A few herbalists have caused a great stir amongst many people in regards to the use and consumption of garlic, stating that garlic eats up the brain. Well, is this true?

Well, these particular herbalists are correct here! But allow me to clarify some things. It is excessive use of garlic and over long periods of time that will do the damage.

Despite the numerous health benefits of garlic, scientific research has been done (and the results were published in Nexus Magazine 7-10 years ago) and the results showed that garlic shockingly impaired brain activity. I couldn’t ignore this fact coupled with the fact that garlic is one of 5 forbidden plants in certain spiritual sects. Consider the following:

“… being the five kinds of food forbidden to the Buddhist priesthood and to fasting persons generally. These are the flesh of the horse, dog, bullock, goose, and pigeon. The geomancers enumerate as the garlic, rocambole, leek, rue, coriander; the Taoists – the leek, shallot, garlic, rue, and coriander; and the Buddhists – rocambole, garlic, assafoetida, onion, and scallion.” Chinese Medicinal Herbs. Shih-Chen, Li. San Francisco: Georgetown Press (1973), pg. 28

Garlic is a member of the Allium family of plants and I can see why there would be a cause for concern because after all, alliaceous plants contain the chemical “mustard” which is used to manufacture mustard gas and we all know what mustard gas does, especially to the eyes and we experience this ourselves on a minor scale when peeling and/or chopping onions – our eyes begin to tear or water.

So while alliaceous plants possess a plethora of beneficial health properties, they also have a downside or downfall

Common Alliaceous plants include:

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Onion (Allium fistulosum)

Leek (Allium odorum)

Shallot (Allium ascalonicum)

Chive (Allium scordoprasum)

So, what’s the final verdict on garlic? It has numerous benefits if taken under the proper circumstances (i.e. healing from a disorder); but on a long- term basis, i.e. used for cooking, I would be very cautious. Personally, I do not consume garlic unless it’s an ingredient in something I order from a vegan restaurant. However, if it is an ingredient in an herbal formulation that I myself personally concoct, I will consume it. I know how to program the garlic in conjunction with the other herbs in a compound. Also, I do not consume garlic by itself. I use garlic because of its therapeutic value.

If I eat out at a restaurant and garlic is used in the meal, I won’t trip because it’s not like I consume garlic daily. Again, the damage with garlic consumption stems from excess and constant use of it.

Many people simply like cooking with garlic and onion (for taste purposes, of course) and this is understandable, and if you’re hooked on garlic, then it would be wise to compensate, for the sake of your brain, with the use of certain herbs that have an affinity for the brain such as Gingko Biloba, Gotu Kola, Holy (or Blessed) Thistle, Lady’s Slipper, etc. This would be the intelligent thing to do, well, if you can’t give up the garlic and onion or other alliaceous plants.

Medicinally, garlic is a potent and effective antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial agent. Is it okay to consume capsules of pure garlic (perhaps with standardized allium)? I say sure, if you’re attempting to overcome a sickness or illness, i.e. so-called cold, so-called viral infection, weakened immune (defense) system, etc.

Sparse consumption of garlic and other alliaceous plants is of no big concern in my opinion. Just simply don’t consume great deals of them and often. If you do, then you’re in jeopardy of damaging your own brain and impairing your cognition. The research has been done and is convincing.

However, simply put, all things in moderation!

Thank you for reading!

Copyrighted material.