Welcome to the MNT Knowledge Center, your source for our most detailed content on specific conditions

and subjects. Click through to Knowledge Center Home to read more.

What are the benefits of eucalyptus?Thursday 26 September 2013 - 12am PST 

Nutrition / Diet

Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

add your opinion

email

Knowledge Center

Add your rating

Current ratings for:

What are the benefits of eucalyptus?

Public / Patient:

3.3  (16 votes)

       

Health Professionals:

3.5  (2 votes)

       

Eucalyptus is a fast growing evergreen tree native to Australia. There are over 400 different

species of the tree.Eucalyptus Globulus (also known as Blue Gum) is the main source of

global eucalyptus oil production.

Eucalyptus oil comes from the dried leaves of the eucalyptus tree. The oil is a colorless liquid with a

strong woody and sweet scent.

Eucalyptus leaves are steam-distilled to extract the oil.

Eucalyptus oil contains 70-85% 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) - an ingredient in some mouthwash and

dental preparations.

The oil has multiple different uses.

It is often a key ingredient in perfumes and cosmetics because of its unique fresh and clean aroma,

and also as a dental or industrial solvent.

Eucalyptus Globulus leaves

In addition to being used for its aroma, eucalyptus oil also has flavoring, pharmaceutical, and

antiseptic uses.

Eucalyptus oil may also have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties -

people use eucalyptus oil to help treat a wide range of medical conditions.

It is used to help relieve symptoms of the common cold and is found in many cough lozenges and

inhalants.

Eucalyptus oil vapor acts as a decongestant when it is inhaled and is used to treat bronchitis.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, eucalyptus oil was used in traditional

Aboriginal medicines for treating fungal infections and skin wounds. Eucalyptus tea was also

administered to reduce fevers.

Eucalyptus is used for a range of medical conditions in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine.

Towards the end of the 19th century, eucalyptus oil was used in most hospitals in England to clean

urinary catheters.

It is also an effective insect repellent. In 1948, the U.S. officially registered eucalyptus oil as an

insecticide and miticide (kills mites and ticks).

Medicinal uses and health benefits of eucalyptus

Antibacterial properties -One study, published in Clinical Microbiology & Infection found

that eucalyptus oil may have antibacterial effects on pathogenic bacteria in the upper

respiratory tract.

However, results of the research "suggest that further studies to clarify the possible therapeutic role

of E. globulus leaf extract in the treatment of respiratory tract infection are warranted."

Relieving pain - there is research to indicate that eucalyptus oil has analgesic properties. A study

published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation involved applying

Eucalyptamint on the anterior forearm skin of 10 different subjects.

The authors of the study concluded that "Eucalyptamint, produced significant physiologic

responses that may be beneficial for pain relief and/or useful to athletes as a passive form of

warm-up."

Promoting good dental health -eucalyptus has antibacterial activity against cariogenic (causing

tooth decay) and periodontopathic bacteria. The use of eucalyptus extract chewing gum may

promote periodontal health, according to a study published in the Journal of Periodontology which

examined the effect of chewing-gum containing eucalyptus extract on periodontal health.

A bottle of eucalyptus oil

prepared for medicinal use.

Stimulating immune system response - eucalyptus oil extract is able to implement the innate cell-

mediated immune response, according to a study titled "Stimulatory effect of Eucalyptus

essential oil on innate cell-mediated immune response" which was published in BMC

Immunology.

Other possible conditions that eucalyptus can treat include:

Arthritis

A stuffed nose

Wounds and burns

Acne

Ulcers

Bladder diseases

Diabetes

Fever

Flu

Precautions and side effects

It is unsafe to take eucalyptus oil orally or when it's applied on the skin before being diluted.

Side effects may include:

Diarrhea

Nausea

Vomiting

Stomach upset

Signs of eucalyptus poisoning:

Dizziness

Feelings of suffocation

Small pupils

Written by Joseph Nordqvist

Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without the permission of Medical News Today.

Welcome to the MNT Knowledge Center, your source for our most detailed content on specific conditions

and subjects. Click through to Knowledge Center Home to read more.

