Botanical Name : Allium sativum Linn.

Family : Liliaceae, Alliaceae

Identification No. – SDACH/HG/261

Introduction :

Rasona commonly used for the vata disorders.

Scientific classification: Garlic belongs to the family Liliaceae. Common garlic is classified as Allium sativum, British wild garlic as Allium oleraceum, and American wild garlic as Allium candense. The field garlic of Europe and the Americas is classified as Allium vineale. False garlic is classified as Nothoscordum bivalve.

Names in different Indian languages :

English : Garlic.

Hindi : Lahasun

Kannada : Belluli

Malayalam : Velluli

Sanskrit : Lasunah, rasonah

Tamil : Vellai puntu

Telugu : Vellulli

Unani : Seer, Lahsun

Synonyms :

Yavaneshta, Ugragandha, Mahaushadh, Arishta

Varieties & adulterants – (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants) :

1.Girija

2. Ksetraja

3. Allium ascaloniurn

Morphology :

A bulbous herb, 60 cm high.

Leaves— long, flat, acute, sheathing the lower half of stem. Flowering scape slender, smooth, shining; spathes long, beaked.

Flowers— small, white, prolonged into leafy points.

Flowers :during winter.

Distribution & Habitat :

Native to Central Asia. Cultivated all over India.

Chemical constituents :

Alliin, Volatile oil, white liquid. albumin, sugar, jelly like substance. The volatile oil which is yellow in colour contains organic sulphur. Alliin; Carbohydrates (arabinose, galactose etc); vitamins (folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vit.c); amino acids (arginine, asparagic acid, niethionine etc.); enzymes (allinase); volatile compounds (allylalcohol, allylthiol, allylpropyl disuiphide etc.); thioglycosides (scordine, scordinine A1, A2 & B etc.); prostaglandins A2, D2 E2 and F2 allylmethylselenide, ajoene, proteoruboside B.

Properties :

Rasa Madhura, Lavana, Katu, Tikta, Kasãya

Guna Snigdha, Guru, Tiksna, Sara

Virya Usna

Vipaka Katu

(1) Katu Rasa — root

(2) Tikta Rasa — leaf

(3) Kasaya Rasa — stem

(4) Lavana Rasa — stem tip/terminal bud

Karma : Vãta-Kapha hara, Balya, Brmhana, Rasayana, Vrsya, Netrya

Antibiotic, bacteriostatic, fungicide, anthelmintic, antithrombic, hypotensive, hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolaemic

Indications : Vãta vyãdhi, süla, Ajirna, Vibahdha, Gulma, Hrdroga, Svãsa, Käsa, Asthibhagna, Räjayaksma, Krimi

Nerve disorder, epilepsy, sciatica, colic, piles, spllen and liver disorder, Cough

Part Used :

Bulb, oil

Dosage :

Paste 3-6 g; oil 1-2 drops

Amayika Prayoga/Therapeutic Uses –

External uses :

It is an anti-inflammatory, pain killer and removes toxicity. in childhood cough, a necklace of garlic buds is worn Garlic paste is used for swelling in rheumatoid arthritis, paralysis, sciatica, facial palsy and pain in the ribs. Juice is also used. Garlic juice is used in skin disorders like eczema. Swelling due to insect bites almost disappear on nibbling garlic juice or oil of garlic. A bud of garlic, inserted in the ear also relieves pain.

Internal Uses :

Nervous System : Used in paralysis, arthritis, sciatica and weak memory. Garlic juice is given internally in diminished vision.

Digestive System : In indigestion, low appetite, pain, constipation, worm infestation, piles all diseases of vata and kapha, garlic is useful, Flatulence caused by food like rice be avoided easily if cooked in garlic water.

Circulatory System : Oedema due do cardiac disorders is decreased by garlic.

Respiratory System : Being snigdha and tikta, it decreases cough. Milk boiled with garlic reduces chronic cough, asthma, tuberculosis and hoarseness of voice. The volatile oil kills Mycobacterium tuberculi. Healing properties are therapeutic to Cough is decreased by buds of garlic. In a persistent cough, a garland of garlic buds is put round the neck In diseases of vata and kapha. garlic oil is rubbed on the chest.

Urinary System : It is useful in urinary disorders due to its tikta guna.

Reproductive System : Being pungent. pichchila and snigdha, it stimulates the production of semen. Thus it is not much use in paucity weakness) of semen. Being a regulator of menstrual function it is used in dysmenorrhoea.

Satmikaran : Stimulant on all parts of the body. It alleviates psychological and mental troubles and is good rasayana (due to pichchila). In fractures of the bone, milk boiled with garlic is helpful,

Skin : As it contains organic sulphur, it is very effective in skin diseases, pruritus and eczema etc.

Temperature : Being antipyretic, diaphoretic and reducing ama, it is useful in fevers. In fever with rigours, garlic oil should be used for massage before the fever rises. It is used as a preventive medicine in fever diphtheria etc.

Contraindication : Being tikshna and ushna, it is contraindicated in pregnancy and those with pitta prakruti because it aggravates pitta.

Antidote : Cold infusion of coriander seeds should be given repeatedly

Excretion : Garlic is excreted from skin, lung and kidneys. In the process, it enhances the action of all three organs. It is useful in hypertension.

Important Yogas or Formations :

Rasonvati. Rasonpinda, Rasonashtala, Lasunadighrita. Rasona siddha taila. Launãdi vati,, Rasonapinda, Hingutriguna tailam, Rasona surã, Lasuna Kalpa, Rasona rasãyana, Rasonãstaka,  Launa Ksira, Laundi ghrta.

Therapeutic Uses :

(1) Amavãta—Rasona, Sunthi and Nirgundi as decoction (B.P.).

(2) Yoni Roga— Juice of garlic is given early morning with milk and meat soup as the diet (S.S.Ut. 38).

(3) Plihavrddhi— Lasuna, Pippalimüla, Haritaki are given with cow’s urine (V.M.)

IUCN Status – Not Evaluated (NE)

Research updates –

Ried K, et al. Effect of garlic on blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 13:7.

Bayan L, et al. Garlic (Allium sativum) and its anti-cancer properties: a review. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 15(13):5801–5810.

Gebreyohannes G, et al. Antibacterial activity of garlic extract against clinical pathogens. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013:1–8.