Energetic Principles –
Taste (Rasa):- Five, except sour. Pungent is the main
Post digestive effect(Vipak):- Pungent
Potency(Virya):- Hot
Attributes – heavy, unctous, penetrating,sticky, mild laxative
Action on Doshas - Anti Kapha, Anti Vata, Aggravates Pitta (However, if used by rasayanavidhi, it strengthens pachakapitta and causes fire stimulation.)
Chemical Composition:-
Steamed distillation of crushed fresh bulbs yields 0.1-3.6% of a volatile oil Some sulfur-containing compounds that make up this oil are thought to be responsible for most of garlic's pharmacological properties.
Allicin - Natural antibiotic - fights bacteria, Mainly responsible for pungent odor. When garlic cells are "injured," (i.e.cut, crushed, etc.) the enzyme alliinase converts alliin contained in raw garlic to allicin – the garlic produces allicin to protect itself from bacteria & other disease-causing organisms. Extremely unstable & decomposes rapidly at room temperature (half-life only slightly more than a few hours)
Allicinase - Inactivated by heat – cooked garlic does not have as strong an odor as raw garlic (nor nearly as powerful physiological effects)
Ajoene - Decreases blood cell clumping – (s chances of stroke Released when garlic is ground, chewed or cooked
Selenium - Antioxidant contained in high quantities in garlic. Antioxidants fight oxidation & free radicals inside the body that wear out the body & may lead to cancer
Saponins - Lowers blood pressure, decreasing chance of stroke
Fructans - May stimulate the immune system
Garlic Benefits / Uses of Garlic :
Use in various diseases
Digestive system -
It should be used in low fire, tastelessness, indigestion, constipation,pain, worms and Kapha - Vata diseases due to condensed doshas, being fire stimulant,digestive and analgesic due to paungent and hot qualities. Laxative due to oily and heavy qualities and liver stimulant and wormicidal due to tastes. Should be used in Kapha - Vata piles being laxative, anti-pruritic and anti-spasmodic as it is liver stimulant and removes stasis in the portal circulation. Should not be used in haemorrhoids. Kapha aggravation caused in stomach causes low fire,indigestion and spasm due to Kapha covered samanavayu. Rasona baked with ghee eliminates Kapha and causes onward movement of samana vayu to give relief. Kapha-Vata condensation is eliminated by removing accumulated Kapha and causing Vata onward movement by the use of rasona medicated milk. Rasona medicated buttermilk is used in diarrhea, cholera, sprue and colitis to pacify samana vayu.
Water metabolism -
Generalised Edema caused by lateral movement of vitiated micro wastes and Kapha by aggravated vyanavayu is eliminated by the use of rasona wich removes vitiated micro wastes and pacifies vyana.
Respiratory system -
It should be used in cough, asthma, hoarseness of voice,rhinitis,tuberculosis and hiccups to cause Kapha liquefaction and expectoration by its oily,penetrating qualities. The oil prevents the growth of tuberculosis bacteria. Medicated milk should be used in Chest trauma (INTERNAL/EXTERNAL) to heal the cavity. Rasona causes prana onward movement and pacification in Vata-Kapha diseases of the chest. Rasona and pippali gives immediate relief in rhinitis associated with tuberculosis. It should be used as diet and a garland made of it be worn by children to pacify dormant Kapha present in the chest.
Circulatory system-
It stimulates Heart and circulation due to its hot and penetrating qualities and eliminates edema. It pacifies Vata and Kapha by its hot and penetrating qualities and helps nourishment of heart and increases its strength.
Hypertension -
Accumulation of vitiated meda and Kapha in the vascular walls is cleared by rasona and thus, it reduces blood pressure by reducing periheral resistance. It digests meda also.
Arteriosclerosis & Cholesterol -
Numerous clinical trials have shown garlic to be good for your heart by lowering total cholesterol and blood pressure. Garlic has the ability to combat plaque formation in the arteries. Its ability to lower serum cholesterol in the blood can in turn reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Garlic lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Garlic can not only prevent, but also reverse the signs of arteriosclerosis
Rheumatoid arthritis -
It digests ama circulating in the body and lodging in the joints. It pacifies vyanavayu and removes joint edema and pain. Digstion of rasa penetrated ama reduces fever also.