What are the benefits of ginger?Wednesday 11 September 2013 - 12am PST

 

Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

Nutrition / Diet

add your opinion

email

Knowledge Center

Add your rating

Current ratings for:

What are the benefits of ginger?

Public / Patient:

3.9     (35 votes)

       

Health Professionals:

3.6     (22 votes)

       

Ginger is an herb that is used as a spice and also for its therapeutic qualities. The

underground stem (rhizome) can be used fresh, powdered, dried, or as an oil or juice. Ginger

is part of the Zingiberaceae family, as are cardamom, turmeric and galangal.

This MNT Knowledge Center feature is part of a collection of articles on the health benefits of

popular foods. It highlights the history of ginger, its therapeutic benefits, and some

important precautions you should be aware of before taking the herb.

According to the National Library of Medicine1 , part of the NIH (National Institutes of Health),

ginger is widely used throughout the world for treating loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting after

surgery, nausea resulting from cancertreatment, flatulence, stomach upset, colic, morning

sicknessand motion sickness.

Some people find ginger helps them with the symptoms of upper respiratory tract

infection, bronchitis, cough, menstrual cramps, arthritis and muscle pain.

In some parts of the world, ginger juice is applied to the skin to treat burns.

Ginger is also used as a flavoring by the food and drinks industry, as a spice and flavoring in

cooking, and for fragrance in soaps and cosmetics.

Ginger contains a chemical that is used as an ingredient in antacid, laxative and anti-gas

medications.

According to Kew Gardens2 , England's horticultural royal center of excellence, ginger has a long

history of usage in South Asia, both in fresh and dried form.

History of ginger

Fresh ginger rhizome (subterranean stem)

The University of Maryland Medical Center3  writes that ginger has been used in China for over

2,000 years to help digestion and treat diarrhea, nausea and stomach upsets.

The Mahabharata (circa 4th century BC), one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India,

describes a stewed meat meal which includes ginger. Ginger has also been a key plant in Ayurvedic

medicine, a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent.

Approximately 2000 years ago, ginger was exported from India to the Roman empire, where it

became valued for its therapeutic as well as culinary properties.

Ginger continued to be traded in Europe after the fall of the Roman empire, where its supply was

controlled by Arab traders for hundreds of years. During medieval times it became a popular

ingredient in sweets.

During the 13th and 14th centuries ginger and black pepper were commonly traded spices. By the

sixteenth century one pound in weight of ginger in England would cost the equivalent of one sheep.

What are the therapeutic benefits of ginger?

Below are examples of some scientific studies on ginger and its current or potential uses in medical

treatment.

Inflammation of the colon

A study carried out at the University of Michigan Medical School found that Ginger Root

Supplement administered to volunteer participants reduced inflammation markers in the

colon within a month.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

Experts say that inflammation of the colon is a precursor to colon cancer. Co-researcher Suzanna

M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., explained that by reducing inflammation in the colon a person reduces their

risk of developing colon cancer.

Zick said "We need to apply the same rigor to the sorts of questions about the effect of ginger root

that we apply to other clinical trial research. Interest in this is only going to increase as people look

for ways to prevent cancer that are nontoxic, and improve their quality of life in a cost-effective way."

Muscle pain caused by exercise

A study involving 74 volunteers carried out at the University of Georgia found that daily ginger

supplementation reduced exercise-induced muscle pain by 25%.

Patrick O'Connor, a professor in the College of Education's department of kinesiology, and

colleagues carried out two studies on the effects of 11 days of raw and heat-treated ginger

supplementation on exercise-induced muscle pain.

The volunteers consumed the ginger supplements for 11 consecutive days. On the 8th day they

performed 18 extensions of the elbow flexors with a heavy weight. The aim was to induce moderate

muscle injury to the arm. Each participant's arm function, inflammation, and pain levels were

assessed before exercise and three days afterwards.

The researchers noted that the pain-reducing effect was not enhanced by heat-treating the ginger.

The study was published in The Journal of Pain.

Nausea caused by chemotherapy

Ginger supplements administered alongside anti-vomiting medications can reduce

chemotherapy-induced nausea symptoms by 40%, a PhaseII/III study carried out at the

University of Rochester Medical Center found.

