Garlic and olive oil are common with artichokes in Mediterranean cooking.
Works well together
A base for many Mexican and Caribbean salsas and sauces.
Works well together
Common partners in Italian and Thai cooking.
Works well together
A common combination in herb sauces, soups and butters.
Works well together
Often combined in sauces for meat and fish.
Works well together
A frequent partner in Mexican bean and sauce dishes.
Works well together
A base for sofrito-style sauces that often include culantro.
Use caution
Blood thinners (warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, daily aspirin)
Garlic supplements can add to the effect of warfarin, aspirin and clopidogrel and raise bleeding risk.
Use caution
Blood pressure medicine (lisinopril, amlodipine, losartan)
Garlic can lower blood pressure a little, which may add to blood pressure medicines.
Use caution
Both may slow blood clotting. Taking them together could add to bleeding risk.
Worth knowing
Diabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Garlic may lower blood sugar a little. Watch levels if you take diabetes medicines.

Adds up with others that may slow blood clotting: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 40 more.

Adds up with others that may lower blood pressure: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 12 more.

Found in these formulas

Fire cider (Folk), Four Thieves vinegar (Folk)

The honest take

Garlic is a healthy food. Garlic supplements may help blood pressure and colds a little, but trials are small and mixed. Claims that garlic cleans the blood or kills germs in the body are not shown in people.