Garlic has been getting more attention of late. Recent articles in such divergent publications as National Geographic and Chemical Marketing Reporter have spotlighted the growing interest in both use and research of the health uses of Garlic. Garlic (Allium sativum) is a cultigen that is not found in the wild, evolving over hundreds, perhaps thousands of years of cultivation. Garlic is perhaps the quintessential medicinal food. In this small, detail-packed volume, Fulder and Blackwood explore the history and use of Garlic from ancient Egypt to modern pharmacology. In a well-written, readable style, the authors pay particular attention to current pharmacological and clinical studies on the use of garlic in cardiovascular disease, infections, and potential applications in preventive medicine. In twelve chapters, the authors present the case for garlic's place in health care, with interesting historical background material, notes on preparations and uses of garlic, and a reference list divided into categories of research topics such as chemistry and infections. With the increased interest in garlic, consumers and sellers of herb products will find this a useful and informative primer.
Article copyright American Botanical Council.