Evidence supporting the use of: Garlic bulb
For the health condition: Colds (general)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Garlic bulb (Allium sativum) has a long history of use in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of colds and other respiratory ailments. This tradition is supported by a modest but growing body of scientific evidence. The main bioactive compound in garlic, allicin, has demonstrated antimicrobial and antiviral properties in laboratory studies. A notable randomized controlled trial published in 2001 in the journal Advances in Therapy found that participants taking a daily garlic supplement for 12 weeks reported significantly fewer colds compared to those taking a placebo, and when they did become ill, symptoms resolved more quickly. However, the number of clinical studies is limited and sample sizes are generally small, with some studies failing to replicate these benefits. Systematic reviews suggest that while garlic may reduce the frequency of colds, the evidence is not strong enough to warrant firm recommendations and more high-quality research is needed.

Overall, the use of garlic for colds is supported by both traditional use and some scientific validation, though the degree of scientific evidence is currently limited (rated 2 out of 5). Garlic is generally considered safe for most people when consumed as part of the diet, although concentrated supplements may cause gastrointestinal discomfort or interact with certain medications. Individuals interested in using garlic for colds should view it as a complementary rather than primary intervention.

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Allspice
Aloe vera
green chiretta
anthocyanins
apple
arabinogalactan
astragalus
Waterhyssop
bamboo
barberry
basil
benegut perilla (proprietary)
berry flavor
beta-pinene
black cumin
black currant
black garlic
black pepper
radish
black tea
blackberry
blueberry
bupleurum falcatum
burdock
bасора
capsaicinoids
carrot
cassia bark
caterpillar mushroom
chamomile
cinnamon
citrus oil
citrus sinensis (proprietary)
clove
coconut milk
colostrum
turmeric
dog rose
echinacea purpurea
elderberry
forsythia
garlic bulb
ginger
ginseng
gooseberry
grape
Greek mountain tea
onion
green tea
greens blend (proprietary)
horseradish
Indian tinospora
honeysuckle
jujube
L-cysteine
Lactobacillus fermentum
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
Lactobacillus reuteri
lemon
licorice root
lovage
lychee
Marshmallow
Mastic gum
Milk
Moringa
mustard seed
Nettle
spruce
orange
oregano
oregon grape
pear
perilla
phellodendron amurense
phenolic compounds
pineapple
plantain
plum fruit
pomegranate
pumpkin
quail egg
quercetin
raspberry
redcurrant
reishi mushroom
rhizome
rose hips
rosemary
sage
schizonepeta
scrophularia root
spearmint leaf
Sphaeranthus indicus
spirulina
thyme
vegetable blend (proprietary)
vitamin B
vitamin C
vitamin D
Wasabi
Water
Yeast
Zinc
sarsaparilla
squawvine
boneset
tangerine
typhonium
xanthium (cockleburs)
hyssop
cardamom
atractylodes
papaya
capsicum
Mugwort
Indian bael
Neem tree
nut grass
alpinia galangal
ferula assafoetida
pistacia integerrima gall
commiphora
Tinospora cordifolia
blackboard tree
bee pollen
peony
Szechuan lovage
boxthorne
buckthorn
lemongrass
Yerba santa
chrysanthemum
siler root
flowering quince
dodder
sweet flag
hyacinth bean
Morinda
Trichosanthes
zanthoxylum
birch
dulse leaf
purslane
fulvic acid
eucalyptus
Menthol oil
aster root
peach
paw paw
Abies spectabilis
horehound
Sichuan pepper
Algae
indigo leaves
cayenne pepper
3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid
Alcohol
ash
Aralia
avens
apple cider vinegar
