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8.19.21

how to eat Raw Garlic For Immunity

Most of us love a little roasted garlic in a good recipe, but taking a few cloves straight — and raw? A whole different story!

During cold and flu season, one popular folk remedy is to eat a spoonful of raw, chopped garlic cloves — or even to gnaw right on a fresh clove. If a clove of raw garlic could knock out your cold – would you or wouldn’t you? Check the comment section and see just how many readers are huge fans of putting this immunity remedy to use!

Rosemary Gladstar is the queen of fire cider — another super-garlicy way to boost the family’s immunity year-round. Get her book Fire Cider!: 101 Zesty Recipes for Health-Boosting Remedies Made with Apple Cider Vinegar and try a few batches at home!

Garlic 101: Garlic is a powerful antioxidant with antimicrobial, antiviral and antibiotic properties. For colds and flus, it also provides decongestant and expectorant effects. While none of it’s components have been isolated by science as the sole explanation for the herb’s flu-busting effects, vitamin C, a slew of enzymes, and minerals such as sulphur and selenium definitely play a role.

Crushing fresh garlic – whether through chopping and letting minced garlic rest, or by chomping down on a clove with your own teeth – causes a chemical reaction that releases allicin. Allicin is a powerful antibacterial only present shortly after garlic is crushed and before it is heated! Eating fresh garlic in this state is purported to knock out that terrible feeling associated with the onset of a cold or flu. Some experts even recommend eating a clove or two every 3 to 4 hours until the bug is entirely knocked out!

There are two methods we find most often recommended:

for the brave: This old-fashioned remedy is as potent as it gets: pop a whole clove and munch away. Definitely not for the faint of heart. May we suggest that folks with sensitive stomachs not try this method on an empty stomach.

One variation to this simple method is especially helpful for sore throats: take just a slice of the clove and suck on it for 15 minutes, letting the juices work their magic on any pain — powerful and effective.

Garlic With Training Wheels: The other more palatable method is to crush up to two cloves and let the minced garlic rest for about 15 minutes, letting the garlic’s enzymes activate. Add honey (also healing) or a touch of olive oil (some say it neutralizes the smell) to the minced garlic and top a small slice of bread or cracker with the mix.

Some members of our staff swear by this effective (if not anti-social) method. Have you tried it? We want to know what you think and hear your tips in comments for getting the most out of this powerful remedy!

How To Use Raw Garlic For Immunity, According To Our Readers

A few things are clear. One, this home remedy can definitely be effective at fighting off a cold. Two, because it’s so effective, people have created some very clever ways to turn chomping on raw garlic into the most pleasant experience possible. The struggle is real, but worth it.

Crushing fresh garlic – whether through chopping and letting minced garlic rest, or by chomping down on a clove with your own teeth – causes a chemical reaction that releases allicin. Allicin is a powerful antibacterial only present shortly after garlic is crushed and before it is heated! Eating fresh garlic in this state is purported to knock out that terrible feeling associated with the onset of a cold or flu. Some experts even recommend eating a clove or two every 3 to 4 hours until the bug is entirely knocked out!

We’re always impressed when our readers lay down knowledge like they do in the comment section of this OG story.

Have you tried raw garlic for a cold yet? If not, these comments could convert you…

I made special “immunity” honey with raw honey, lemon slices, fresh ginger and lots of garlic. Put it in your tea or your oatmeal!

I love a clove sliced very thin and placed between two apple slices! Works like a charm.

Chop it small enough to swallow it and take it like a tablet with water. A small clove can just be crushed a little, then swallow it down. Your breath is not affected, but the garlic still does its thing.

I found the best way to take the garlic is finely chopped in a spoon of apple sauce. You can’t taste it at all this way and I never get garlic breath!

I put the garlic inside a date. I was once on tour as a sound engineer and was so sick I couldn’t walk. I ate a couple cloves of garlic and within minutes was good to go. 

I crush up 3 cloves and mix with avocado (zinc). It helps mask the taste but gets the garlic right into your system… with the added benefits of avocado!

I cut a clove in half and put one half in each cheek. I suck on em for a few minutes then crush the halves between my molars and let the juices drip to the back of my throat. 

I used to eat a clove or three at the first sign of a cold. Chopped or mashed into a paste (a little salt helps). Let it sit for a few minutes then spread on bread.

My method involves cutting up two garlic cloves (finely chopped) leave it 15-20 minutes to let the allicin release, this is a compound found in garlic that is released once it has been chopped or crushed. I then put the chopped garlic into a small glass with vitamin C powder and fill with a little water. The garlic rises to the top of the glass, then drink or down pretending its a shot!

Cut the garlic. Let it soak in water for 10 mins and then add hot water, lemon and honey. Good tea.

I can attest to the cloves with honey/olive oil working well. I also take it with some pieces of ginger and ground cinnamon as well. The anti-inflammatory properties have a wonderful effect.

I make gluten-free toast, buttered and minced fresh garlic on top. The butter helps soften the bite of the garlic. 

I mix a clove with kale, shallots and dried cranberries (along with a homemade dressing of white vinegar, olive oil and a dash of orange juice). I eat it every time I get a cold or sinus infection and I feel better afterward! 

Stuffed a clove in large olives. Love them, two per day keeps the doctor away. Double up while traveling.

I prefer to chew a clove slowly – keeping it in my cheek and gently chomping until it’s all gone. Yes, it’s pretty hot but no more unpleasant than a sore throat or nasty chest bug.

Have you tried this remedy for cold and flu? How did it work? Do you have any tips for taking it? Tell us all the things in the comments below!

The Chalkboard Mag and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 
All material on The Chalkboard Mag is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs. 

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Comments


  1. I made special “immunity” honey with raw honey, lemon slices, fresh ginger and garlic. Put it in your tea or your oatmeal!

    Caroline | 09.27.2012 | Reply
  2. I love a clove of garlic, sliced very thin and place between two apple slices! Works like a charm.

    Melissa | 09.27.2012 | Reply
  3. Great ideas! Garlic can be tricky…

    The Chalkboard Team | 09.27.2012 | Reply
  4. A roommate instructed me: clove of garlic + spoonful of honey. Down the hatch.
    Do we really need to chew the thing?
    I’ll also do a few spoonfuls of apple cider vinegar.

    MoBeta | 09.28.2012 | Reply
    • Yes, you do need to chew it, if not chop it. That’s what activates the good properties it has. Read up on it!
      And yes, it really works! I’ve had a bit of nausea from lots of garlic, when trying to ward off a cold, or
      fight a cold I just picked up, but 1/2 hr. of nausea is better than being sick for 7 days or more. But that’s me.

    • I’m speaking from experience, you do not need to chew them! Why torture yourself? Just chop up the clove in pieces small enough to swallow, and swallow a piece every 10 mins or so. No need to swallow whole cloves either. Geez, you’ll gag on it !

      Jojo | 01.12.2018 | Reply
      • last yr i was hammered with sinusitis for eight months. all the Rx’s, steroid sprays, and saline rinses did absolutely NOTHING and my doctors orders failed miserably, not to mention drained my wallet. i was told about consuming a Chinese Soup Spoon filled with 1/2 crushed garlic and 1/2 Raw honey for three days straight. lo & behold it worked!! Ffwd one year and here we go again. gonna try this time by swallowing a whole raw clove per day. easy ’nuff to do considering my multivitamins aren’t much different in size! i feel sorry for momma since she said last time she couldn’t be around me… Peeeewwww!

        GarlicMonger | 04.14.2018 | Reply
  5. I have toast with slices of tomato and finely chopped garlic.

    Miriam | 09.28.2012 | Reply
  6. P.S.
    The “toast” would be non-wheat or sprouted crackers.

    Miriam | 09.28.2012 | Reply
  7. Chopped and swallowed like pills. It ain’t bad!

    Michelle @ Find Your Balance | 10.02.2012 | Reply
    • thanks bro, that is the best.. cut a clove of garlic into two and take it like a painkiller with half glass of water

      angel lazarus | 01.23.2014 | Reply
      • This was so helpful! My 11 year old and I chewed it the first time…torture. I cut it up to pill size the 2nd time and we both agree it was completely bearable. Thanks!

        Trish | 03.10.2014 | Reply
        • So glad you found a way that worked for you both, Trish!

          The Chalkboard | 03.11.2014
  8. I caught a cold after a 12 hour flight from tel aviv to JFK.
    I the had to jump right to work, with little rest. The second day I worked for 15 hours more or less straight (it was miserable). Due to various factors I couldn’t get to bed before midnight the past week.

