Medicinal plants are becoming increasingly popular as a natural alternative to medications and a complement to a healthy lifestyle aimed at preventing common diseases. These medicinal plants include garlic, which has been known for its healing properties since antiquity and has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. The herb is especially popular in the kitchen. It is notorious for its typical, often unpleasant odor. At the same time, garlic contains essential oils that help against many diseases and have a wide range of uses.
Getting Garlic Oil
Garlic bulbs contain essential oils, which contain the most valuable ingredients. However, the proportion of these oils is very small. For this reason, it takes about 350-400 kg of garlic to obtain one liter of pure essential oil.
For household needs, small amounts of garlic essential oil are sufficient, since the ingredients in it are very concentrated. Steam distillation is used to obtain essential oils from garlic cloves. To do this, the bulbs are first washed and chopped.
Then the essential oils, which are difficult to dissolve in water, are separated from the remaining components into a container by adding steam. During distillation, the composition changes, resulting in the creation of additional valuable ingredients.
Water vapor transports them through a cooling device, in which the water is freed from insoluble components: pure light yellow to reddish oil is separated from the water. Using this method, pure essential oils are obtained from garlic.
Garlic oil can be used in the kitchen as a cooking oil. In this case, production is less expensive. The washed, peeled and crushed slices are placed in a vessel, then filled with sunflower or rapeseed oil. The mixture is then kept in a cool, shady place for several days to allow the garlic flavors to transfer into the oil. In addition to garlic, other spices and herbs can be added to the oil to create different flavors.
Substances that make up garlic oil
Garlic contains many important substances that distinguish it as a healing plant. The composition may vary depending on the species and culture. Garlic contains vitamins, minerals and trace elements. These include potassium, calcium and magnesium, among others. In addition, sulfur-containing compounds such as alliin and allicin are especially important for medicinal purposes.
Alliin is a sulfur-containing amino acid that is found in all onion plants and has antibiotic effects. Allicin comes from alliin when the cellular structure of garlic breaks down and is the culprit behind the typical garlic smell. Ajoene may arise as a further product of allicin. This happens when garlic is heated.
Essential oils of garlic, which are obtained after steam distillation, contain mainly unsaturated and saturated organic sulfur compounds. These include diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide.
Diallyl disulfide, like diallyl trisulfide, is a further decomposition product of allicin, has a yellowish color and an unpleasant odor, and is insoluble in water. Allicin and ajoene, along with enzymes and vitamins, are also present in the essential oil.
Effect of garlic oil
The above substances contained in garlic oil have various effects that make this oil so beneficial. This has been known for a very long time, which is why the ancient Egyptians used garlic oil for medicinal purposes.
As already mentioned, sulfur-containing compounds alliin and allicin products have an antibiotic effect, killing pathogens of various diseases, and also strengthen the immune system. These antibacterial effects can be found especially in the stomach and intestines.
Allicin also reduces lipids (fats), making it useful therapeutically for arteriosclerosis. Overall, diallyl disulfide improves cardiovascular health. The risk of heart attack and hypertension is also reduced. Like diallyl trisulfide, diallyl disulfide has a preventive effect against stomach cancer and affects the detoxification that cells carry out.
Garlic oil: benefits and harms
Garlic oil is an infusion of vegetable oil on the grated root of the plant. Moreover, you can use any oil, the end result will not change in any way. The aromatic liquid will serve as both a seasoning for dishes and a home remedy. You can cook it yourself.
Benefits of garlic oil
Pure garlic is literally full of useful substances that have a healing effect on the human body. It is characteristic that during processing it practically does not lose them, therefore the use of the root of this plant is recommended in cooking and traditional medicine recipes. Thus, we can say that garlic oil has its properties to the fullest.
Oil tincture contains various vitamins, minerals and acids. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, supports the immune system and improves the functioning of the digestive system.
Changes in the body that will occur as a result of regular use of garlic oil:
- general well-being will improve; the product will strengthen blood vessels and have a beneficial effect on the heart;
- cholesterol and blood sugar levels will decrease;
- Digestion will improve, the intestines will be activated;
- the body will gradually cleanse itself of toxins and parasites;
- garlic oil has a beneficial effect on the immune system and increases the overall resistance of the body;
- metabolism is normalized;
- the product is involved in debugging hormonal levels;
- the condition of hair, skin and nails will improve.
Garlic oil also has an antispasmodic and analgesic effect, being a natural analgesic. Garlic is often used for toothache due to these properties.
We have an article that will tell you about peanuts, the benefits and harms of which have also been studied for a long time.
