Evidence supporting the use of: Garlic bulb
For the health condition: Dandruff

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Synopsis

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

Garlic bulb (Allium sativum) has been traditionally used in folk medicine for a variety of skin and scalp conditions, including dandruff. The primary rationale behind its use is garlic's well-known antimicrobial and antifungal properties, mainly attributed to its active compound, allicin. Dandruff is often associated with the overgrowth of the fungus Malassezia on the scalp, and traditional remedies have leveraged garlic's potential to inhibit such microbial activity. In various cultures, garlic-infused oils or pastes have been applied topically to the scalp as a home remedy to reduce flaking and itchiness. However, despite these traditional practices, scientific studies specifically investigating garlic’s efficacy against dandruff in controlled clinical settings are limited. Some in vitro studies indicate that garlic extracts can inhibit the growth of fungi, including species related to dandruff. Yet, robust clinical trials or dermatological studies confirming its effectiveness and safety for this use are lacking. Most of the available evidence remains anecdotal or based on laboratory experiments rather than real-world application. Therefore, while garlic's use for dandruff has a basis in tradition and in vitro antifungal research, its clinical effectiveness for this purpose is not strongly supported by high-quality scientific evidence at this time.

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