    I took 1-2 cloves of minced garlic with a spoon of honey per day for 6 days, and after two days I felt the bodily pain, lack of focus, and runny nose begin to vanish.
    Way amazes me, is that the garlic basically mingle handedly got me back on my feet, even though I was getting little sleep, and couldn’t adord to take time off work.

  9. I just watched my friend eat two big fat cloves with nothing else just a bit of pepsi to chase it down.
    I was amazed, you could not get me to do that.

    Christine | 03.07.2013 | Reply
    • Chasing something so healthy with a cancer causing beverage seems a little counter-productive no? haha!

      Athena | 11.14.2013 | Reply
      • It’s really irresponsible and borderline offensive to claim that something causes cancer when there is no scientific proof — reign in your emotions. It may contain heaps of sugar, caffeine which should be taken in moderation as well as a number of other harmful additives, but none of these will according to science cause you cancer. Thanks.

        Daniel | 01.01.2015 | Reply
        • It may contain heaps of sugar, caffeine which should be taken in moderation as well as a number of other harmful additives, but none of these will according to science cause you cancer. ….

          Maybe not according to science but definitely according to common sense. Please tell me you work for Pepsi or own major shares In The company!!??

          Heather | 03.24.2015
        • Coke kills from the sugar alone. Do your research!!!

          Nnnnnn | 09.11.2015
      • How’d you screw this up? You could have said pepsi causes ulcers, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure or obesity and you would have been right. But cancer? Really? Something so easy to take shots at and you pick one of the things it doesn’t cause.

        Adica Gears | 04.04.2015 | Reply
        • Pepsi and other sodas contain known carcinogens. Stupid people lol

          Daniel | 05.19.2015
        • The sweetener Aspartame, which is in diet cola could be linked to cancer.

          ALEX CARTER | 02.11.2018
        • Exactly! My mom is 95 yrs young, still golfs 2x/day & drinks pepsi every week…& has never been in the hospital for anything…(no cancer)! Eats lots of Garlic!!

      • “potential carcinogen”

        Skye | 01.03.2016 | Reply
      • Moderation Ken…Cola does NOT cause Cancer…

        Lynlyn | 02.12.2018 | Reply
    • You aint no man in my book unless you have some cancer in your diet

      Dylan The Man | 01.06.2016 | Reply
  10. I had a cold for 2 weeks. For the last 3 days I have eaten 1-3 bulbs of garlic a day- about a clove or 2 every hour for three days. Worst cold ever is gone!!!

    Bear | 03.08.2013 | Reply
    • Meant to say 1-3 bulbs a day. A few cloves each hour. I pop them straight. Chew them. Scream in pain. Cry like a baby. Then repeated this torture each hour. It was worth it, though I have had to spend a lot of minty gum. Lol

      Bear | 03.08.2013 | Reply
      • I love these posts thank you all for sharing..especially the one where you take a couple cloves each hr…scream & cry in torture then do it again. This was very funny & sounds like me. 🙂 I just had 2 cloves minced up, plus 2tbsp of organic raw apple cider vinegar, 2 tbsp of honey and 1 whole lemon …heat up and sip it all down. Plus I poured peroxide in my ears for 5 mins each side to kill bacteria.

    • Glad it’s gone! It’s an intense remedy, but well worth it!

      The Chalkboard | 03.11.2013 | Reply
      • Oh, yes, please don’t eat on an empty stomach! PS: A garlic slice applied to the gum by a tooth that aches is very effective and gets rid of the infection without antibiotics (tho see dentist anyway because the tooth may need to be removed.)

        gerri stratton | 03.03.2014 | Reply
      • 3I’m dorry. Cd have written that all in one post. Just have to fo a heads up … the slice of raw g. is going to sting a lot but keep applying it on & off for awhile (15 min to half hour) and you will be AMAZED with the lack if tooth pain … that can get pretty bad so do the garlic thing before it gets so bad.

        gerri stratton | 03.03.2014 | Reply
      • I would imagine that the chomping with one’s mouth open would aid in releasing the beneficial chemicals into the nasopharyngeal area where colds and sinus infections begin their stronghold. Breathing in through the mouth and out through the nose while holding the chomped garlic on your tongue would also help in putting the goodness where it’s needed!

        Also, after a few hours of blowing your nose, run a cut piece of garlic around your nostrils (if you can handle it!) to keep on top of those cracks, it helps to prevent infection.

        Cassandra Brown | 03.04.2014 | Reply
  11. I just had a couple of cloves, minced, and placed on top of tomatoes with a little cheese, basil, olive oil and balsamic. Yep, made a caprese salad for my garlic intake. I just felt the cold symptoms start this morning. Will eat again tomorrow!

    Jessica | 03.19.2013 | Reply
  12. I smash garlic cloves and put them next to the kids beds when they seem to be getting sick (we eat enough garlic in our food ) seems to work, go figure. Along with warm water with fresh lemon and honey and chicken soup made from stock from the leftover BBQ chicken. All good, they never get really sick.

    Kelly | 03.24.2013 | Reply
  13. I chop up garlic finely, and swallow it with a spoonful of yogurt. It definitely helps with disguising the strong flavor.

    alyssa | 04.17.2013 | Reply
  14. We do a pressed and rested garlic clove in 8 oz of broth every hour for at Lear 8 hours of the day (or as long as we’re awake, if the sickness demands napping). That plus fresh oranges seems to help immensely.

    Michaela | 05.02.2013 | Reply
  15. You don’t chew it for Pete’s sake!

    Just chop it small enough to swallow it, and take it like a tablet with water. A small clove can just be crushed a little, then swallow it down. Your breath is not affected, but the garlic still does its thing.

  16. Just wanted to pass it on…my husband has always had us eat a clove a garlic every 4 hours (I chop it up and chase it with water). If taken at that first hint of a sore throat, it seems to knock it out every time. In addition, my mother in law raised horses for years and several years back 2 of her mares were diagnosed with west nile virus. Vet said there really wasnt anything he could do. She gave them chopped garlic every four hours for several weeks and when the vet came back to check, there was no sign of W. N. virus in their blood. I’d like to chalk it up to the garlic. Wonderful stuff no matter which method you use as long as its raw!!

    Adrianne | 05.10.2013 | Reply
  17. I had a really bad sinus infection and I read online about garlic. I took a half of a clove of Elephant garlic twice a day for two days and felt 1000 times better.

    Erik | 05.16.2013 | Reply
  18. The first day I minced it and rolled it up in a piece of bread and swallowed like a horse pill. The next day I cut it into Advil sized pieces.

    Erik | 05.16.2013 | Reply
  19. Garlic is perfect for colds. I have 5 children, agaes 7 – 15 yrs, they all love garlic they love to eat it raw, I started the garlic treatment after I noticed a few people getting a cold in our neighbour hood, needless to say none of my children got sick with the spring cold virus that was going around.

    cyndi | 05.27.2013 | Reply
  20. Garlic really helped me this flu episode last week….apple cider vinegar too. But I Love grape fruit extract!! I am a new believer of GFSE…nasty flu like symptoms prompted me to investigate and I found mold in the house. MOLD! Not only did GFSE help with tea tree oil in a spray bottle to clean the mold and clean the air in the house, I used GFSE orally and so far seems to have helped! Love this stuff!! My wife thinks I am nutz…sigh

    John | 05.27.2013 | Reply
  21. I found the best way to take the garlic is finely chopped in a spoon of apple sauce. You can’t taste it at all this way and I never get garlic breath!

    Katie | 09.23.2013 | Reply
  22. The best possible way is to crush 4-5 cloves of garlic, get some V-8 juice and eat the garlic with a shot of V-8 and the taste is neutralized. make sure you have enough V-8 for each clove, if the taste is too strong add a little more V-8 in your mouth. And its never too late to eat the garlic even if its your first day sick it will cut the time sick down by half or even by the next day!

    Clayton | 09.23.2013 | Reply
  23. i chase it with a shot of oj or a few slices of fruit. It burns at first but the pain disappears as soon as you eat something sweet. I find this only really works for me if I take it at the first sign of a cold, like when i’m tired for no reason and maybe have a wee bit of itch in the back of my throat.
    I totally just chomped on a garlic clove because I was on a million buses and trains yesterday. I’m not taking any chances!

