Garlic

(Allium spp.,)
(Allium canadense)

Along with cultivated garlic, there are numerous species of wild garlic. The growth and identification characteristics listed below are for wild garlic Allium canadense. While wild garlics share the same medicinal and culinary uses as the cultivated variety, they are far smaller, and it takes too many plants to provide enough to be culinarily or medicinally viable. Therefore the uses outlined, and the included recipes, are suggested for cultivated garlic Allium sativum. Garlic has centuries of anecdotal evidence supporting its medicinal efficacy. There are also myriad scientific studies demostrating and supporting these anecdotal or historical use.

Other Names:

Canada garlic, Canada onion, meadow garlic, wild garlic, wild onion

Range:

The range map shown is different than my usual. The gray shaded areas indicate wild garlic growth, and the blue areas illustrate how cultivated garlic can be found in any grocery store.

Family:

Amaryllidaceae - Amaryllis Family

Growth Type:

A bulbous perennial

Height:

Can grow up to 18 inches tall.

Leaves:

The unbranching, narrow, errect, grass-like leaves originate near the base of the stem.

Stem/Trunk:

A single erect flower stem

Root:

Bulbs with fibrous roots attached

Flower Season:

Spring to early summer

Flower Appearance:

Produces a terminal dome-like cluster of hermaphroditic, star-shaped, pink or white flowers.

Seed/Fruit:

Reproduces by aerial bulbets and bulb offsets.

Miscellaneous characteristics:

N/A

Habitat:

Grows in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, fields, and thickets, as well as disturbed areas, such as roadside ditches.

Parts Used:

Culiary: the entire plant is used.
Medicinally: the bulb is used.

Culinary Uses:

Garlic is used as a flavoring in most cuisines.

Energetics

Taste: Pungent
Thermal: Warming
Humidity: Drying

Traditional Medicinal Uses:
Use to combat Angina, Arteriosclerosis (arterial plaques), Arthritis, Bacterial infections, Colds, Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Hypecholesterolemia (high choleterol), Influenza, Mycosis (fungal infections), Stroke, Hyperkalemia (high levels of potassium in the blood), Upper Respiratory Infection, and Viral Infections. Garlis has been shown to break up lipids in the blood. There is also evdence that garlic may be effective as an antimutagenic (stops cells from mutating due to cancer).

Indications

Angina, Arteriosclerosis, Arthritis, Gastric Cancer, Hyperglycemia, Hypertension, Hypecholesterolemia, Hyperkalemia, Immunodeficiency, Inflammation, Influenza, Mycosis, Primary Immunodeficiency, Stroke, Upper Respiratory Infection

Usage Citations

The fact that studies concerning all indications listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said uses are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia prior to the advent of allopathic medicine.

Arteriosclerosis (Arterial plaques): Koscielny J, Klüssendorf D, Latza R, Schmitt R, Radtke H, Siegel G, Kiesewetter H. The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum. Atherosclerosis. 1999 May;144(1):237-49. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9150(99)00060-x. PMID: 10381297.

Digestive Disorders (indigestion, heartburn, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flatulence): Ried K, Travica N, Dorairaj R, Sali A. Herbal formula improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms and gut health in Australian adults with digestive disorders. Nutr Res. 2020 Apr;76:37-51. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2020.02.008. Epub 2020 Feb 8. PMID: 32151878.

Gastric Cancer: Su XQ, Yin ZY, Jin QY, Liu ZC, Han X, Hu ZQ, Zhang L, Ma JL, Li ZX, Zhang Y, Zhou T, Liu WD, You WC, Pan KF, Shi L, Li WQ. Allium vegetable intake associated with the risk of incident gastric cancer: a continuous follow-up study of a randomized intervention trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023 Jan;117(1):22-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.10.017. Epub 2022 Dec 20. PMID: 36789941.

