Garlic

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KEY POINTS

• This remedy has been used to treat several conditions. Studies in humans or animals have not proved that this remedy is safe or effective for all uses. Before using this remedy for a serious condition, you should talk with your healthcare provider.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines. Natural remedies are not always safe.
• This remedy may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• This remedy affects your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take. Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this remedy?

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names: Allium sativum, garlic, allium, stinking rose, camphor of the poor, garlic extract, ajo, poor man's treacle

What is garlic?

Garlic is a bulb with a tall, flowering stem that grows 2 to 3 feet tall. The bulb has a distinct odor.

What is it used for?

Garlic is used all over the world as a spice in cooking.

This remedy has been used to treat several conditions. Studies in humans or animals have not proved that this remedy is safe or effective for all uses. Before using this remedy for a serious condition, you should talk with your healthcare provider.

This remedy is helpful to:

• Control high blood pressure
• Lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol
• Help prevent colorectal cancer

As a medicine, garlic has been taken by mouth to treat:

• Colds and flu
• Diabetes
• Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)

Garlic has also been taken by mouth to prevent tick bites and mosquito bites. Garlic has been used on the skin to treat corns, warts, athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

You can use cloves of garlic in your cooking.

Garlic also comes in the form of tablets and capsules. Follow the directions printed on the product label or given by your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

Talk with your healthcare provider before taking garlic supplements if you have:

• A bleeding disorder
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Surgery scheduled within 2 weeks

Do not use garlic oil on the skin of infants or young children. It may cause burns and blisters.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

If you have diabetes: This remedy may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be contaminated.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble bleeding; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue or throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Unusual bruising or bleeding.

Other: Unpleasant odor on your breath or from your skin; heartburn; gas; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; skin blistering and irritation (when used on the skin).

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), felodipine, isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
• Diabetes medicines such as chlorpropamide, glimepiride (Amaryl), glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Glynase), insulin, metformin (Fortamet, Glucophage, Riomet), pioglitazone (Actos), repaglinide (Prandin), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and tolbutamide
• HIV medicines such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), saquinavir (Invirase), and stavudine (Zerit)
• Isoniazid
• Medicines to treat or prevent blood clots such as abciximab (ReoPro), argatroban, bivalirudin (Angiomax), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine), lepirudin (Refludan), tirofiban (Aggrastat), and warfarin (Coumadin)
• Natural remedies such as angelica, anise, cat’s claw, clove, fenugreek, fish oil, ginger, ginkgo, ginseng, horse chestnut, licorice, red clover, stinging nettle, turmeric, and willow
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Cambia, Voltaren, Zipsor), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac, nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.