Agastache
alpha-terpineol
Ardisia
Angelica
Acacia
Allicin
anamu
Abrus
Amomum
Asarum heterotropoides
Aconite
Ajuga
andrographolide
Aerva lanata
American Liverleaf
Asam gelugor
Andrographis
Asteraceae
Allyl sulfide
Allyl isothiocyanate
Alliin
Allium tuberosum
Amor seco
Arani
atractylone
bee propolis
black seed
bermuda grass
Baikal Skullcap
Baphicacanthus cusia
Bidens pilosa
blackthorn
Broussonetia
Blepharis
balsam
bishop\'s weed
bayleaf
Butea monosperma
black galingale
Barleria
bitter grass
Bougainvillea
bee hive
bael
berry
Baccharoides anthelmintica
banyan
bur-reed
bioflavonoids
black salt
bee products
back nightshade
Bombax
borassus palm
Buddha\'s hand
Borassus aethiopum
bitter principals
Bupleurum
Bassia scoparia
Belamcanda
Boerhavia diffusa
borneol
cumin
Camellia sinensis
coconut
Chinese silkvine
curry leaf
Cinnamomum
Chinese mountain ant
Clerodendrum trichotomum
cloudberry
coconut oil
coriander
chive
carvacrol
capillary artemisia
citron
Curcuminoid
Citrus
cineole
capsaicin
cajuput
Chinese raisintree
Chlorophytum
cowherb
curcumen
Cistus
common madia
Curcuma
cowslip
calamus
Coin-leaf desmodium
cinnamaldehyde
costus
Carthamus
cola nut
Celosia
culvers Root
currant
chrysophanics
Chondrus
Dianthus
dodeca-2E, 4E-dienoic acid isobutylamide
dragonhead
deoxyandrographolides
David\'s milkberry
Desmodium
dodeca-2E, 4E, 8Z, 10Z/tetraenoic acid isobutylamide
Ephedra
European Elder
Eupolyphaga sinensis
Evodia
English horsemint
Eclipta
Echinacea
Elder
essential oil blend
European five-finger grass
Embelia
fruit
fang-feng
flat-stem milk-vetch
fat liver oil
Ficus simplicissima
frankincense
flavonones
goldthread
Gnaphalium
gamma-terpinene
garlic
Gallesia
giant blazingstar
Glechoma hederacea
Gardenia jasminoides
Gigartina
Glycyrrhizin
Hygrophila
honey
heal-all
Hedyotis
honey loquat syrup
Helicteres isora
Herb Robert
hemp
Horsemint
iridoids
iridoid glycosides
Isatis
Ilex
long pepper
Indian fagonia
joe-pye
jungli-bean
Kokilaksha
Kukicha
kuding tea
loquat
lime
Lebbek
Ledebouriella
Litsea
Lomatium
lichen
Laggera pterodonta
limonene
luffa
Ligustrum
lodhtree
lotus
lysozyme
labrador tea
little ironweed
liverwort
Ligusticum
linalool
mandarin
Mountain Pepper
Mustard
Mineral ascorbate
Myrcene
Marjoram
Marsh Tea
mallow
Melia
Monoterpenes
mace
Monardella odoratissima
Momordica
Meadow sage
Meadowsweet
marigold
Mushroom
manzanita
maple
Maytenus ilicifolia
Nardostachys
Natsudaidai
Nymphaea nouchali
Nimbidin
Ophiopogon
Oroxylum indicum
Osha
Orris
Onosma bracteatum
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
Oryza sativa
Propolis
Phellodendron
Phyllanthus
Piper chaba
Phenylpropanoids
Phaeophyceae
pagoda tree
Pluchea
potato
Prunus
Phosphate ascorbate
Pepper
Paris polyphylla
Peucedanum
Pelargonium
Pyrrosia
Piper retrofractum
Portulaca
Piper nigrum
Polygonatum
Persimmon
Patrinia
Physalis angulata
Polygonum
Petiveria
Quillaja
Rubus
Rubiaceae
rose
Rooibos
ravinsara
Sichuan Lovage
Sicklepod
Sophora
Sesbania
Scoparia dulcis
Sete sangrias
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Sesquiterpenes
Shark Liver Oil
Sweet Annie
Spikenard
Salvia
Southern Tsangshu
Solanum indicum
Sickle-leaf hare's ear
Sambucus nigra
Sagebrush
Sinigrin
Shogaol
Schisandrins
Sandalwood
Squash
Scabrous Gentian
Sumac
Sweet Bay
Sargassum
Sassafras
Terminalia
Terpenoids
Tea
Thymus
Tamaricaceae
Triterpenes
Thymol
Tayuya
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Tulbaghia
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Tremella
Umckaloabo
Vervain
Visnea Mocanera
Violet
Viola
White Tea
Wax Gourd
Water Pepper
Wulinshen
Winter Begonia
Winter Savory
Yuzu
Yerba buena
Yellow-Fruit Nightshade
Zucchini
Zingiberene
Zingerone