Harm of garlic oil
Any natural remedy can be harmful, and garlic oil is no exception. The reason is that the tincture uses sunflower oil, which can affect cholesterol levels if not prepared correctly. Garlic neutralizes the harmful effects as much as possible, but the correct ratio must be observed.
The product does not cause any other harm, but may be contraindicated for the following diseases:
- Peptic ulcer disease in acute form, and even in chronic form, should be used with caution.
- Women should not use the product during breastfeeding - the substances are absorbed into milk and reach the baby, but the child’s body will not accept them fully.
- Acute glomerulonephritis (kidney disease) and other similar pathologies.
It is recommended to pay attention to some factors in addition to the presence of the above diseases. You should consult your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- epilepsy;
- diabetes;
- borderline state (damage to internal systems and organs);
- pregnancy.
Some medications cannot be combined with garlic oil, so it is recommended to either stop taking them or refrain from using traditional recipes. The effectiveness of treatment will be lower, since garlic can weaken the effect of medicinal components.
SOLGAR Garlic Oil Manufacturer Solgar
Country: USA
Average price 520 rub.
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BIOLIO garlic oil, refined, 250ml Manufacturer Biolio
Country Russia
Average price 400 rub.
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Flaxseed oil “Garlic” 0.2 l Manufacturer Health Compass
Country Russia
Average price 250 rub.
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Why Garlic Oil is So Healthy
Garlic oil has many beneficial effects on the immune system, circulation and heart due to its many ingredients. Added to this is the antibacterial effect, which is activated not only when a pathogen appears, but also as a preventive measure. The properties of garlic, both in clove and oil form, make it a versatile, effective herb for use in the kitchen and for medicinal purposes. Blood pressure and blood lipid levels are reduced, and the immune system is strengthened. This explains why garlic oil is so beneficial and what areas it can be used for. In addition, further research is ongoing into the various components of garlic to explore the possibility of expanding its known uses, such as fighting cancer.
Applications of garlic oil
To cover the full range of benefits of garlic oil, below is how it can be used in practice. The general effect of garlic oil when taken orally has already been discussed above. To achieve a positive effect, for example, to prevent atherosclerosis, daily consumption of garlic or garlic oil plays an important role.
Garlic oil for hair
A well-known home remedy for hair loss is garlic. Eating garlic cloves helps in the fight against internal causes.
For quick hair care to improve its condition, garlic oil can be applied directly to the scalp. It has an antibacterial effect against infections and fungi that threaten the hair. Garlic oil also restores hair, strengthens roots and stimulates hair growth.
The copper contained in garlic, as well as other minerals and vitamins, is primarily responsible for hair growth.
Garlic oil for skin
Garlic is also known as a home remedy for acne. Garlic masks and facial toner are used for this, but it can also be applied directly to the skin. The active ingredient allicin and its related products rejuvenate the skin's structure and fight bacteria that live in pimples and blackheads.
Garlic and garlic oil help with dermatitis and other skin conditions by stimulating blood circulation and fighting infections. Even with irritated skin, garlic oil has a soothing effect.
The rejuvenation process primarily refers to the prevention of premature wrinkles. Excess sebum is broken down, leaving skin looking clearer and firmer. As for the face mask, garlic can be combined with clay or olive oil, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
Garlic oil for dogs
Like all onion plants, garlic contains sulfur-containing compounds, which in large doses can be poisonous to dogs and cats. They destroy red blood cells in the animal's blood. This process is called hemolysis.
The emphasis here is on the addition: “in large doses.” Because in order to poison a dog with garlic, it is necessary to maintain the guideline value of 59 g per kilogram of the dog’s body weight for several days.
Although dangerous changes occur in the blood even with fairly small amounts of garlic, a much smaller dose is usually used to feed the dog, for example, just a drop of garlic oil. The reason for use is the protection against parasites, ticks and fleas that garlic is supposed to provide. The extent to which a dog can tolerate garlic oil and what dose is harmless depends on other factors, including the breed.
Garlic oil in cooking
Garlic oil is used in cooking mainly as a cooking oil. It is more abundant than the pure form of essential oil. Garlic oil improves the taste of many types of food and also promotes a balanced and healthy diet. Garlic oil can be used to fry fish and meat, it serves as a dressing for salads and sauces, and can also be used in its pure form as an excellent flavor enhancer, for example, for baguettes.
You can add various spices and herbs to garlic oil, such as rosemary or chili pepper.
Composition and calorie content of garlic oil
The calorie content in 100 g of butter is 898 kcal, the fat content reaches 99.8 g. Few people know, but garlic juice contains up to 20% sugar.
