Herb. No. 010 · Amaryllidaceae
Wild origin in Central Asia; a food crop almost everywhere soil can freeze in winter.
Native · Central Asia
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
OpenGentleplant
Garlic
Allium sativum
The original kitchen antimicrobial — crushed raw for punch, roasted for daily food medicine.
Allicin forms when alliin meets the enzyme alliinase — that is why garlic must be crushed and left to sit. Traditional uses span infection, blood pressure, and parasites. Aged extracts and raw clove are different medicines. Breath is not a side effect; it is a biomarker.
Flavor
Pungent allium heat that sweetens when roasted.
Parts used
Bulb
In favor
- Food-as-medicine
- Cheap, studied, growable in a raised bed
Against
- Heartburn, odor, rare allergy
- Increases bleeding tendency at high dose
- Burns skin if a raw poultice is left on