Garlic is a common kitchen herb with many medicinal uses. It can help resolve colds, coughs, sore throat, and sinus infections. Externally it can be used for skin infections.
For chronic concerns, garlic helps reduce blood sugar and high blood pressure. It is also helpful to treat Malaria and boost immunity for AIDS. It is famous as a de-wormer. I remember my grandpa taking it powdered on everything.
The fresh garlic is the most potent to use medicinally, but I am just not one of those people who can handle a raw clove.
The first time I tried raw whole garlic was in Belize. One of the locals was taking it raw and suggested I try it. Too strong for me! I prefer mine chopped fine in small amounts, cooked, or made up into garlic honey.
It’s very simple to make garlic honey for medicinal or culinary use. Just chop up a whole garlic bulb: peel and chop the cloves. Chopping helps release Allicin — the most potent chemical ingredient in garlic.
Allicin is created when Allin reacts with the enzyme Allinase, which is activated when garlic is chopped or crushed. After your cloves are ready, put them in a clean pint jar. Cover with honey. I used raw wild flower honey.
It takes a long time for the honey to seep through all the chopped cloves, so pour slowly.
The next step is to cover and label and date your jar and put it up in a cupboard for 2-4 weeks. You can use the honey with or without the garlic at the end of this time. The shelf life of garlic honey is 3 months. You can take this honey by the spoonful or add it to tea if you have a cough, cold or sore throat.
I love making coleslaw dressing with garlic honey. You too can give it a try. Here’s what you need:
- 3 tablespoons of herbal vinegar of your choice
- 3 tablespoons of Virgin Olive or Coconut oil
- 2-3 tablespoons of garlic honey
- 1/4 teaspoon mustard seed
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seed
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Mix the above together and cover with 4 cups of shredded cabbage and 1 cup of shredded carrot. Toss and chill for 2 hours before serving.
Reference: Complete Health & Happiness; | Photos: Cory Trusty