Lead researcher, Dr Julie Ryan, presented the study findings at the American Society of Clinical

Oncology meeting in Orlando, Florida, in 2009.

Dr. Ryan explained that about 70% of cancer patients who receive chemotherapy experience

nausea and vomiting. The vomiting is usually easy to control with effective medications. However,

the nausea tends to linger.

Dr. Ryan said "By taking the ginger prior to chemotherapy treatment, the National Cancer Institute-

funded study suggests its earlier absorption into the body may have anti-inflammatory properties."

Ovarian cancer

A study found that exposing ovarian cancer cells to a solution of ginger powder resulted in

their death in every single test.

The cancer cells either died as a result of apoptosis (they committed suicide) or autophagy (they

digested/attacked themselves).

The researchers, from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center added that the

ginger solution also prevented the cancer cells from building up resistance to cancer treatment.

The study findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research annual

meeting in Washington D.C., 2006.

Asthma symptoms

A team at Columbia University carried out a study to determine what effects adding specific

components of ginger to asthma medications might have on asthma symptoms.

Team leader, Elizabeth Townsend, PhD, explained "In our study, we demonstrated that purified

components of ginger can work synergistically with β-agonists to relax ASM (airway smooth

muscle)."

The scientists took ASM tissue samples and exposed them to acetylcholine, a compound that

causes bronchoconstriction (narrowing of the airways).

They then mixed the β-agonist isoproterenol (asthma medication) with three different components of

ginger:

6-gingerol

8-gingerol

6-shogaol

Contracted ASM tissue samples were exposed to each of the three mixtures as well as isoproterenol

on its own.

The team found that ASM tissues exposed to isoproterenol combined with the purified ginger

components exhibited greater relaxation than those treated with just isoproterenol.

Ginger component 6-shogaol had the greatest impact in enhancing the effects of isoproterenol.

Dr. Townsend said "Taken together, these data show that ginger constituents 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol

and 6-shogaol act synergistically with the β-agonist in relaxing ASM, indicating that these

compounds may provide additional relief of asthma symptoms when used in combination with β-

agonists. By understanding the mechanisms by which these ginger compounds affect the airway, we

can explore the use of these therapeutics in alleviating asthma symptoms."

The study findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference 2013

in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Liver damage caused by acetaminophen

Acetaminophen, known more commonly as "Tylenol" in the USA and "paracetamol" elsewhere, is a

popular painkiller and antipyretic (reduces fever). However, acetaminophen is also associated with a

higher risk of chemically-driven liver damage (hepatotoxicity), especially among patients with liver

disorders.

Scientists at the National Research Centre in Egypt wanted to determine whether ginger

pretreatment might reduce the incidence of acetaminophen-induced liver damage in rats.

The researchers wrote in the Journal of Dietary Supplements4  "Our results demonstrated that

ginger can prevent hepatic injuries, alleviating oxidative stress in a manner comparable to that

of vitamin E. Combination therapy of ginger and acetaminophen is recommended especially in

cases with hepatic (liver) disorders or when high doses of acetaminophen are required."

High blood pressure (hypertension)

A study reported in the journal Pharmaceutical Biology5  found that cassumunar ginger extract was

more effective than prazosin hydrochloride in reducing blood pressure in hypertensive laboratory

rats.

The researchers, from Chiang Mai University in Thailand wrote "The cassumunar ginger extract

exhibited the maximum decrease of mean arterial blood pressure at 39.83 ± 3.92%, which was 3.54-

times that of prazosin hydrochloride."

Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)

Ginger can help reduce the symptoms of pain in primary dysmenorrhea (period pains), researchers

from the Islamic Azad University in Iran reported in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association6 .

Seventy female students were divided into two groups:

The ginger group - they took capsules containing ginger

The placebo group - participants took capsules containing placebo

The participants took their capsules for three days at the beginning of their menstruation cycles.

The researchers found that the 82.85% of the women taking the ginger capsules reported

improvements in pain symptoms compared to 47.05% of those on placebo.

