Garlic is one of the most common and popular ingredients in cooking and medicine. It has a number of useful properties: anti-malarial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, vitamin and even anti-tumor. This, together with accessibility, makes it simply indispensable, especially for flu and colds, when you do not want to get sick at all, and medications can cause not so much benefit as harm.
Garlic is better to use on an ongoing basis, without waiting for the disease. Since ancient times, it is known that garlic boosts general immunity, 1-2 cloves per day will significantly reduce the chance of catching a cold. The use of garlic at the moment of a cold will not immediately heal it, but it will help the body fight the disease and, as already mentioned, prevent the disease in the future.
Does the plant help from the flu and how?
But what is the reason for the truly miraculousness of this product? It's all about:
- Phytoncides - inhibit the development and lead to the destruction of various pathogenic organisms, such as microbes, fungi, bacteria, etc.
- Volatiles - are responsible for extracting and using ethereal garlic essence, which has antiviral and antibacterial effects.
- Allicin - gives garlic antioxidant properties, that is, remove toxins from the body. It should be noted that allicin disappears during heat treatment, so it is better to use unprocessed garlic.
What is better - onion or garlic culture?
Traditional medicine is also known "garlic" brother - onions. Onions, which have a less harsh taste and smell, some give greater preference. However, there is a lot of similarity between the two plants: the presence of sulphides and phytoncides, which contribute to the strengthening of immunity, the scattering of vitamins and minerals - all this leads to the conclusion that they are equally useful. From here in the choice between them the decisive factor will be the taste preferences of a person and his inner state. And if the second is in a comparative order, then you should not deny yourself neither.
Treatment for children and adults - what's the difference?
Nevertheless, everything is good in moderation. Do not be too zealous. A normal portion of garlic per day for an average person is 1-3 cloves on the day, when exceeding the norm, the appearance of heartburn, problems with intestinal microflora and blood clotting are possible, and in particularly advanced cases - even burns of the mucous membranes (about how garlic affects the gastrointestinal is it possible to use garlic without chewing and at what time of day it is better to eat it, read here).
How to use garlic for children? For children, there are other rules for using garlic:
- For the first time, a child can be introduced to garlic at the age of 8–9 months by adding small amounts of boiled garlic in mashed potatoes, porridge and meat patties. No more than twice a week.
- At the age of a year and above, the child can already use this product raw.
- Up to 3 years, the rate for a child is half a clove per day, but not more often than 3-5 times a week.
- For children older than 3 years, the rate of consumption is close to the rate of an adult.
Contraindications
There are also a number of contraindications for treating colds and flu with garlic:
- During pregnancy or breastfeeding: garlic can cause an allergic reaction in a child.
- With problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
- In diseases of the liver and kidneys.
- With allergies.
- With epilepsy.
- If you have problems with the cardiovascular system.
- If you have problems with excess weight.
In addition to the above, for children there are several additional rules. Children are not recommended to use garlic:
- At temperatures above 38 C.
- If you have an allergy or a categorical refusal of the child.
Recipes of folk remedies and methods of treatment
Garlic is useful in the fight against colds and flu, and when combined with other medicinal products - just miraculous. What is garlic for greater efficiency? On the basis of garlic decoctions, teas, compresses, baths are taken and made - all this and even more will now be considered:
Milk Drink
To make this drink you will need:
- a glass of milk (500 ml);
- 3 cloves of garlic.
Cooking:
- Put the milk on the fire and wait for the boil.
- Place crushed cloves in boiling milk.
- Keep the milk with the garlic on low heat until the garlic is soft.
- Crush the garlic for even mixing with the milk.
Use: The mixture is drunk at a time, use a glass daily until full recovery. Most often, the process takes no more than 5 days. Children can consume this drink from the age of 5 years.
Tincture with honey
To make garlic tincture with honey you will need:
- 200 grams of garlic;
- 100 grams of pure alcohol;
- 50 grams of liquid honey;
- 10 grams of propolis tincture.
Cooking:
- It is required to chop the garlic.
- Put chopped garlic in a glass bowl and pour 100 gr. alcohol.
- Infuse the mixture in a cool room (or in the refrigerator) for 3 weeks.
- The mixture is filtered through a layer of gauze and left for another 3 days at the same temperature.
- On the incident of three days, dissolve in a mixture of 50 grams. liquid honey and 10 grams. propolis tincture.