    Olivia Lane | 09.26.2013 | Reply
  24. Started feeling a cold coming on yesterday and have been swallowing crushed garlic cloves in yoghurt every few hours. Day two and still feeling a little woozy, but have a feeling I’ll be tip-top tomorrow. Not like the times when I’d be in bed for a week, fever and all, feeling like death itself.

  25. I have been using this method for years. I was once on tour (as a sound engineer) and was so sick I couldn’t walk. I ate a couple cloves of garlic and within 5 minutes I was good to go and rock the show. It is my goto and to make it more appetizing I will put the garlic inside a date.

  26. Started getting cold symptoms yesterday, this morning was dizzy, exhausted, sore throat, stuffed up, etc… just ate some fresh, raw garlic sliced on top of cheese and crackers for lunch. I’m already feeling 75% better! Will be making this a daily snack. 🙂

    Adrienne | 11.21.2013 | Reply
  27. My Dad told me to chew garlic the moment i feel cold symptoms and today I’ve had a runny nose most of the fast and felt an itch in my throat so i just did it… Omg it burns so bad but if it works, it will be worth it!

    Angie | 11.24.2013 | Reply
    • Let us know if it works, Angie – and feel better!

      The Chalkboard | 11.25.2013 | Reply
  28. And by”fast” i meant “day”

    Angie | 11.24.2013 | Reply
  29. I started getting sick Monday night. All I had was zinc, so I started with that. The next day I started eating cloves of garlic on a bit of toasted bread. I also kept taking the zinc, took vitamin c and d3, and started in on echinacea. It’s now Thursday and I’m almost completely better. I feel that I would be, if I had started all of those things immediately though! Love this stuff!

    Chelene Morley | 12.05.2013 | Reply
  30. I crush up 2-3 garlic cloves and mix it with an avocado (zinc). It helps mask the taste, but gets the garlic right into your system..with the added benefit of the avocado!

    Katie W | 12.10.2013 | Reply
  31. I’ve knocked out conjunctivitis as well as colds and sore throats with raw garlic. I get a big glass of water, mince 1 to 6 cloves (depending on the size of the clove and if I’m trying to prevent getting sick or wipe out a cold that has taken hold), let it sit for 10-15 minutes – take a drink of water, then swallow the minced garlic and then another drink of water and kind of ‘slosh’ it down. I don’t do it on an empty stomach – it makes me woozy. I like to have a banana to eat before and after. I’ve tried the honey and it ruins honey for me ;-). I like the yogurt idea… The other way to do is chop it up and put it in a dressing and put it on a salad… that disguises it pretty well. I “preach the garlic” to all and everyone all the time… I keep mints and chew gum when I’m taking it regularly. And no, the jar of chopped garlic doesn’t do it. 🙂

    Hav2sing | 12.20.2013 | Reply
  32. I felt a sore throat coming on which is usually the onset of a cold for me. I heard that garlic would help lessen the duration, so I took a clove of garlic and chewed it until it was emulsified in my mouth letting the juice run down my throat. It was radical, but I’m hoping it will work. All the testimonials here are encouraging. I’m planning to do it every 4 hours as I am a caterer and have to work a New Year’s Eve party in 3 days. Happy and healthy new year to each and all!

    Jeannie | 12.28.2013 | Reply
    • We hope you are feeling better, Jeannie – let us know if the garlic helped!

      The Chalkboard | 12.30.2013 | Reply
  33. Mom’s secret, garlic and honey.

    kawthar | 12.31.2013 | Reply
  34. I like the stinging bc I just picture it killing the buggies

    Amanda | 12.31.2013 | Reply
  35. I crush one or two cloves into mashed avocado and spread on a whole grain toast with a pinch of salt and eat quickly. Delicious and doesn’t bother my stomach.

  36. I’m 29 and I have been eating a raw clove of garlic every night for the past 5 years. Since I have done this, I have not had a single cold or virus. I swear by it and I preach it to all of my friends and employees but no one wants to take my advice. I literally watch everyone I work with every year come in sniffling and sneezing and they all pass around colds and flu to one another and I’ve never been phased. For anyone concerned with the smell, if you eat a clove raw daily like I do, your body adjusts and there is no smell past brushing your teeth and mouthwash (Same as you would for any other food). But there is no body odor.. No gas. You would never know I do this every night. I will do this ritual forever. To this day I drink it with a glass of water and accompany it with eating a raw avacado (my fave choice) or with se cheese. But any way you find that works for you is key. I swear by this. I’ve tried many many quirky things n my life for health & this is the only one I’ve always kept. I’ve just physically see what it does for me time again. I love it. There’s no reason not to add it to your diet.

    Jaeby | 01.06.2014 | Reply
    • I’ve felt this work at times but other times it doesn’t seem to work. I think my problem is I’m doing things that counter the positive effects. For example for a while I think I was using too much butter trying to mask the taste and maybe too much olive oil or something. Other times I think it was because I was eating it too late at night along with dinner or alone or something. Still other times if I didn’t include other supplements I normally take that would seem to have an effect too. So I know you don’t me and my lifestyle but do you think maybe I should up my intake to a bulb a day or whatever my body can handle for a couple weeks or so at least because I’m dealing with something worse than the flu? I just want to get rid of this thing as quickly as possible and I’m not sure the 3-4 cloves a day I’ve been taking will be enough. Thanks for any advice.

      Hysed777 | 05.21.2016 | Reply
  37. i just make a small batch of salsa with a clove of garlic ,slice or green pepper , whole or half tomato and 2 slices of white onion. eat with chips and wash down with ice water which also helps sore throat

  38. Last week I was working in a dustier then usual area at work. And even though I had a mask on, still felt the familiar twinge of a sinus infection taking hold. I started taking 3 garlic cloves a day. One in the morning, one before work (I work afternoon shift) and one at night. I chop it up fairly fine, let it sit about 10 minutes and down it with a glass of water with 2 tsp of Braggs natural Apple cider vinegar. Still feel a little bit but I’m 100% better then I was a few days ago. I think once I feel better I’m going to cut back to 2 cloves a day. Love that garlic is also so inexpensive! Hoping the garlic/acv combo will also help me loose some weight.

    Jean | 01.16.2014 | Reply
  39. I’ve been eating pickled garlic for years, ever since the old Olive Oil seller at the farmer’s market convinced me it would make me live forever. I always take a couple cloves at the first twinge of a cold and then ever 4 hours or so after until it’s gone. I eat a lot of garlic in general- but I wonder, if it’s pickled, is it still considered raw? It’s really a tasty treat pickled. I love it.

    Wendy | 01.31.2014 | Reply
  40. I’m still a little sick but I think the raw garlic thing didnt work as well this time because i cut them to pre peel them which caused all of the good asillin compound to air out. I noticed the garlic not stinking/stinging so much, unfortunately thats the ticket. If its not highly pungent and freshly peeled then its not as effective.

  41. I just ate a garlic clove because I have the worst cold ever but I do have a question…why did my stomach hurt after I ate it and also I breastfeed my one year old..will it affect her in any way? Anyone please help me…

    tania | 02.10.2014 | Reply
  42. Been having the flu on & off for the past few weeks, sore throat, stuffy nose, headaches etc… Last night chewed a clove of garlic and today for the whole day been having a runny nose. Is this a sign of the cold coming out or could it be that I’m allergic to garlic?? Would appreciate your help/comments.

    Costas | 02.11.2014 | Reply
    • Hi Costas, this is probably a symptom of the flu you’ve been having. Good news if the mucous is starting to move its way out!

      The Chalkboard | 02.11.2014 | Reply
  43. My dad would swallow a small clove of garlic whenever he’d get a cold. My husband is now doing so as well. But, somehow, even though I know it works, I can’t seem to do it. BTW, once my husband starts to sweat, the garlic gives him a whole new stink. UGH!

    Fabiola | 02.27.2014 | Reply
  44. I came down with a cold yesterday after flying. I made Lebanese garlic sauce with canola oil and lemon juice. That has a ton of raw garlic. Hope the canola oil won’t change the garlic’s ability to do what it’s supposed to do! I just ate it with some blue tortilla chips.

    Peggy | 03.04.2014 | Reply
  45. I really like the taste of garlic, *weird*. Can chew up a glove no problem =)

    Mike | 03.05.2014 | Reply
  46. I really like the taste of garlic, *weird*. Just pop in a garlic clove with a cayenne pepper and you’re set =)

    Mike | 03.05.2014 | Reply
  47. I don’t mind chewing the garlic too much. I usually crunch down and store it under my tongue and move it around my gums with each slight bite. It seems to work immediately with the onset of a cold as far as sinus or sore throat issues are concerned. This does need repeated frequently to offset the symptoms. I believe this works twofold….issues are occurring in the throat and nose so it’s close proximity and I’ve heard that holding meds, such as garlic, in the mouth make this a more direct route to the bloodstream. Sometimes it’s too stingy to bare and I can’t hold it any longer, but usually when it comes to illnesses I’m far more of a wuss about dealing with chronic cold symptoms over a brief torture session. Just the way I handle things I guess.