Sciatica and similar diseases -
In these diseases initially apana onward movement is carried out by dissolution of Kapha by its pungent taste and hot and penetrating qualities and lateron apana is pacifed by hot and penetrating qualities. However, it should not be used in Pitta covered apana.
Skin disease-
It should be used in kilasa, vicharchika, shvitra, etc.as it causes Digestion of skin penetrated vitiated Kapha and pacifies vyanavayu. Complexion improvement - Bluish black pigmeatation appearing on the face due to obstruction of channels caused by Kapha to the movement of udana is cleared by its juice given with ghee. It gives strength to bhrajakapitta also.
Nervous sytem -
Vata diseases - It removes obstruction of channels by its hot and penetrating qualities and causes onward movement and pacification of pranavayu and nourish it. Hence, used in bell's palsy, paralysis, monoplegia etc.
Hysteria, Epilepsy - These are caused by weakness of intellect and memory. Causative tamas is removed by rasona which should be ingested with Seasame oil.
Coma - Its juice be given to arouse the patient by removing Kapha cover and causing vyan onward movement.
Convulsions - They are produced by excitation of vyana. To pacify, its juice should be given. Rasona should be used after breakfast in vyana diseases.
Reproductive system -
It should be used as shukra producing as it causes shukra aggravation by its oily, sticky and heavy qualities and prevents premature ejaculation by pacifying vyanavayu. Its hot and penetrating qualities dialate decidual blood vessels and hence it should be used in dysmenorrhea as menstrual stimulator.
Urinary system -
Should be used in Vata dysuria as diuretic and as antispasmodic as it acts as diuretic by stimulating kidney function by its hot and penetrating qualities and by pacifying Vata.
Ntrition and Oja aggravating -
It eliminates strength & oja depletion by causing shukra and oja aggravation and pacifies Vata.
Taste (Rasa):- Five, except sour. Pungent is the main
Post digestive effect(Vipak):- Pungent
Potency(Virya):- Hot
Attributes – heavy, unctous, penetrating,sticky, mild laxative
Action on Doshas - Anti Kapha, Anti Vata, Aggravates Pitta (However, if used by rasayanavidhi, it strengthens pachakapitta and causes fire stimulation.)
Chemical Composition:-
Steamed distillation of crushed fresh bulbs yields 0.1-3.6% of a volatile oil Some sulfur-containing compounds that make up this oil are thought to be responsible for most of garlic's pharmacological properties.
Allicin - Natural antibiotic - fights bacteria, Mainly responsible for pungent odor. When garlic cells are "injured," (i.e.cut, crushed, etc.) the enzyme alliinase converts alliin contained in raw garlic to allicin – the garlic produces allicin to protect itself from bacteria & other disease-causing organisms. Extremely unstable & decomposes rapidly at room temperature (half-life only slightly more than a few hours)
Allicinase - Inactivated by heat – cooked garlic does not have as strong an odor as raw garlic (nor nearly as powerful physiological effects)
Ajoene - Decreases blood cell clumping – (s chances of stroke Released when garlic is ground, chewed or cooked
Selenium - Antioxidant contained in high quantities in garlic. Antioxidants fight oxidation & free radicals inside the body that wear out the body & may lead to cancer
Saponins - Lowers blood pressure, decreasing chance of stroke
Fructans - May stimulate the immune system
Garlic Benefits / Uses of Garlic :
Use in various diseases
Digestive system -
It should be used in low fire, tastelessness, indigestion, constipation,pain, worms and Kapha - Vata diseases due to condensed doshas, being fire stimulant,digestive and analgesic due to paungent and hot qualities. Laxative due to oily and heavy qualities and liver stimulant and wormicidal due to tastes. Should be used in Kapha - Vata piles being laxative, anti-pruritic and anti-spasmodic as it is liver stimulant and removes stasis in the portal circulation. Should not be used in haemorrhoids. Kapha aggravation caused in stomach causes low fire,indigestion and spasm due to Kapha covered samanavayu. Rasona baked with ghee eliminates Kapha and causes onward movement of samana vayu to give relief. Kapha-Vata condensation is eliminated by removing accumulated Kapha and causing Vata onward movement by the use of rasona medicated milk. Rasona medicated buttermilk is used in diarrhea, cholera, sprue and colitis to pacify samana vayu.
