Garlic essential oil has a strong almost unpleasant smell similar to garlic itself. Its unpleasant smell means it is not often used in aromatherapy, however it is a very effective decongestant and antiseptic and of immense value in treating catarrh, sinusitis and bronchitis (especially chronic bronchitis). Its antiseptic, bactericidal and detoxifying properties also make Garlic essential oil very effective in treating acne.
- Latin Name
- Allium Sativum
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae or Liliaceae
- Note
- Base
- Extraction
- Essential oil by steam distillation from the freashly crushed bulbs.
- Constituents
- Allicin, allylpropyl disulphide, diallyl disulphide, diallyl trisulphide, citral, geraniol, linalol, phellandrene among others.
- Origin
- Mexico
This perennial herb can grow up to 1.2 metres in height and is a species in the onion family. It has long flat leaves with white flowering stems. A bulb of garlic, the most commonly used part of the plant, is divided into numerous fleshy sections called cloves that are pressed together within a thin white skin.
History
Has been used for thousands of years for its medical virtues in the East and West for respiratory and urinary tract infections, digestive disorders, skin eruptions etc. The Chinese used it for diarrhoea, dysentery, tuberclosis, diphtheria, hepatitis among many other things. It was also used in the Frist World War on wounds to prevent gangrene.