    Susan | 03.06.2014 | Reply
  48. As a person who is into the homeopathic and naturopathic ways of treating illnesses (interest only. I am not a doctor), I am a firm believer in the healing properties of garlic. I eat raw garlic as often as I can, more so when I have been ill. I fell ill with a stomach bug a few years ago and I did not have any appetite. The only thing that I could really bring myself to eat was yogurt. I ate some raw garlic and I felt the the nausea instantly go away. I also ate raw garlic when I had a head cold. Eating raw garlic has helped me to recover faster from illnesses.

    Callie | 03.14.2014 | Reply
  49. Eating raw garlic is no joke .but it does work and it very cheap, easy to raise, i fine it’s helps with a lots of other things that may have attacked of body
    have a very blessed day .
    Evang. Myhand.

    Evang. Jessie M. Mhyhamd | 03.16.2014 | Reply
  50. Had a cold so bad I ended up on my in pain reached for my phone and found this site you saved me.

    Cameron Spencer | 03.20.2014 | Reply
  51. I am having running nose from last 4 years , tried a lot but have no result than i swallow two garlic a day and it works i am having a clear nose with in seven days,thanks god for garlic.

    Manas | 04.03.2014 | Reply
  52. after reading all the comments from this site, it convinced me to crush 2 cloves of garlic and swallow it raw. I have runny nose and “mucus-y” throat and I don’t want to take any meds yet. When i put the garlic in my mouth, it was like my throat started to close and I can’t seem to swallow it. I tried to rinse it down with water but I coughed, some of the garlic still remained in mouth and tiny bits of it passed through my nasal passage. I felt instant relief when it got to my nose. After I swallowed it, I got nauseous but I saved my effort by taking teasepoonful of sugar Only after 15 minutes I feel a whole lot better! I plan to do this again after 4 hours. Therefore, “hey throat! get used to it!”

    • Cut them into tiny pieces and swallow like a pill.

      Felicia | 10.30.2015 | Reply
  53. I love the taste of garlic and I am well-known for it at home. I regularly use garlic powder during meals and it burns but I’m sure that it doesn’t have the same health benefits as raw garlic. Anyway, I had only slept a total of about 8 hours this past weekend (4hr friday+saturday night) because I very busy catching up and drinking with friends. Well I woke up with a terrible sore throat on Sunday morning and seem to have come down with one of the fastest progressing and most aggressively painful colds. I wanted raw garlic yesterday but I finally picked some up today. I peeled it a clove and straight into my mouth.. I very slowly worked away at it (approx 2 hours) with my teeth to keep a constant burn going while intermittently breathing-in deeply through my mouth and out of my nose. Boy did it have a strong positive effect: my nose is no longer stuffy (this was remedied quickly) and my throat pain is almost unnoticeable. I will eat another clove before bed and see if I can finally get some sleep tonight since Sunday night I was unable to sleep as I felt close to death.

    Adam | 04.07.2014 | Reply
  54. I couldn’t take OTC products while pregnant, at least ones that would “work”, and I had one of the worst ear and sinus infections I’d ever had (I really wanted to avoid anti-biotics too). I heard about crushed garlic, so I did some buttered toast with crushed garlic (three times per day). Worked like a charm, in three days my sinus infection was almost gone.

    Hannah | 05.07.2014 | Reply
  55. I have a bad sore throat I at 1 clover and now I feel better That’s really help, it’s better than raw onion.

    abodora | 05.23.2014 | Reply
  56. What works best for me is cutting a clove in half and putting one half in each cheek. I suck on em for a few minutes then crush (don’t totally chew up!) the halves between my molars and let the juices drip to the back of my throat. I’ve tried a few methods and this one definitely works the best for me, although not for the faint of heart (or stomach)!

  57. Hi all, I felt the cold/flu symptoms coming on and got crushed raw garlic and ate it with my meal. The next day all symptoms were gone …… Excellent I recommend it!!!!

    DaPaul | 05.30.2014 | Reply
    • Love the testimonial, DaPaul. Glad to hear you’re feeling better!

      The Chalkboard | 05.30.2014 | Reply
  58. Went to bed with a 101 fever, weak body, watery eyes, headache, sneezing….woke up feeling like I could head to the gym! I feel completely restored!

  59. I chopped a Poo full a.d waited 10 minutes and swallowed piece by piece with orange juice! It knocked out my fever from night til morning!

  60. I have a daily habit of eating raw garlic whether I’m feeling sick or not. What I do is chop it up, sometimes letting it sit for about 10 minutes, sometimes I eat it right then. I chop up 3 cloves and eat them with a spoon of peanut butter. Believe it or not, the two flavors go well together and I actually enjoy it. My roommate has been fighting a sinus infection for nearly a week. I started having a sinus infection too a couple days ago, but I’m already getting better and she is still fighting the infection. She has a lot of lung congestion. I have no lung congestion. I am convinced this is due to the raw garlic I eat.

    Stacy | 07.03.2014 | Reply
  61. I eat 4-5 cloves of garlic a day diced or mashed, let sit in air for a few minutes, put between 4 thin slices of apple and presto! Two sandwiches. I love the taste of garlic and I don’t feel the burn since I drink a teaspoon of cayenne with ginger slices plus a dash of lemon juice in hot water every morning in place of coffee. Great energy drink and shall I say, quite spicy to the newcomer, just start slow. Can’t go wrong with garlic and you will grow to love the taste, trust me.

    George | 07.26.2014 | Reply
  62. I use raw garlic when I start getting a cold. What I do is minceup a couple of clove and put a pair of socks on after putting the garlic on the souls of my feet.? Within 5 minutes its on my breath. Its fantastic. Halves colds and gets rid of other chest infections.

    catherine | 08.12.2014 | Reply
  63. IT REALLY WORKS!!!!! I gotten the flu from one of my family members who passed it to everyone else and finally I passed it to my husband. We ate a clover of fresh garlic every other hour and within a couple hours we were feeling like nothing ever happened. I know what’s my go to cure for the winter season.

  64. Had a nasty cold start last night with bad sinus pressure (ears and teeth aching). Just finished my second clove. Will see what happens…

    Annie | 09.13.2014 | Reply
  65. I can definitely vouch for garlic effectiveness. Works better than any over the counter medicine without subscription. Albeit the anti social part is true as well D:. So i only resolve to it when i am either really sick or need to get better really quick.

    Kipras | 09.28.2014 | Reply
  66. Started with a sore throat 3 days now,no better horrible hacky cough,wheezing, fever,don’t like drs or meds, so came across thus article at 3am,as l always have garlic,in the kitchen;) thank God,took a fresh glove peeled with the back of spoon crushed a little took small pieces swallowed then sucked on the other piece 10-15 min..I was in so much pain with the throat hurting coughing, headache. I’m AMAZED ” W/l minutes I hacked up darned yellow junk, pain in throat left..yhelp I smell like an Italian restaurant, but I’m better….LM truly a believer… Its astounding what the garlic did…lM from down south ,N/S Carolinas, I remember my mom saying something about wearing a necklace of raw garlic around your neck for colds… Better yet chop up small fresh pieces garlic swallow.. And suck on a large piece..10_15 min..works wonders..thank you for the post..God Bless,happy and healthy again in the Midwest. MgR…;) oh’ and No Doctors!!!!

    myrtle grebelak | 09.30.2014 | Reply
  67. Chewing on a piece of garlic as i read your blog, great post! I have always believed in Garlic and often make a large batch of Roaster Garlic Soup for fighting colds in the Winter. As Head Gardener we grow our own garlic and it seems even stronger than the shop bought bulbs. Currently using Garlic to fight of a sore throat and the start of a cold. Appreciate this article very informative.

    Stephen | 10.07.2014 | Reply
  68. Just a quick question. When u say clove, u mean that one bit of the whole bulb, right? There is a lot of confusion on the word clove because where I come from, a clove is the whole bunch!!

    A.D. | 10.09.2014 | Reply
    • Hi A.D, yes, one of the little sections in the whole bulb!

