Herbal Uses Herbs Profile

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic is common herbs in our kitchen. Garlic is originated from central asia as early as 3000 B.C. The delicious bulbs of garlic is used as essential medicine in Ayurveda. Sanskrit name Rasona means lacking a taste, sour taste.

Common name Garlic (English), Lasuna (Hindi) Sanskrit Lasuna, Rasona Latin name Allium sativum–Bulbus (Liliaceae family)

which activates and fortifies the defence mechanism of the body, thus making Garlic one of the outstanding prophylastics for any disease. It is also a powerful antiseptic.

ENERGETICS

  • Rasa (taste) Pungent, sweet
  • Vırya (energy) Heating
  • Vipaka (post-digestive effect) Pungent
  • Guna (quality) Heavy, unctuous, penetrating
  • Dosa effect VK−, P+
  • Dhatu (tissue) All tissues
  • Srotas (channel) Digestive, respiratory, circulatory, reproductive, mental

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS

Garlic contains Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Thiamine, Ridoflavin, Niacin and Vitamin C. Also, it contains traces if iodine and sulphur

Allium Sativum

Rasona (Lasuna)

BIOMEDICAL ACTION

Carminative, vermifuge, vasodilator, expectorant, anticholesterol, antibacterial/antifungal

PARTS USED

The bulb and the cloves of the garlic are the most commonly used.

INDICATIONS

Digestion  Garlic is a classical home remedies for gastric problems. It corrects flatulence, worms, parasites, infections, dysentry, typhoid, food poisonings etc.  It is useful whenever there is a disturbance of kledaka kapha or apana vayu in the intestines as it clears both mucus and gaseous distension.

Lungs Garlic bulb has good effect on lungs, cleaning bronchioles and alveoli. It is strongly decongestant. It is good cold remedy with classical kapha symptoms.

Immunity It is good against prophylactic and prevent infections. It boost up immunity and kills the pathogens. 

Heart Garlic is best cardiotonic. It reduces kapha and ama in rasa, rakta and medas dhatus. It has good effect lowering blood cholesterol and reduces clotting.

External It is useful as paste or oil for external application in kapha-vata disorders like itching, ringworm, fungal infections or ear infection. It is also beneficial for arthritis, oedema and sciatica.

COMBINATIONS

* Ginger, fennel, chitraka, hingu, black pepper for digestive weakness.

* Pippali, licorice, ajwain for coughs.

* Guggulu, pushkaramoola, arjuna and bibhitaki for the heart.

DOSAGE

1–3 cloves per day, 6–15 gm dry or 1–6ml per day of a 1:3 @ 45% tincture.

About the author

Dr. Ram Mani Bhandari

Experienced holistic doctor, healer, teacher, and writer
Specialized in Ayurvedic detox (Panchakarma)
Trained in India and Nepal, the original lands of Ayurveda
Graduate in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (B.A.M.S.) from the Institute of Medicine at Tribhuwan University in Kathmandu.
Professional member of Australasian Association of Ayurveda (AAA)
Owner of Sunshine Ayurveda

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