Use: On the first day - 1 drop, on the second day - 2 drops, etc. up to 15 days. 16-30 days the dose is reduced in the same way.
Infusion with onions
For the preparation of infusion of onions and garlic will be required:
- 3-4 garlic cloves;
- 3 onions;
- vegetable oil.
Cooking:
- 30-40 minutes boil in a water bath vegetable oil.
- Finely chop the garlic.
- Mix the oil with the onion and garlic. The oil should cover the ingredients.
- Put the mixture in a dark place and let it brew for 2-4 hours.
Application: This infusion is useful against severe rhinitis. For maximum effect, you need to drip into each nostril 2 times three times a week until complete recovery. Children from 4 to 8 years old drip 1 time in each nostril with the same frequency, from 8 years and above - the same as adults.
On the features of the use of garlic from the common cold and other diseases, read our material.
Compress with pork fat
To make a compress you will need:
- a pair of garlic cloves;
- teaspoon unsalted pork fat.
Cooking:
- Grind garlic.
- Add pork fat.
Application: The mixture is required to put on the feet, wrap the feet with a film and wear wool socks on top. Compress remains applied all night. In the morning, the foot is washed with warm water. Compress can be set to a child from 1 year and up.
Ginger tea
To make tea you will need:
- ginger root is about 4 cm long;
- 2 cloves of garlic.
Cooking:
- Ginger should be cleaned and cut into slices.
- Put garlic in a thermos and pour boiling water.
- Wait for the tea to infuse and strain.
Use: Tea to drink throughout the day to 2 liters per day. Children give up to 30 grams of tea twice a day.
Juniper tea
For the preparation of juniper tea with garlic will be required:
- 2 tablespoons dry juniper berries;
- 4 cloves of garlic;
- 4 cups boiling water.
Cooking:
- Put the berries and cloves in a thermos.
- Pour boiling water.
- Give time to brew.
Use: Similar with ginger tea.
Inhalation with soda
For inhalation will require:
- 6 cloves of garlic;
- 1 liter of water;
- 1 teaspoon soda.
Cooking:
- Cut the garlic and add water.
- Put the mixture on the fire, bring to a boil, and then heat for another 5 minutes.
- Cool the liquid and add soda to it.
Application: Cover with a cloth, alternately inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. After taking a few breaths, inhale through the nose, exhale through the mouth. Repeat for 15 minutes. The rate of an adult - up to 3 inhalations per day, a child - up to 2.
Chamomile inhalation
For the preparation of inhalation, over which you need to breathe, you will need:
- 2-3 cloves of garlic;
- half onion;
- two or three tablespoons of chamomile decoction;
- three liters of water.
Cooking:
- Onions and garlic are grated and squeezed through three layers of gauze.
- Pour the gruel with water and bring to a boil, then heat for about 5 minutes.
- Cool the liquid and add chamomile decoction.
Application: Inhalation from 5 to 15 minutes, 1 or 2 times a day. For children it will be enough once for 5 minutes. It is important if the inhalation is carried out by a child, then the water should not be boiling.
Details on whether it is good to breathe garlic, and what diseases will relieve such inhalations, can be found here.
Bath
To take a bath you will need:
- garlic head;
- 3 tablespoons of salt;
- fresh ginger root.
Sequencing:
- 3 tablespoons of salt are placed in a bath.
- Ginger root is grated and poured with a glass of boiling water.
- Garlic is rubbed, wrapped in cheesecloth and placed on the bottom of the bath.
- Bath is filled with hot water, ginger infusion is poured into water.
Application: Bath take no more than 15 minutes. Not recommended for children under 4 years, from 4 years - no more than 5-8 minutes.
Turundochki
For manufacturing will require:
- 2 cloves of garlic;
- 2 small handkerchiefs.
Sequencing:
- Finely chop a clove of garlic.
- Fold the handkerchief into a corner and put the garlic inside.
- Twist the scarf.
- Repeat the action with the second scarf.
Application: Turundochki lay in the ears and leave for 25-30 minutes. Children can be reduced to half the time.
Important! The first time it is better to carry out the procedure for about 15 minutes in order to avoid an allergic reaction.
Influenza, viruses and colds are now to beware: garlic has become the bodyguard, and they are now much less likely to harm a person. And if you use it together with something, then this shit has no chance. Our ancestors considered garlic to be a panacea for good reason, so at least we will agree on something with them. Do not be ill!