      The Chalkboard mag | 10.09.2014 | Reply
      • The whole of the garlic is called the bulb & clove is a section that pulls off the bulb of galic.

        Antony Francis | 12.19.2014 | Reply
  69. yeah but what do you do about the taste in your mouth the rest of the day?

    Kristine | 10.17.2014 | Reply
  70. I used to eat a clove or three of garlic at the first sign of a cold. Chopped or mashed (a little salt helps) into a paste. Let it sit for a few minutes to develop. Then spread on buttered cheap bread, which I usually rolled up.

    P`tar | 11.05.2014 | Reply
  71. I have been taking garlic for years a few times a week. My method involves cutting up two garlic cloves (finely chopped) leave it 15-20 minutes to let the allicin release, this is a compound found in garlic that is released once it has been chopped or crushed. I then put the chopped garlic into a small glass, next I put a emergency Vitamin C tablet/powder in the glass and fill with a little water. After a few minutes the garlic rises to the top of the glass, then drink or down pretending its a shot! Garlic is a wonder drug, best kept secret in my opinion. But don’t wait till you get sick to take it, get into the habit of taking it a few times a week to improve your immune system.

    Chris | 11.29.2014 | Reply
  72. too many good things experienced for it not to be worth trying

    kyle | 12.01.2014 | Reply
  73. for all the Brady Bunch fans, I’ll just say this, garlic and applesauce.

    kyle | 12.01.2014 | Reply
  74. The simplest method is to drink raw garlic with some water (just like taking tablets). First finely grate or crush the clove, add to a little water then drink immediately. There is just a little hotness at the back of the throat / tongue but nothing too bad. The water masks the hotness – but DON’T wait too long or the garlic compounds will dissolve into the water and its becomes really hot. I take a clove an hour when I have a cold and it goes very quickly.

    Michael | 12.14.2014 | Reply
  75. Since I heard about the possibility that garlic can fight against the common cold, I’ve dabbled with it but never given it a thorough test! Well since being subjected to ill people around me at work I started religiously eating raw garlic & have managed not to catch anything except a couple of occasions I felt I was coming down with something all the signs were there but were gone with hours!! never before have I not got ill when the warning signs came ie sweating, funny throat, running nose & sneezing! But garlic without doubt gas fought off infections I’ve been exposed to for over a month! It works even if research says otherwise!! A. Francis of BRIGHTON UK.

    Antony Francis | 12.19.2014 | Reply
  76. I just wanted to share my experience with raw garlic. I have been able to defeat colds after the first day of symptoms by downing a clove or two of raw garlic with honey. It is the best natural remedy for anything I have ever tried.

    james | 12.23.2014 | Reply
  77. woke up yesterday with the usual feelings of the onset of a cold…. sore throat… mucus etc… chewed on raw garlic for the rest of the day… and all signs of the cold are now gone. Truly a miracle remedy !!

    Simon | 12.23.2014 | Reply
  78. I just had a huge raw clove on the advice of my daughter. I chewed it up, and it felt as though my mouth was burning, and I swallowd on an empty stomach. I wish I read this first. I thought I was going to vomit. Figured I’d just poisoned myself. But my nose is much clearer already and my throat is not as sore. So, I imagine that it is working already. Would I do it again? I highly doubt it. Maybe the honey mixture. I hope this doesn’t turn me off of garlic. I’ve always been a garlic lover. But it has to be cooked.

    Emily | 12.29.2014 | Reply
  79. Thank you all for taking the time to publish your techniques and results. I waited too long to start for my Mom’s garlic recipe to take effect (3 c water – 1/2 c Honey – 1/2 c lemon juice – 3 cloves of garlic) boil until garlic is soft – drink all and chew up garlic. But I knew raw would be better so tried it but with an empty stomach made me too sick. So today I minced onto an apple slice and was able to eat the apple/garlic sandwich. I will do this every 4 hours and see where it is at in the morning. Thank Everyone! Peace and Health for the New Year!

    Michele | 01.02.2015 | Reply
  80. I frequently make a quick salad dressing with several cloves of raw garlic, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, and salt + pepper. It takes no time to blitz in my mini food processor and taste great. I find that a very enjoyable way of getting in the raw garlic. You could drizzle over hot food as well.

  81. I chop it up size of pills and swallow w drink. Works great

    cary | 01.25.2015 | Reply
    • I chop the garlic into small pieces hold it in my mouth for 2 mins. swallow it and chase it with hot tea and honey, it is a miracle cure natural antibiotic, it works well for skin irritations ie ringworms etc. insect bites and stings just cut the clove in half rub on the affected area two to three times a day.

      Margie M | 02.21.2015 | Reply
  82. Wow…i have a flu,really disturbing,i have started on garlic mixed with yogurt…mmm good idea..stay tuned for my feedback!

    Geraldine | 01.27.2015 | Reply
  83. I make an olive oil bread dip with freshly minced garlic and it has helped me fight off a couple colds. I know that it was the garlic because within about 16 hours of following the 1 clove every 3-4 hours method, I smelled like garlic and I felt better (bad breath is a small price to pay to feel better). Prior to consuming the garlic, I saw no progress whatsoever despite rest and fluids. I have shared my garlic story with many friends and family and despite their hesitation to try it, they tried it and are convinced it helped significantly.

    Fresh Garlic & Olive Oil Bread Dip Recipe: Approximately 4 tablespoons of olive oil, three cloves of minced garlic, fourth a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste, 1 teaspoon of Italian grinder seasoning. Eat with white Italian bread for the best flavor

    Katie | 01.30.2015 | Reply
  84. Cut the garlic. Let it soak in water for 10 mins and then add hot water, lemon and honey. Good tea.

    coco | 02.02.2015 | Reply
  85. Make sure to chop/crush the garlie and then put in decent room temperature olive oil, down the hatch with some plain bread and lukewarm water. GARLIC WILL BURN YOUR STOMACH IF YOU DONT ENCASE IN OLIVE OIL!

    Djmce | 02.12.2015 | Reply
  86. Wew! I just ate one after dinner and I got a headache but it subdueded after 5 minutes.
    Not very comfortable, but I’ll try to eat one later on this week.

    Esmée | 02.16.2015 | Reply
  87. My thoughts are this : I’m munching on a clove right now to heal my cold. It tastes disgusting. Also its burning my tongue so I have to drink water after each bite. Its really not that bad. I say go for it if you’re curious.

    Johny Garlic Head | 02.21.2015 | Reply
  88. Nothing like a good bit of garlic. I was in the health food store the other day and picked up “Live Organic Raw’s” spicy nori. And it was soooo spicy. What was in it other than a bit of cayenne and a few other spicy things … raw garlic. I felt great! Try it. They also had a few other flavours that look terrific.

    Tannice | 02.27.2015 | Reply
  89. Just was at the tail end of what I thought was strep throat. In fact it was more painful than the strep I had before. I started chewing small pieces on a clove of garlic and the burn was a little to much. I took a banana and cut slices 1/4 inch or less, a dab of honey, and a slice of garlic. I tried to chew up the garlic as much as possible along with the rest of the bite and only got a little burn. Down two garlic cloves in 2 hours and feel much better already. I wonder if I should leave the last couple of slices on the counter and see the kids trip out when they steal a slice after school.

    Jesse | 03.10.2015 | Reply
  90. I always have a jar of minced garlic in my refrigerator. I put some on saltine crackers and just eat them down. I also make a healing drink of hot water, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and honey. The oldest remedies are always the best!!

    Sharon | 03.27.2015 | Reply
  91. I was coughing non stop a few minutes ago.. I just couldn’t take it anymore! I had a fever 2 days ago and now my throat was sore, swollen, and my cough has been keeping me up at night. Popped in a clove of garlic and started sucking on it. Very intense but it seemed to calm my throat down a lot. Even bit little pieces off, chewed, and swallowed.. That burned a bit but seemed to help even more.

    Cinna | 04.16.2015 | Reply
  92. I really hope this works! I just started getting a sore throat last night. Read all the testimonials and it seems like it’s worked great for others. I’m just cutting it up and chewing on the pieces one by one every 3-4 hours, I guess I feel that it’ll get absorbed better if I chew it. The burning is horrible but if it helps it’s all worth it. I have school and work and big plans in a week and I really don’t want this sickness to get worse! Wish me luck!