The basis of the composition is useful elements:
- selenium is the main component, its benefits are in protecting the body from pathogenic microorganisms, substances harmful to health, fighting viruses and infections;
- sulfur - the beneficial properties of this element are to stabilize the internal environment of the body, stimulate hair growth, improve skin condition, and have a beneficial effect on nerve fibers;
- phytoncides have antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic effects.
In addition, there is a large amount of fiber, nitrogenous substances, phosphoric and ascorbic acids, flavonoids, sterols, the properties of which together have a beneficial effect on human health.
Garlic is enriched with a whole complex of vitamins: A, B, C, D, E, which are vital for the body.
How to make garlic oil at home
Producing pure garlic essential oil is much more difficult than producing herb oil. However, we will describe both options.
To extract essential oil from garlic yourself, you need steam distillation and appropriate materials, as well as a large amount of garlic, since the proportion of oils in it is only about 0.2%.
The device for obtaining essential oil consists of a container in which garlic is placed as a starting product, a hot water boiler that generates steam using a heat source and to which the garlic must be supplied, as well as a cooler through which the garlic oil is transported using steam. In the cooler, both components are separated from each other. Due to the complex process, this manufacturing option is not recommended for use at home. This usually happens in laboratories and large factories.
On the contrary, garlic oil for cooking is quite easy to prepare. Garlic cloves should be washed, finely chopped and placed in a bottle. Then add vegetable oil. For this you can use sunflower or rapeseed oil, as well as olive oil. Close the bottle hermetically and let the mixture brew for about three weeks. After this, the garlic oil can be used.
Garlic oil for high cholesterol
Cholesterol is a substance that, on the one hand, is SUPER beneficial for our health. It produces bile, male and female sex hormones, synthesizes vitamin D3 and much more. If there is an excess of it in the body, it will certainly be deposited in the vascular walls, which will lead to the development of atherosclerosis with very serious consequences.
If the blood vessels of the brain are damaged, a person’s memory, thinking, concentration will decrease, and an acute cerebrovascular accident or stroke will occur.
With excess cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries, a person will begin to suffer from angina attacks, which will lead to a heart attack.
If the renal arteries are damaged, renal hypertension will develop with high blood pressure numbers.
Well, if the vessels of the extremities are damaged, a person will not be able to move freely due to obliterating endarteritis.
To prevent such a scenario, all men and women who have elevated cholesterol levels in their blood are recommended to be treated with garlic oil.
Recipe:
Over the course of three months, you will prepare your own garlic-lemon oil elixir. Place the crushed, previously peeled garlic head into a glass half-liter jar. Mix with a glass of unrefined sunflower oil and leave for a day. After this, squeeze lemon juice into the mixture and leave in the dark, at room temperature for a week. Shake all the time. Then strain.
Take a small spoon before meals in the morning, afternoon and evening. This course needs to be repeated periodically.
Dosage and use of garlic oil
Garlic in the daily diet should be dosed depending on preference in order to give dishes a special flavor note. It is advisable not to consume garlic and garlic oil in large quantities while taking anticoagulant medications, low blood pressure, or kidney disease.
A high dose of garlic, like any other food, can cause stomach upset. To achieve health benefits, you need to consume about one clove of garlic per day.
Concentrated essential oil and corresponding capsules should be used in moderation as they contain a high dose of valuable ingredients. A few drops a day is enough. The dosage of capsules depends on the respective product and should be taken according to the instructions.
Possible harm
Garlic oil cannot harm the body. However, its use is contraindicated for the following groups of people:
- Patients suffering from acute gastric or intestinal ulcers, cholelithiasis.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women, as the composition and taste of breast milk changes.
- Patients with glomerulonephritis.
People with diabetes and epilepsy should take the product with caution. Before use, you should consult your doctor. The specialist may allow you to take the infusion and indicate the recommended dosage.
A food additive may negatively affect the functionality of medications. The composition of the oil reduces the effectiveness of cold medications. You should consult your doctor to find out whether the seasoning can be used while taking medications.
Excessive consumption of garlic infusion can lead to negative changes in the intestinal microflora and stomach upset.
It is forbidden to consume garlic oil that has expired. The infusion prepared at home can be stored for a maximum of 2.5 months. After this, the product can seriously harm the body. In an expired product, microbes begin to develop, which cause severe poisoning.
Buying Garlic Oil: What to Consider
When purchasing garlic oil, pay attention to the dosage form and desired use. Regular kitchen garlic oil is the more common and cheapest option. It differs in the type of oil used in which the garlic is infused. Olive oil with garlic is especially popular. This oil should only be used for preparing fresh dishes (salads).
Garlic oil is also available in capsule form. In addition, it is also sold as an essential oil for medicinal purposes. In this case, attention should be paid to its origin, purity and cultivation method.