Migraines

A study performed at the VALI-e-ASR Hospital in Iran and published in the journal Phytotherapy

Research7 found that ginger powder is as effective in treating common migraine symptoms as

sumatriptan. Sumatriptan is a common medication for migraine treatment (Imitrex, Treximet,

Imigran, Imigran).

The double-blind, randomized clinical trial involved 100 participants. They all suffered form acute

migraine without aura. They were randomly selected to receive either sumatriptan or ginger powder.

The study authors concluded "Efficacy of ginger powder and sumatriptan were similar. Clinical

adverse effects of ginger powder were less than sumatriptan. Patients' satisfaction and willingness to

continue did not differ. The effectiveness of ginger powder in the treatment of common migraine

attacks is statistically comparable to sumatriptan. Ginger also poses a better side effect profile than

sumatriptan."

Precautions

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center3 , the use of herbs can interact with other

herbs or medications.

Therefore it's important to talk to your doctor before taking ginger.

You should not take ginger if you suffer from a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning

medications (such as warfarin or aspirin).

Side effects of consuming ginger are rare, but may include:

Diarrhea

Heartburn

Stomach upset

Mouth irritation

Written by Christian Nordqvist

Copyright: Medical News TodayNot to be reproduced without the permission of Medical News Today.

Welcome to the MNT Knowledge Center, your source for our most detailed content on specific conditions

and subjects. Click through to Knowledge Center Home to read more.

What are the benefits of garlic?Monday 9 September 2013 - 12am PST

 

Nutrition / Diet

Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

add your opinion

email

Knowledge Center

Add your rating

Current ratings for:

What are the benefits of garlic?

Public / Patient:

4.4     (31 votes)

       

Health Professionals:

4     (11 votes)

       

Garlic (Allium sativum), an herb used widely as a flavoring in cooking, has also been used as

a medicine throughout ancient and modern history to prevent and treat a wide range of

conditions and diseases.

Garlic belongs to the onion genus Allium, and is closely related to the onion, rakkyo, chive, leek, and

shallot. It has been used by humans for thousands of years and was used in Ancient Egypt for both

culinary purposes and its therapeutic benefits.

This MNT Knowledge Center feature is part of a collection of articles on the health benefits of

popular foods. It provides a brief history of garlic being used in food and medicine and also

highlights its potential therapeutic properties.

Garlic for food and medicine - a brief history

Garlic has been used all over the world for thousands of years. Records indicate that garlic was in

use when the Giza pyramids were built, about five thousand years ago.

Richard S. Rivlin wrote in the Journal of Nutrition1  that the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates

(circa. 460-370 BC), known today as "the father of Western medicine", prescribed garlic for a wide

range of conditions and illnesses. Hippocrates promoted the use of garlic for treating respiratory

problems, parasites, poor digestion and fatigue.

The original Olympic athletes in Ancient Greece were given garlic - possibly the earliest example of

"performance enhancing" agents used in sports.

Hippocrates promoted the therapeutic

benefits of garlic

From Ancient Egypt garlic spread to the advanced ancient civilizations of the Indus Valley (Pakistan

and western India today). From there it made its way to China.

According to experts at Kew Gardens2 , England's royal botanical center of excellence, the people of

ancient India valued the therapeutic properties of garlic and also thought it to be an aphrodisiac. The

upper classes avoided garlic because they despised its strong odor, while monks, "...widows,

adolescents and those who had taken up a vow or were fasting could not eat garlic because of its

stimulant quality".

Throughout history in the Middle East, East Asia and Nepal, garlic has been used to

treat bronchitis, hypertension (high blood pressure), TB (tuberculosis), liver

disorders, dysentery,flatulence, colic, intestinal worms, rheumatism, diabetes, andfevers.

The French, Spanish and Portuguese introduced garlic to the New World.

Rivlin found it interesting that several cultures in history that were never in contact with one another

had similar conclusions regarding the therapeutic benefits of garlic.

Garlic is used widely today for its therapeutic properties

According to the National Library of Medicine3 , part of the NIH (National Institutes of Health), USA,

garlic is widely used for several conditions linked to the blood system and heart,

including atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), high cholesterol, heart attack, coronary

heart disease and hypertension.