    Jessica | 04.28.2015 | Reply
  93. Like Cinna, I had this really bad cough that I will start having coughing fits non-stop. It has kept me up during one night, I couldn’t get any good night rest. And the worse thing is when I take public transport, I will have to alight the train just so I could cough till my fill to get rid of that itchy, prickly feeling at the throat.
    Anyway, I decide to make garlic water to drink. The weird thing is after taking the garlic water, I will go through this torturing process where I will feel nauseous, my stomach feels weird and pain, I will go to the toilet to release the dump but just once. Then the nauseous and stomach pain/weirdness will last about an hour before it truly goes away and I began to feel normal. I took the garlic water once on a Monday then on a Wednesday. The same process happened during Wednesday. Can anyone explain to me what is happening here? Does it mean the garlic water is working on cleansing my insides thus the excruciating process? Or my stomach is in a very bad shape?
    Take care everyone. Lots of people getting sick.

    Claire | 05.06.2015 | Reply
  94. Peel a fresh clove, bite a little bit into it to get the juice out and suck it. I find it knocks out my Sore throat. The 1st Time I had the clove it was hard to suck on, then I got over it, and I enjoyed it now. The first time is the hardest. The results are undeniable.

    Audrey | 05.23.2015 | Reply
  95. I put garlic inside my mouth, drink mouthful water to keep it floating inside my mouth, start chewing it and try your best to keep it floating and avoid touching your tongue with it, when you feel it is small enough, swallow it with the water all at once. There is a little garlic breath since you chew it on your teeth. Easy, timesaving method.

    vidy | 05.25.2015 | Reply
  96. So I have this horrible cough, not sure if it’s a cold or it’s been brought on by the huge amount of cleaning I have been doing in the house (extreame dust bunnies) but it’s pretty bad I have been living off of Robitussin and Nyquil to deal with this. Also hot water lemon honey you name it I have tried it, well I came across this and we never and I mean never have garlic cloves in the house, but we did tonight thanks to my sister in law and her trying to get my mom to eat it in the hospital, I thought “what the heck” what’s the worst that could happen, I started out with a very small piece, it burned but was ok made my eyes water but still ok, I went for another piece this time the largest we had. I bit into it and sucked the juices out for 15 minutes as you said and OMG my annoying cough is gone !!!! I only wish I had looked this up sooner and now garlic will always be in any house I live in till the day I die. Thank you if I am actually going to sleep with a clove by my bed tonight in case it comes back I am so grateful to you for writing this, why did I waist my time with lemons and honey all this time.

    nikki | 05.26.2015 | Reply
  97. I was born in Eastern Europe, and in my homecountry this is known by anyone, that fresh garlic helps the cold and flu. Yesterday I got caught up in a cold rain and came home in the evening feeling really fluish. Ate some fresh garlic and went straight to bed – woke up this morning with no sign of flu.
    The only downside (other than the smell) – it makes me feel really hot at night, I keep waking up to drink some water.
    But it definitively works, proven by generations of Eastern Europeans!

    Masha | 06.10.2015 | Reply
  98. i just peel and eat a clove an hour at the first sign of a cold. Works like a charm. Make sure and munch on foods while you do this cause garlic and an empty stomach are not good friends!!!

    Renee | 07.06.2015 | Reply
  99. I am breastfeeding my infant son and hesitant to take any medication. I just came across this and am going to try it, as this is the sickest I have been in several years (cold). I cut a clove in half and ate both halves with a spoonful of chicken noodle soup (homemade as the real stuff supposedly helps too!) and oddly, an hour later, at least one nostril is clear for the first time in 2 days. I’ll keep at this and see how it really works!

    Julie | 07.28.2015 | Reply
  100. I am on my 3rd round of antibiotics, since my culture confirmed strep didn’t respond to Penicillin. I hate taking antibiotics. I tried gargling with ACV and cayenne pepper before I started this last med hoping I could fight this naturally, but no such luck! I know strep is nothing to mess around with, so I am going to try the garlic on top of my latest med. I am sucking on my 3rd clove today. I love garlic, but this is yucky. Please wish me luck! It’s my anniversary, & my husband won’t come near me with this breath. Good thing he loves me.

    Molly | 09.07.2015 | Reply
  101. I suffer with a weak immune system, I came down with a cold two days ago so two hours ago I quartered 2 medium sized cloves, swallowed 6 pieces whole and chewed the last two. I honestly feel better already, the pressure in my nose is improving and my sore throat has almost gone! I’m going to do this daily from now on, see how it affects my health in general. Thanks, great article.

    Craig | 09.29.2015 | Reply
  102. I can attest to the cloves of garlic with honey/olive oil working well. I also taken it with some pieces of ginger and ground cinnamon as well. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger have a wonderful effect on me when I am not feeling well.

    Natural Remedy Nerd | 10.18.2015 | Reply
  103. I had the grossest cold where I felt completely congested, I could barely speak. I didn’t have much money to pay for mucinex so I grabbed 3 whole cloves and chewed them. It helped a little bit, slightly noticeable. I took more the next night and my cold is gone!!! I have never gotten over a cold in less than three days so this is really weird!

    brittany | 10.24.2015 | Reply
  104. The first time I tried this was December 2014. I felt the achy warnings of a flu coming on. I get sick very rarely. I took an entire bulb, about 12 cloves, and chopped them up. I put a teaspoon at a time into my mouth and would take a gulp of water so I could just swallow without chewing. I did this at about 8:00 pm one evening. The next morning I felt VERY ill, and I was afraid it hadn’t worked. I had a high fever, chills, nausea. But by noon, I was 100% better. Everyone else in my office and family who came down with this bug had at least 5 days they were really sick and some lasted a couple weeks. A few months later, I felt a cold coming on and I did the same thing. Never surfaced. Today, I woke up with flu symptoms. Fever, aches. I did the same thing and the first part of the day still felt pretty awful,. About 7 hours after the garlic, the fever disappeared along with all the other symptoms. I swear by this now.

    Kai Rainey | 10.28.2015 | Reply
  105. I take 3 or 4 fat cloves or garlic, slice them and put in a salad. Or I’ll make a chili or martinara and pop 2 or 3+ sliced cloves in a bowl of pasta or chili. knocks down a cold every time, but it makes you smell bad.

  106. I woke up with a sore throat and signs of a cold, so this morning I munched on too garlic cloves with a yeast spread, on toast (possibly more of a British thing) but the strong taste of the spread really helped to cover the garlic and make it palatable and my throat feels better and no sniffles! I’m definitely going to keep this up, though I might have to stock up on some mouth wash!

    Jen G | 12.10.2015 | Reply
  107. I had a very bad infection in my mouth on a cut gum. It was so bad I couldn’t eat or sleep. The infection was starting to get pus in it. Terrible pain. I cut a garlic clove in half and placed the cut side on the infection and held it there for 5 minutes. After the burning subsided I felt a much better relief. After 2 days of holding the garlic to the infection 3 times a day my infection is gone. And it’s back to normal. I was so thankful It is gone. Garlic is amazing!! Now pursuing it to not catch the flu my kids have.

    Cate | 01.18.2016 | Reply
  108. Sounds easy enough … One of my fav things to eat as a snack is just a raw clove of garlic … Nothing with it just the garlic alone … I LOVE GARLIC

    ILoveGarlic | 02.04.2016 | Reply
  109. After tired of being sick with colds on & off for the last month and a half; I started a three day regimen of garlic.
    So right after I ate lunch, I peeled a clove and cut off the ends and swallowed it whole with a cup of tea. My friend told me to do this for three days and my cold will be gone. I didn’t experience any digestive effects or burning sensation in my mouth, throat, or stomach. Now, by 6 PM my nose has stopped dripping and the congestion is getting better. I should have done this weeks ago!!

    Leslie | 02.08.2016 | Reply
  110. I’ve had a severe throat infection for 4 days poss some tonsillitis as well, been on pencillian didn’t work. The pain in my throat is unbearable I couldn’t even swallow, when I did get 15 mins sleep I would end up waking up and choking. Anyway, I tried x2 cloves garlic, in my cheeks and under tongue sucked hard and yes it hurt for a bit but you can feel the effects already. Was able to swollen much better and my nose instantly dried out and felt stronger. So I’m going to try and get some sleep. Wish me luck

    Ryan | 02.08.2016 | Reply
  111. Sugar feeds cancer cells as well so doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.. Or does it?

    Rachel | 03.03.2016 | Reply
  112. Ate garlic for 6 months and avoided sugar …lost 12 kgs wow. Also was not sick even a single day during the time even when everyone around was down with the flu. Truly beats anything off the Pharmacy Shelf.

