Garlic (Allium sativum) is a member of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), which also includes leeks, onions, and shallots. It is a perennial with an underground bulb (head) composed of pungent bulblets commonly called cloves.

Approximately 90 percent of the garlic grown in the United States is grown in California. California Early and California Late are the two major commercial varieties.

California Early has white skins and is planted in December for harvest in July and August. The largest garlic variety, Elephant Garlic, has a very mild-flavored clove and is a close relative of the leek.

The pungent flavor of garlic is caused by a chemical reaction that occurs when the garlic cells are broken. The flavor is most intense shortly after cutting or chopping. This chemical reaction cannot occur after garlic is cooked, which is why roasted garlic is sweet rather than pungent.

Regardless of its flavor potency, garlic is a low-acid vegetable. The pH of a clove of garlic typically ranges from 5.3 to 6.3. As with all low-acid vegetables, garlic will support the growth and subsequent toxin production of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum when given the right conditions. These conditions include improper home canning and improper preparation and storage of fresh herb and garlic-in-oil mixtures. Moisture, room temperature, lack of oxygen, and low-acid conditions all favor the growth of Clostridium botulinum. When growing, this bacterium produces an extremely potent toxin that causes the illness botulism. If untreated, death can result within a few days of consuming the toxic food.

Garlic Info Link

Aztec Use of Garlic

Garlic Properties:
Aperitif,
helps in digestion,
helps renal and liver functions,
stops the putrid fermentation in the intestines,
helps relieve constipation and improves urination,
helps in the formation of red blood cells and fights anemia,
it is a powerful disinfectant and microbicide,
improves circulation and avoids bronchial afflictions,
useful for diabetics,
rheumatics and hyperactives,
tones the lungs and cures asthma,
bronchopneumonia and apnea,
calms coughs and relieves diphtheria and whooping cough attacks,
also helps in the removal of intestinal parasites,
relieves neurological pains,
headaches,
insomnia,
hysteria and depression,
helps in removing scabies ,
arteriosclerosis,
gout,
varicose veins
Acts as a rubefacient that inhibits the venom in mosquito,
scorpion,
bee,
hornet and wasp stings.
Prevents tuberculosis and fevers and some people claim it is also good against malaria and rabies,
it regenerates the skin in case of light burns,
softens and removes calluses,
removes thirst and sour mouth.

Aztec's Methods of Use

The various properties of Garlic are much more efficient if eaten raw, since heat makes it lose its usefulness, nevertheless, if the garlic is undigested on certain occasions provokes disagreeable and odorous belching. To avoid this first crush 3 garlic cloves and swallow without chewing halfway thru meals, with the final result of not irritating the stomach lining and ease its way to the intestines. Other forms of eating garlic are in salads, boiled in milk or combined in water, lemon juice in tincture ect.

To Stimulate the Appetite and Digestion:  Grind 3 Garlic cloves with a little water and eat raw, before or during meals.

For Anemia: Prepare a salad with radish, lettuce, tomato and raw crushed Garlic, add a little oil and salt to taste.

To Improve Blood Circulation:  Eat 2 to 3 crushed Garlic cloves before breakfast.

To Lower Arterial Blood Pressure in Persons with Hypertension:   Mince well 1 clove of Garlic and swallow with water for several days.

In Cases of Asthma, Difficulty in Breathing, Cough, Whooping cough, Diphtheria and Bronchial afflictions:   Boil in 1/2 liter of water, 8 Garlic cloves, peeled and crushed, add a little bit of oregano, strain then add 2 spoonfuls of bee honey and from this take 1 teaspoonful once an hour until better avoiding any and all cold drinks or food.

For the same symptoms but to get better faster you can also do this:   Boil in 1/2 liter of milk, 1/2 a head of Garlic and 2 carrots, sweeten to taste with bee honey and take 1 warm glass of the remedy before bedtime.

To Rid the Body of Intestinal Parasites:  Mince a head of Garlic, heat in 1/4 liter of milk, Do Not Boil! Let stand for 3 to 4 hours, strain and drink before breakfast or on an empty stomach for 9 to 10 days in which case the parasites will be gone.

To Cure the Welt that Appears Around the Neck Area Especially in Summer:   Take a clove of Garlic, cut in half and rub vigorously on the affected area, after approximately 3 hours add a little bit of lemon juice to the affected area 3 times a day and continue to follow the remedy until the welt is gone.

For Rheumatism:  Take 2 Garlic cloves, open in half, and rub vigorously on the painful area until the Garlic juice appears. Do this same treatment several times a day avoiding water(as in baths) or cold environments.

For Mosquito, Scorpion, Bee, Hornet and Wasp stings:   Crush 1 garlic clove and apply the remedy on the affected area while gently rubbing it in. The Pain Will Stop!

For Malaria:   Take 3 whole Garlic cloves and a glass of milk each morning.

For Fevers:   Boil 1/2 kilo of Garlic in liter of water then mix in 1/2 kilo of sugar, let stand, strain, then drink one spoonful before each meal.

For Rabies:  Drink several times a day the infusion made with 100 grams of Garlic cut into little pieces to 1/2 liter of water, let sit for 1 day, wring and sweeten to taste with sugar or bee honey.

For Mild Burns:   Take 3 or 4 Garlic cloves, crush, mix with oil(cooking oil)and apply to the burn.

For Calluses:   Make a paste of Garlic and honey, apply to the callus for several days, the callus will soften then disappear. To Remove Thirst Instantly:   Take a head of Garlic, blend in 1 liter of water and drink as a regular daily drink whenever thirsty.

To Remove that Certain Bad Breath almost Everyone Has in the Morning:   Take 1 raw Garlic clove, crush, strain into a glass of water with the juice of 2 lemons and kiss your bad breath away.

For Athletes Foot:   Dust feet with Garlic powder and wear clean socks all the time.

There are other methods to take advantage of Garlic’s curative properties, "Garlic Tincture" which is prepared the following way: Crush 2 Garlic heads and macerate in 250 grams of pure alcohol until the tincture is formed. Next is the description of the therapeutic effects from the use of this tincture(condensed excerpt from Dr. Helle of Berlin Germany).

1. 20 drops of Garlic tincture to 1/2 glass of water will attack uric acid which in turn relieves pain from arthritis, rheumatism and sciatic Gout.
2. 20 drops of said tincture to 1/2 glass of water benefits the digestive apparatus relieving constipation and strain to the bowels.
3. 20 drops of the tincture in 1/2 glass of water will in a short while relieve hypertension.
4. 20 drops of the tincture in 1/2 glass of water will stimulate the hepatic(liver) function.
5. 20 drops of the tincture in 1/2 glass of water will relieve the palpitations, difficulty in breathing and the anguish most cardiac patients suffer.
6. 20 drops of the tincture in 1/2 glass of water aleves continuous fatigue, neurology’s, headaches, insomnia, hysteria, depression and muscular rigidity.
7. 20 drops of the tincture in 1/2 glass of water cures varicose veins and hemorrhoids.