What is Bawang or Garlic
Bawang, Herbal Medicine
Medical Uses of Bawang

Bawang or garlic, is a specie in the onion family Alliaceae. Bawang is a close relative of onion (sibuyas), the shallot, the leek and the chive. Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Garlic or Bawang is a low herb, growing to up to 2 feet high. Bawang or garlic is widely popular for its bulbs. Bawang bulbs are broadly ovoid, 2 to 4 cm in diameter, consisting of several cloves. Bawang leaves are linear and flat. Umbels are globose, many flowered. Sepas are oblong, greenish white, slightly tinged with purple.

Bawang or garlic has a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking. The cloves are used as seed, for consumption (raw or cooked), and for medicinal purposes. The leaves, stems (scape) and flowers (bulbils) on the head (spathe) are also edible and most often consumed while immature and still tender.

Garlic or bawang has been used as herbal medicine in many cultures for thousands of years, dating at least as far back as the time that the Egyptian pyramids were built. Garlic is claimed to help prevent heart disease including atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and cancer.

Bawang contains antibacterial compound known as Allicin, Because of this bawang or garlic is known as nature’s antibiotic. Bawang juice inhibits the growth of fungi and viruses thus prevents viral, yeast and viral infections. Preliminary test also shows some positive results in the treatment of AIDS.

The Philippine Department of Health has endorsed Bawang ) as an alternative herbal medicine for its anti bacterial properties and its efficacy for controlling hypertension, blood cholesterol and blood sugar for diabetics among others.

Ampalaya is used as herbal treatment for diabetes, HIV, coughs, skin diseases, sterility in women, parasiticide, antipyretic and as purgative among others.

Antiinfectious: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic. Bawang juice is applied to the afflicted area. Scientifically ajoene 0.4% cream when applied topically, has been found 70% effective in certain dermatologic fungal infections. A 0.6% gel was effective in tinea corporis and tinea cruris.

Antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity when included in diet.

Hypertension: Bawang when eaten or chewed raw. Studies suggest a beneficial antihypertensive effect but blood-lowering effects probably not dramatic. Other studies show a vascular benefit through improvement of aortic elasticity and possible slowing of the rate of atherosclerosis progression

Hyperlipidemia: Bawang eaten or chewed raw is found to lower blood cholesterol. Though still controversial, but probably has beneficial effect on serum cholesterol and LDL levels. Some studies have shown a 4% to 12% lowering of total cholesterol. It seems to have no effect on high density lipoprotein (HDL).

Anti-cancer: Bawang is studied to have possible anticarcinogenic properties, specifically for colon, stomach and prostate cancers. In stomach cancers, probably through its inhibitory effect on H. pylori. In epidemiologic studies on stomach and colorectal cancer prevention, the garlic use was 3.5 grams to 30 grams of fresh or cooked garlic per week.

Other folkloric uses that needs further studies for verification:

Arthritis, rheumatism, toothaches: Crush several cloves and rub on affected areas.

Headaches: Crush one clove and apply to both temples as poultice.

Insect bites: Crush garlic or cut clove crosswise and rub directly to affected area.

Athlete’s foot.Crush garlic or cut clove crosswise and rub directly to affected area.

Fever, Decoction of boiled leaves and bulbs set to luke warm and applied to the head and body.

Colds, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, asthma and bronchitis; Nasal congestion steam inhalation of chopped garlic and a teaspoon of vinegar in boiling water.

Fresh garlic has been used as a complement to INH therapy for tuberculosis.

Digestive problems and gastrointestinal spasms. drink an infusion of a peeled broild clove or can also be used as suppository.

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• Known adverse effects of garlic include halitosis (non-bacterial bad breath), indigestion, nausea, emesis and diarrhea.
• Garlic may interact with warfarin, antiplatelets, saquinavir, antihypertensives, calcium channel blockers, hypoglycemic drugs, as well as other medications. Consult a health professional before taking a garlic supplement or consuming excessive amounts of garlic.
• Garlic can thin the blood similar to the effect of aspirin.
• While culinary quantities are considered safe for consumption, very high quantities of garlic and garlic supplements have been linked with an increased risk of bleeding, particularly during pregnancy and after surgery and child birth. Some breastfeeding mothers have found their babies slow to feed and have noted a garlic odour coming from their baby when they have consumed garlic. The safety of garlic supplements had not been determined for children.
• The side effects of long-term garlic supplementation, if any exist, are largely unknown and no FDA-approved study has been performed. However, garlic has been consumed for several thousand years without any adverse long-term effects, suggesting that modest quantities of garlic pose, at worst, minimal risks to normal individuals. Possible side effects include gastrointestinal discomfort, sweating, dizziness, allergic reactions, bleeding, and menstrual irregularities.
• Some degree of liver toxicity has been demonstrated in rats, particularly in extremely large quantities exceeding those that a rat would consume under normal situations.^[53]
• There have been several reports of serious burns resulting from garlic being applied topically for various purposes, including naturopathic uses and acne treatment, so care must be taken to test a small area of skin using a very low concentration of garlic.^[54] On the basis of numerous reports of such burns, including burns to children, topical use of raw garlic, as well as insertion of raw garlic into body cavities is discouraged. In particular, topical application of raw garlic to young children is not advisable.^[55]
• Garlic and onions might be toxic to cats or dogs. If you wish to feed them to your pet, first use only one flake or a pinch.^[56]