Garlic – Allium sativum

Garlic

One that makes cheese-laden Texas toast taste twice as nice.
When baking a pizza it brings out the flavor
Providing a mouth watering feast to savor.

I have long enjoyed these meals that transformed my breath
Into something that is reminiscent of death,
But I never tried cooking with the spice myself.
Cloves of garlic never decorated my shelf.

By ‘Mike’

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One of the oldest known food medicines out there. It was known, used and loved by the ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, Jews, Greeks and Romans. Garlic is mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud. Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder, and Dioscorides all mention the use of garlic for a multitude of complaints.

Garlic has been used topically for the treatment of ringworm, Candida, and vaginitis. Daily use internally has been shown in studies to be beneficial to the heart, blood system, and lowering blood pressure. Studies suggest that in Spain and Italy, where heart disease is significantly lower, that the high consumption of garlic in the diet is responsible.

During the Middle Ages, when the Church was condemning women to burn as witches, and killing their cats as familiars, rats abounded in number, and with them their fleas. The fleas carried with them the Black Plague, which infected a multitude of people. But one group of thieves went house to house ransacking and stealing whatever they found with impunity. They were able to keep the plague at bay by using ‘the vinegar of the four thieves,’ whose main ingredient was garlic!

In magic Garlic is ruled by Mars, its element is Fire, and it is sacred to Hecate. Often used in magic spells, it has been thought to be powerful in protection workings for centuries. Place peeled cloves of garlic around the home and in doorways as protection from illness and evil from entering. This is especially needed in new homes! In both Muslim and Christian legend garlic springs up in the left footprint of the devil (in Christianity they add onions in the right footprint) as he left the Garden of Eden after mans fall from grace!

To read my former post…