A bulb of garlic and a peeled garlic clove

Garlic is also used today by some people for the prevention oflung cancer, prostate

cancer, breast cancer, stomach cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.

The NIH adds "Some of these uses are supported by science."

A study published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology4  warned that short-term heating

reduces the anti-inflammatory effects of fresh raw garlic extracts. This may be a problem for some

people who do not like or cannot tolerate the taste and/or odor of fresh garlic. Ask your pharmacist

for garlic supplements or oil which have not been exposed to too much heat.

Scientific studies on the therapeutic benefits of garlic

What is the difference between scientific and anecdotal evidence? Anecdotal evidence refers to a

person's personal experience - like the evidence from a witness. This type of evidence is crucial in a

court of law when somebody (a witness) saw something happen with their own eyes. In medicine,

however, anecdotal evidence, when compared to scientific evidence, is not compelling enough.

If I cross the road with my eyes closed and so does a friend of mine, and we do not get run over, it

would be irresponsible to tell everybody around us, including our children that crossing the street

with your eyes closed is safe. A scientific study using thousands of participants, comparing crossers

with their eyes closed against others with their eyes open, would soon show that crossing the street

with your eyes closed is extremely dangerous.

Below are examples of some scientific studies published in peer-reviewed academic journals about

the therapeutic benefits (or not) of garlic.

Lung cancer risk

People who ate raw garlic at least twice a week had a 44% lower risk of developing lung

cancer, according to a study carried out at the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and

Prevention in China.

The researchers, who published their study in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, had carried

out face-to-face interviews with 1,424 lung cancer patients as well as 4,543 healthy individuals. They

were asked about their diet and lifestyle habits, which included questions on their smoking habits

and how often they ate garlic.

The study authors wrote "Protective association between intake of raw garlic and lung cancer has

been observed with a dose-response pattern, suggesting that garlic may potentially serve as a

chemo-preventive agent for lung cancer."

Brain cancer

Organo-sulfur compounds found in garlic have been identified as effective in destroying the

cells in glioblastomas, a type of deadly brain tumor.

Scientists at the Medical University of South Carolina reported in the journal Cancer that three pure

organo-sulfur compounds from garlic - DAS, DADS and DATS - "demonstrated efficacy in

eradicating brain cancer cells, but DATS proved to be the most effective".

Co-author, Ray Swapan, Ph.D., said "This research highlights the great promise of plant-originated

compounds as natural medicine for controlling the malignant growth of human brain tumor cells,"

Ray said. "More studies are needed in animal models of brain tumors before application of this

therapeutic strategy to brain tumor patients."

Hip osteoarthritis

Women whose diets were rich in allium vegetables had lower levels of osteoarthritis, a team

at King's College London and the University of East Anglia, both in England, reported in the

journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. Examples of allium vegetables include garlic, leeks,

shallots, onions and rakkyo.

The study authors said their findings not only highlighted the possible impact of diet on osteoarthritis

outcomes, but also demonstrated the potential for using compounds that exist in garlic to develop

treatments for the condition.

The long-term study, involving more than 1,000 healthy female twins, found that those whose dietary

habits included plenty of fruit and vegetables, "particularly alliums such as garlic", had fewer

signs of early osteoarthritis in the hip joint.

Potentially a powerful antibiotic

Diallyl sulfide, a compound in garlic, was 100 times more effective than two popular

antibiotics in fighting the Campylobacter bacterium, according to a study published in the Journal of

Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.

The Campylobacter bacterium is one of the most common causes of intestinal infections.

Senior author, Dr. Xiaonan Lu, from Washington State University, said "This work is very exciting to

me because it shows that this compound has the potential to reduce disease-causing bacteria in the

environment and in our food supply."

Heart protection

Diallyl trisulfide, a component of garlic oil, helps protect the heart during cardiac surgery and

after a heart attack, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found. They also believe

diallyl trisulfide could be used as a treatment for heart failure.

Hydrogen sulfide gas has been shown to protect the heart from damage. However, it is a volatile

compound and difficult to deliver as therapy. Hence, the scientists decided to focus on diallyl

trisulfide, a garlic oil component, as a safer way to deliver the benefits of hydrogen sulfide to the

heart.