    Dave | 03.22.2016 | Reply
  113. Oh my gosh that was one of the hardest things I did!!! I minced the garlic up w 2 teaspoons of raw honey lets she if this torture helps lol!!!

    Diane | 04.07.2016 | Reply
  114. Someone told me to swallow whole garlic cloves. I never researched it cause I was desperate, so I swallowed 4 whole, no crushing at all…. Am I going to pass out and did I just do that for NOTHING??? LOL… When can I take more…… (after I crush it this time)

  115. I’d do this but I don’t think I could handle it. In other words I’ve chomped on several cloves before to the point where my tongue feels like it’s swelling or something. So I’m willing but I feel like I might start bleeding internally or something ending doing more bad than good.

    Hysed777 | 05.21.2016 | Reply
  116. I am holding raw garlic in each cheek right now, with a quick bite now and then to release the juices, and I can’t believe that while I am sitting here my sore throat feels better!

    TAM102 | 07.14.2016 | Reply
  117. A whole clove is just the size of your throat to, so be sure to crush or bite it into smaller pieces. Hard to get out once stuck..
    Love from Sweden

    Charlotte | 08.04.2016 | Reply
  118. A couple of years ago, I found these testimonials and I decided to try raw garlic for myself during some tough colds or at the onset of one. My repeated observation has been that the benefit from ingesting it can be felt within an hour, appears to last about a day and it’s proven itself to me at least 5 times now, so thanks for that! For a 200 lb body, my dose has been 3 cloves, first crushed and with the flat of a knife, peeled, then minced into 1/8 in or smaller pieces. Leave it exposed to air for 15 minutes, and then ingested a teaspoon at a time, each spoonful assisted with a drink of water. I’ve experienced no problems with my stomach or digestive system while taking it. I do not recommend chewing it at all, unless your objective is to directly treat a problem in your mouth or throat. Raw garlic is the key. Tablet/supplement form has been useless for me.

    I sincerely hope this helps someone who has considered using this to shorten a bacterial or viral infection.

  119. Am I right ^

    Cancer | 09.26.2016 | Reply
  120. Is garlic from store that’s already minced okay?

    LaTanya | 09.26.2016 | Reply
  121. When my grandchildren are showing signs of cold or flu symptoms, I take a piece of toast, and lightly rub a clove of garlic over the toast, then butter and Vegemite or Marmite, and they wolf it down not realising that they are eating garlic. They are rarely sick.

    Maama | 09.26.2016 | Reply
  122. Super sick with fever and sore throat (possible tonsillitis?). Constant rains beat my window, 35 mile and hour arctic ocean winds whistle outside, trapped in my small apartment in Iceland, watching copious amounts of tv… Man it’s been rough. I just tried some raw garlic my indian roommate had and ooo eee it was AMAZING how it helped my symptoms! Though now I do feel a tiny bit nauseous. Who knows if I’ll get better faster, but it definitely opened up my nostrils and zinged that dull, painful, cotton-stuffed feeling out of my head. the burny-ness of the garlic tickled my sore tonsils in a good nonpainful way. Hopefully some of those antibacterial properties were having an effect. Take THAT bacteria! …hopefully…

    Chris | 10.02.2016 | Reply
  123. I have had this cold for two almost two weeks now and I have been doing a lot of crazy dorm challenges so I just straight chomped on a clove because I heard it was good to eat raw garlic, it really stung my tongue and mouth but I survived, I looked it up here so thanks, just not sure if drinking my tea with it is good or not. I am going to sleep with some garlic under my pillow as well. I am sure my breath is beautiful right now. I hope this works.

    Leah | 10.07.2016 | Reply
  124. Wonderful article. Please add Google Plus to the options for subscription. Txx

    Trace | 10.12.2016 | Reply
  125. I make gluten free toast, buttered and minced fresh garlic on top. The butter helps soften the bite of the garlic. It does work to get fid of colds and congestion. Also drinking pots of tea with honey and lemon.

    Ginny Lehman | 10.21.2016 | Reply
  126. I have been getting pneumonia and also have COPD . Pneumonia 3-5 times per year. One year I had pneumonia 10 times Two years ago I was in intensive care for four days with pneumonia since then I have been taking 1 tblsp coconut vinegar, 1 tblsp apple cider vinegar, honey, horse radish, ginger powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder and cinnamon added to as much water as you want, also I eat 1 garlic clove a day and so far have only had 1 slight episode of pneumonia since. I will continue to keep this up to see what other benefits there are.

  127. Munching the whole clove of garlic is definately not for the faint hearted. The benefits however outweigh the “torture”. Apart from just flu garlic has multitude of health benefits like reducing blood pressure and also lowers cholestrol thus reducing risk of heart failure.

    Bramwel | 10.31.2016 | Reply
  128. I use garlic raw to help stop colds. But I dont get the smell on my breath. I cut up a clove of garlic in small pieces. Let it set for 3 minutes and then with a drink I put the garlic in my mouth and swallow it without chewing. The smell does not come when I speak. Still knocks the cold out, has saved me from flu several times, and on high stress days or if I retain any fluid, it lowers blood and is anti inflammatory.

  129. I just bit the bullet ….and the clove. It was quite large. I bit half, and started chewing. I was stunned at how much heat was in it. I polished off the second bite. I feel better – I think it just burned the “ick” from my throat. I’m willing to go for it though. No drug-related side effects, and best, no sub plans! (I teach!)

  130. Been doing this for years, every day, it’s practical because it doesn’t mean always chewing raw garlic every day, and I believe it cuts a lot off the smell problem. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE garlic, but I also love to live among people, and kiss my girl 🙂 I believe it does me wonders but i’m curious, I’m i missing some benefit by avoiding chewing?

    Mateo | 11.16.2016 | Reply
    • by “this” i mean mincing it and swallowing it like vitamins, no chewing, right down….

      Mateo | 11.16.2016 | Reply
  131. I swear by this!!! I always take a clove of garlic followed by green tea with honey and lemon juice when I can feel the onset of a cold.Recovery is a whole lot easier than struggling through a week+ of misery!!!

  132. WOW! I have been feeling sick (vommiting, weak, nausea, headache, low grade fever) for the past 30 hours. Desperate for something other than slamming fluids to help me feel better. Saw garlic on Pinterest, then it led me to this post. I grabbed a bulb, peeled off a clove and just started chewing away. It BURNED and I was worried it would add to my nausea. However, less than 15 minutes later … I do not feel sick AT ALL! In fact I just finished 2 loads of laundry and started making Christmas cookies. This is the MOST AMAZING thing ever!!

    Sarah | 11.28.2016 | Reply
  133. Love the garlic remedy. I use it if all my coworkers are sneezing and it seems to keep me healthy. Maybe they just avoid me because I smell! At the sign of a sore throat or cold I chew 1/2 clove a few bites and then swoosh it down like a pill. So far so good usually sore throat or sneezing is gone by morning! I take it before bed on a full stomach to avoid the smelly side effects and any digestive discomfort.

  134. Being a teacher and commuting on trains every day makes you susceptible to colds. I used to eat lots of onions, which worked for 3 years, but after having already caught my 2nd cold this year, I decided to switch to garlic! It just helped me recover from a nasty stubborn flu that’s been raging all over town. My great grandmother ate it every day and she lived to be 97. Garlic = health and longer life! Can’t believe there are people still worried about the smell.

    Libor | 12.10.2016 | Reply
  135. I mix garlic with kale, shallots and dried cranberries (along with a homemade dressing of white vinegar, olive oil and a dash of orange juice). It’s so delicious and super healthy! I eat it every time I get a cold or sinus infection and I feel better afterwards! Also: carrot juice works wonders for upper respiratory/allergy issues.

    Hannah | 12.15.2016 | Reply
  136. I LOVE garlic! And yes, it’s healing properties are amazing. I also appreciate the natural healing properties of jalapeños as well

    Ruthie | 12.19.2016 | Reply
  137. I have minced garlic in water ,will this work as good as the fresh?

    Deidra | 12.22.2016 | Reply
  138. I munched on a clove of garlic and within an hour felt better. My cold and congestion began to break up. I began a productive cough and nasal mucous. I could then expectorate and by the next day I was 98% cured. I will continue to munch on a raw clove until I am 100% cured. It’s a miracle!

    Jo Ann seals | 12.26.2016 | Reply
  139. Today is my second day eating a raw garlic clove first thing in the morning. I already had a cold for about a wek until someone told me about the garlic clove trick. As soon as I take it I have to run to the bathroom not even 5 minutes later to throw up a lot of phlegm. Within 20 minutes of eating the clove I feel a whole lot better but last night as I laid down in bed to go to sleep the cold symptoms came right back and stayed throughout the night.