Hypercholesterolemia (High cholesterol): Valls RM, Companys J, Calderón-Pérez L, Salamanca P, Pla-Pagà L, Sandoval-Ramírez BA, Bueno A, Puzo J, Crescenti A, Bas JMD, Caimari A, Salamanca A, Espinel AE, Pedret A, Arola L, Solà R. Effects of an Optimized Aged Garlic Extract on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Moderate Hypercholesterolemic Subjects: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Sustainedand Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 18;14(3):405. doi: 10.3390/nu14030405. PMID: 35276764; PMCID: PMC8838962.

Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol): Vezza T, Guillamón E, García-García J, Baños A, Mut-Salud N, García-López JD, Gómez-Fernández GO, Rodriguez-Nogales A, Gálvez J, Fonollá J. LDL-Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of a Dietary Supplement Containing Onion and Garlic Extract Used in Healthy Volunteers. Nutrients. 2024 Aug 22;16(16):2811. doi: 10.3390/nu16162811. PMID: 39203947; PMCID: PMC11356941.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Serrano JCE, Castro-Boqué E, García-Carrasco A, Morán-Valero MI, González-Hedström D, Bermúdez-López M, Valdivielso JM, Espinel AE, Portero-Otín M. Antihypertensive Effects of an Optimized Aged Garlic Extract in Subjects with Grade I Hypertension and Antihypertensive Drug Therapy: A Randomized, Triple-Blind Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2023 Aug 23;15(17):3691. doi: 10.3390/nu15173691. PMID: 37686723; PMCID: PMC10490347.

Metabolic Syndrome (Abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abnormal cholesterol): Hesari NG, Sadatmahalleh SJ, Mohebbi P, Nasiri M, Khosravi A. Efficacy of garlic (Allium sativum) on metabolic syndrome components in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: randomized controlled trial. J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Aug 6;44(1):282. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-01025-8. PMID: 40770379; PMCID: PMC12330188.

Mycosis (Fungal infection): Sabitha P, Adhikari PM, Shenoy SM, Kamath A, John R, Prabhu MV, Mohammed S, Baliga S, Padmaja U. Efficacy of garlic paste in oral candidiasis. Trop Doct. 2005 Apr;35(2):99-100. doi: 10.1258/0049475054037084. PMID: 15970035.

Immunodeficiency (Impaired immunity): Percival SS. Aged Garlic Extract Modifies Human Immunity. J Nutr. 2016 Feb;146(2):433S-436S. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.210427. Epub 2016 Jan 13. PMID: 26764332.

Medicinal Actions:

Antiarteriosclerotic, Antibiotic, Anticholesteremic, Antifungal, Antihypertensive, Anti-Infective, Anti-Inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Antiparasitic, Antiscorbutic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitussive, Antiviral, Cardiac, Diuretic, Immunomodulator, Lymphatic, Tonic: Cardiac, Vasodilator, Vermifuge

Action Citations

The fact that studies concerning all of the traditional medicinal actions listed above have not yet been completed, does not mean said actions are invalid. The plants I have included have a long history of effective use, and most were part of the U.S. Pharmacopoeia prior to the advent of allopathic medicine.

Antiarteriosclerotic (common): Koscielny J, Klüssendorf D, Latza R, Schmitt R, Radtke H, Siegel G, Kiesewetter H. The antiatherosclerotic effect of Allium sativum. Atherosclerosis. 1999 May;144(1):237-49. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9150(99)00060-x. PMID: 10381297.

Anticancer: Su XQ, Yin ZY, Jin QY, Liu ZC, Han X, Hu ZQ, Zhang L, Ma JL, Li ZX, Zhang Y, Zhou T, Liu WD, You WC, Pan KF, Shi L, Li WQ. Allium vegetable intake associated with the risk of incident gastric cancer: a continuous follow-up study of a randomized intervention trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023 Jan;117(1):22-32. doi: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.10.017. Epub 2022 Dec 20. PMID: 36789941.

Anticholesteremic (common): Valls RM, Companys J, Calderón-Pérez L, Salamanca P, Pla-Pagà L, Sandoval-Ramírez BA, Bueno A, Puzo J, Crescenti A, Bas JMD, Caimari A, Salamanca A, Espinel AE, Pedret A, Arola L, Solà R. Effects of an Optimized Aged Garlic Extract on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Moderate Hypercholesterolemic Subjects: A Randomized, Crossover, Double-Blind, Sustainedand Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2022 Jan 18;14(3):405. doi: 10.3390/nu14030405. PMID: 35276764; PMCID: PMC8838962.