In animal experiments using laboratory mice, the team found that after a heart attack the mice that

had received diallyl sulfide had 61% less heart damage in an area of risk, compared to the untreated

mice.

The team presented their findings at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions

conference in Orlando, Florida in November, 2011.

In another study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists found

that garlic oil may help protect diabetes patients from cardiomyopathy.

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death among diabetes patients. It is a chronic disease of the

myocardium (heart muscle), which is abnormally thickened, enlarged and/or stiffened.

The team fed diabetic laboratory rats either garlic oil or corn oil. Those fed the garlic oil experienced

significantly more changes associated with protection against heart damage, compared to the corn

oil fed animals.

The study authors wrote "In conclusion, garlic oil possesses significant potential for protecting hearts

from diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy."

Human studies will need to be performed to determine whether they confirm the results of this study.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure

Researchers at Ankara university set out to determine what the effects of garlic extract

supplementation might be on the blood lipid (fat) profile of patients with high blood cholesterol. Their

study was published in theJournal of Nutritional Biochemistry5 .

The study involved 23 volunteers, all with high cholesterol; 13 of them also had high blood pressure.

They were divided into two groups:

The high-cholesterol normotensive group (normal blood pressure)

The high-cholesterol hypertensive group (high blood pressure)

They took garlic extract supplements for four months and were regularly checked for blood lipid

parameters, as well as kidney and liver function.

At the end of the four months the researchers concluded "...garlic extract supplementation improves

blood lipid profile, strengthens blood antioxidant potential, and causes significant reductions in

systolic and diastolic blood pressures. It also leads to a decrease in the level of oxidation product

(MDA) in the blood samples, which demonstrates reduced oxidation reactions in the body."

In other words, the garlic extract supplements reduced high cholesterol levels, and also blood

pressure in the patients with hypertension. The scientists added that theirs was a small study - a

larger one needs to be carried out.

Prostate cancer

Doctors at the Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China, carried out a

study evaluating the relationship between Allium vegetable consumption and prostate cancer risk.

They gathered and analyzed published studies up to May 2013 and reported their findings in

the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention6 .

The study authors wrote "Allium vegetables, especially garlic intake, are related to a decreased

risk of prostate cancer".

The team also commented that as there were not that many studies, they recommend further well-

designed prospective studies be carried out to confirm their findings.

Alcohol-induced liver injury

Alcohol-induced liver injury (ethanol-induced liver injury) is caused by the long-term over-

consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Scientists at the Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, China,

wanted to determine whether diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic-derived organosulfur compound, might

have protective effects against ethanol-induced oxidative stress.

Their study was published in Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)7 .

The researchers concluded that DADS may help protect against ethanol-induced liver injury.

Preterm (premature) delivery

Microbial infections during pregnancy raise a woman's risk of preterm delivery, several studies have

demonstrated. Scientists at the Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health,

wanted to find out what impact foods might have on antimicrobial infections and preterm delivery

risk.

The study and its findings were published in the Journal of Nutrition8 .

Ronny Myhre and colleagues concentrated on the effects of Alliums and dried fruits, because a

literature search had identified these two foods as showing the greatest promise for reducing

preterm delivery risk.

The team investigated the intake of dried fruit and Alliums among 18,888 women in the Norwegian

Mother and Child Cohort, of whom 5% (950) underwent spontaneous PTD (preterm delivery).

The study authors concluded "Intake of food with antimicrobial and prebiotic compounds may be of

importance to reduce the risk of spontaneous PTD. In particular, garlic was associated with

overall lower risk of spontaneous PTD."

The common cold

Julia Fashner, MD; Kevin Ericson, MD; and Sarah Werner, DO, at St. Joseph Family Medicine

Residency, Mishawaka, Indiana, carried out a study titled "Treatment of the Common Cold in

Children and Adults", published in American Family Physician9 .

They reported that "Prophylactic use of garlic may decrease the frequency of colds in adults, but

has no effect on duration of symptoms." Prophylactic use means using it with the intention of

preventing disease.