Water metabolism -
Generalised Edema caused by lateral movement of vitiated micro wastes and Kapha by aggravated vyanavayu is eliminated by the use of rasona wich removes vitiated micro wastes and pacifies vyana.
Respiratory system -
It should be used in cough, asthma, hoarseness of voice,rhinitis,tuberculosis and hiccups to cause Kapha liquefaction and expectoration by its oily,penetrating qualities. The oil prevents the growth of tuberculosis bacteria. Medicated milk should be used in Chest trauma (INTERNAL/EXTERNAL) to heal the cavity. Rasona causes prana onward movement and pacification in Vata-Kapha diseases of the chest. Rasona and pippali gives immediate relief in rhinitis associated with tuberculosis. It should be used as diet and a garland made of it be worn by children to pacify dormant Kapha present in the chest.
Circulatory system-
It stimulates Heart and circulation due to its hot and penetrating qualities and eliminates edema. It pacifies Vata and Kapha by its hot and penetrating qualities and helps nourishment of heart and increases its strength.
Hypertension -
Accumulation of vitiated meda and Kapha in the vascular walls is cleared by rasona and thus, it reduces blood pressure by reducing periheral resistance. It digests meda also.
Arteriosclerosis & Cholesterol -
Numerous clinical trials have shown garlic to be good for your heart by lowering total cholesterol and blood pressure. Garlic has the ability to combat plaque formation in the arteries. Its ability to lower serum cholesterol in the blood can in turn reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Garlic lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Garlic can not only prevent, but also reverse the signs of arteriosclerosis
Rheumatoid arthritis -
It digests ama circulating in the body and lodging in the joints. It pacifies vyanavayu and removes joint edema and pain. Digstion of rasa penetrated ama reduces fever also.
Sciatica and similar diseases -
In these diseases initially apana onward movement is carried out by dissolution of Kapha by its pungent taste and hot and penetrating qualities and lateron apana is pacifed by hot and penetrating qualities. However, it should not be used in Pitta covered apana.
Skin disease-
It should be used in kilasa, vicharchika, shvitra, etc.as it causes Digestion of skin penetrated vitiated Kapha and pacifies vyanavayu. Complexion improvement - Bluish black pigmeatation appearing on the face due to obstruction of channels caused by Kapha to the movement of udana is cleared by its juice given with ghee. It gives strength to bhrajakapitta also.
Nervous sytem -
Vata diseases - It removes obstruction of channels by its hot and penetrating qualities and causes onward movement and pacification of pranavayu and nourish it. Hence, used in bell's palsy, paralysis, monoplegia etc.
Hysteria, Epilepsy - These are caused by weakness of intellect and memory. Causative tamas is removed by rasona which should be ingested with Seasame oil.
Coma - Its juice be given to arouse the patient by removing Kapha cover and causing vyan onward movement.
Convulsions - They are produced by excitation of vyana. To pacify, its juice should be given. Rasona should be used after breakfast in vyana diseases.
Reproductive system -
It should be used as shukra producing as it causes shukra aggravation by its oily, sticky and heavy qualities and prevents premature ejaculation by pacifying vyanavayu. Its hot and penetrating qualities dialate decidual blood vessels and hence it should be used in dysmenorrhea as menstrual stimulator.
Urinary system -
Should be used in Vata dysuria as diuretic and as antispasmodic as it acts as diuretic by stimulating kidney function by its hot and penetrating qualities and by pacifying Vata.
Ntrition and Oja aggravating -
It eliminates strength & oja depletion by causing shukra and oja aggravation and pacifies Vata.