Antidyspeptic (Normalizes digestion): Ried K, Travica N, Dorairaj R, Sali A. Herbal formula improves upper and lower gastrointestinal symptoms and gut health in Australian adults with digestive disorders. Nutr Res. 2020 Apr;76:37-51. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2020.02.008. Epub 2020 Feb 8. PMID: 32151878.

Antifungal (common): Sabitha P, Adhikari PM, Shenoy SM, Kamath A, John R, Prabhu MV, Mohammed S, Baliga S, Padmaja U. Efficacy of garlic paste in oral candidiasis. Trop Doct. 2005 Apr;35(2):99-100. doi: 10.1258/0049475054037084. PMID: 15970035.

Antihyperlipidemic (common): Vezza T, Guillamón E, García-García J, Baños A, Mut-Salud N, García-López JD, Gómez-Fernández GO, Rodriguez-Nogales A, Gálvez J, Fonollá J. LDL-Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of a Dietary Supplement Containing Onion and Garlic Extract Used in Healthy Volunteers. Nutrients. 2024 Aug 22;16(16):2811. doi: 10.3390/nu16162811. PMID: 39203947; PMCID: PMC11356941.

Antihypertensive (common): Serrano JCE, Castro-Boqué E, García-Carrasco A, Morán-Valero MI, González-Hedström D, Bermúdez-López M, Valdivielso JM, Espinel AE, Portero-Otín M. Antihypertensive Effects of an Optimized Aged Garlic Extract in Subjects with Grade I Hypertension and Antihypertensive Drug Therapy: A Randomized, Triple-Blind Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2023 Aug 23;15(17):3691. doi: 10.3390/nu15173691. PMID: 37686723; PMCID: PMC10490347.

Anti-Inflammatory (Reduces inflammation): tXu C, Mathews AE, Rodrigues C, Eudy BJ, Rowe CA, O'Donoughue A, Percival SS. Aged garlic extract supplementation modifies inflammation and immunity of adults with obesity: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2018 Apr;24:148-155. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2017.11.010. Epub 2018 Jan 3. PMID: 29576354.ext

Antimicrobial (common): Mahfouz Omer SM, Mohamed DA, Ali Abdel Latif RM. Comparative evaluation of the antibacterial effect of Allium sativum, calcium hydroxide and their combination as intracanal medicaments in infected mature anterior teeth: A randomized clinical trial. Int Endod J. 2022 Oct;55(10):1010-1025. doi: 10.1111/iej.13801. Epub 2022 Jul 31. PMID: 35852013.

Hypolipidemic (common): Vezza T, Guillamón E, García-García J, Baños A, Mut-Salud N, García-López JD, Gómez-Fernández GO, Rodriguez-Nogales A, Gálvez J, Fonollá J. LDL-Cholesterol-Lowering Effects of a Dietary Supplement Containing Onion and Garlic Extract Used in Healthy Volunteers. Nutrients. 2024 Aug 22;16(16):2811. doi: 10.3390/nu16162811. PMID: 39203947; PMCID: PMC11356941.

Immunomodulator (Restore immune system function): tPercival SS. Aged Garlic Extract Modifies Human Immunity. J Nutr. 2016 Feb;146(2):433S-436S. doi: 10.3945/jn.115.210427. Epub 2016 Jan 13. PMID: 26764332.

Tonic: Cardiac (Strengthens and nourishes the Cardiovascular system): Hesari NG, Sadatmahalleh SJ, Mohebbi P, Nasiri M, Khosravi A. Efficacy of garlic (Allium sativum) on metabolic syndrome components in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: randomized controlled trial. J Health Popul Nutr. 2025 Aug 6;44(1):282. doi: 10.1186/s41043-025-01025-8. PMID: 40770379; PMCID: PMC12330188.