    Kelly Russo | 12.30.2016 | Reply
  140. I eat a raw clove every 3 hours when I feel a cold coming on. Works like a charm. I also put cloves in my ears for ear infections & suck on clove halves for my throat/vocal cords. The intensity of eating the cloves doesn’t outweigh the wonderful remedy it provides

    Nikki | 01.08.2017 | Reply
  141. I’m a big time garlic lover. I was just starting to get over a cold, then flew in an airplane a bunch and last night the nasty sore throat came back with a vengeance. I just ate my first garlic clove today, which was really intense but I don’t care – I don’t want to be sick anymore, especially with a fun weekend with friends coming up. Hoping this nips it in the bud!

    lara | 01.25.2017 | Reply
  142. What if it is already minced in a jar bought off the shelf?

    Alison | 02.02.2017 | Reply
    • The honey poured onto the crushed garlic covers the burning and taste of the garlic and makes it easy to swallow.
      Always use raw unfiltered local honey. If it’s local, raw and unfiltered it will have great health benefits to you. It will contain local pollen which helps with allergies to local plants.

      Never buy processed filtered honey which is what most large corportae brands are. In spite of it being advertised as “100% natural honey”, all the health giving nutrients have been filtered and processed out of it, leaving “dead” honey.

      Mike Nike | 02.08.2017 | Reply
  143. After reading some of these very ignorant comments I had to speak up.

    1) Buy a “garlic crusher” from Walmart or anywhere

    2) break off a couple cloves and peel the skin off.

    3) Crush them in the garlic crushers onto a plate (or whatever).

    4) Let the crushed up garlic sit on the plate 15 to 20 minutes. This allows healing enzymes to be activated.

    5) Pour some honey (raw unfiltered local honey preferably) onto the crushed garlic and take it with a spoon, chasing it with water or other liquid.

    Mike Nike | 02.08.2017 | Reply
  144. And of course modern soda is carcinogenic. Soda is also addicting so it becomes a daily habit, especially the Aspartame diet drinks – the deadliest of them all. It’s full of either High Fructose Corn Syrup or even worse Aspartame. In addition to these two things Soda contains MSG just to addict you to it, and it’s full of many other cancer causing chemicals. The key here is if you drink it regularly. One soda won’t kill you, a daily habit eventually will.

    Mike Nike | 02.08.2017 | Reply
  145. “What if it is already minced in a jar bought off the shelf?”… I would strongly suspect that chopped fresh garlic would be far superior to jarred and shelved already minced garlic. I don’t think the germ killing properties would remain active in a product like that – but I’m just taking a guess using common sense here.

    Mike Nike | 02.08.2017 | Reply
  146. The honey poured onto the crushed garlic covers the burning and taste of the garlic and makes it easy to swallow.
    Always use raw unfiltered local honey. If it’s local, raw and unfiltered it will have great health benefits to you. It will contain local pollen which helps with allergies to local plants.

    Never buy processed filtered honey which is what most large corportae brands are. In spite of it being advertised as “100% natural honey”, all the health giving nutrients have been filtered and processed out of it, leaving “dead” honey.

    Mike Nike | 02.08.2017 | Reply
  147. every time I feel a little under weather I eat 4-5 pickled garlic the crunchy kind and it won’t ever come. Repeat next day. If you still feel sick take 6-7 next day. But honestly since I started I usually don’t need anything but 1-2 days. Just take a shower in the morning lol swear by this try it

    Lolo | 02.13.2017 | Reply
  148. I crush garlic mixed with raw honey but I also add some cayenne pepper to it whenever I have a sore throat. Try to let it sit in the back of your throat for as long as possible, the heat from the cayenne and garlic draw blood circulation to the area and help the healing process.

  149. Hello, Can you help please I have been suffering with very painful stiff and tired feet I have been told taking garlic or olive oil would help. Can you please give me your opinion
    Thank you

    Barry Meisel | 03.02.2017 | Reply
  150. I am a teacher and started feeling the cold come on. Usually I take oil of oregano and I am pretty used to popping that straight in my mouth now. Today I tried a whole garlic clove twice. Immediately felt the burn through my mouth and tongue. It is clearly killing bacteria. The burn is short lived, just like getting ears pierced the pain is gone faster than singing twinkle twinkle. Now I have garlic breath but I cant really tell because I have a bit of a cold and taste is gone.

    Overall I vote straight chew, swallow, and own up to the burn. I vote 30 seconds of being uncomfortable over a week of fatigue, brain blur, pain, and snot. Don’t complain, just shoot the oil of oregano and garlic- both are better for you than medicine.

    Kathleen mcgiveron | 03.03.2017 | Reply
    • Definitely agree with you, better a small time frame of being uncomfortable then weeks of being miserable.

      Vika | 04.20.2017 | Reply
  151. I take raw garlic in Bulgarian yogurt with a bit of salt. If you add cucumber, it’s very palatable, and you get the effects of the raw garlic AND yogurt, not to mention a tasty snack.

    Katharine Elizabeth Harris | 04.05.2017 | Reply
  152. MY DAUGHTER COUGHED UP NADTY FLEGM FIR 8 YEARS, I READ IN A CHINESE BOOK OF HERBS ABOUT JUICING 4 CLUBS OF GARLUC AND TAKING A TABKESPOON OF GARLUCK STRAIGHT UP WOULD CURE ANETHING EVEN TV…WE BORH DID IT WE ALMIST FAINTED BUT MY GIRK BEVER COUGHED EVER AGAIN. I REPEATED IT AGAIN ONCE MORE AND TEB YEARS LATER NOT EVEN HAVE A COLD MUCH KESS A COUGH WITH BADTY FLEGMS. GARLUC FANTASTIC JUST AS YOU FEEL SICK JUST REST ONE MINUTE THEN DRINK COLF WATER WITH ICE IN IT TOTAL CURE.

    Angeluba | 04.18.2017 | Reply
    • juice up raw garlic or in a blender with water to make two tbls of garlic juice it burns stomach momentarily but it passes after a minute or two. then drink icy cold water kills cough with flegms

    • juice up raw garlic or in a blender with water to make two tbls of garlic juice it burns stomach momentarily but it passes after a minute or two. then drink icy cold water kills cough with flegms

      Angelina | 04.18.2017 | Reply
  153. I have a big move coming out of state. Started to get swollen lymph nodes, sneezing & sore throat coming on. Decided to grab some garlic and cut it open and chew it for a few minutes. Felt relief within 10 minutes of the first time using. It’s better to be uncomfortable for a few minutes versus a week. If you ever cook with it, cut, let sit for 10-15 minutes and add only at the end. Health is wealth baby.

    Vika | 04.20.2017 | Reply
  154. I just chomp down 2 garlic gloves it was the one of the most unsatisfying pain i experienced in my mouth due to the hot and burning sensation but it totally works….

  155. Me too. I put it in my salad and just chew it up. I find chewing a piece of garlic also helps me not eat too much. If you chew on a piece of garlic when you feel hungry but shouldn’t eat any more it pretty much kills the idea of eating anything sweet like candy or cake with that garlic taste in your mouth. LOL!

    Ardell DellaLoggia | 05.18.2017 | Reply
  156. Have had a cold with lots of phlem both from my nose and in my throat. Also have a sore throat going on 2 weeks. Got one clove of garlic and bit down on it a few times and have been keeping it between my cheeks and molars swallowing and rotating sides. As i’m reading comments my very bad sore throat has dissapated. Will keep trying this out and see if it cures me:)

    JACKIE | 05.30.2017 | Reply
  157. excellent antibiotic garlic has been around since time began where do you think they get antibiotics from

    brian best | 06.02.2017 | Reply
  158. How about combining the garlic and the honey? I think that way can make the garlic be suitable for everyone to eat.

    Lita Watson | 06.18.2017 | Reply
  159. Hi there I only have Pre-minced garlic. Will this work? Or is it it not as effective? Thanks!

    Frank D | 08.05.2017 | Reply
    • Frank, do not take this for Bible info but, I would use fresh whole Garlic and chop your own. Minced Garlic has been somewhat processed.

      Tabetha | 01.30.2018 | Reply
  160. I take a piece of garlic down the hatch with water, trying to prevent getting bronchitis again, the garlic gets into my system either way.

    Patrick McCarthy | 08.09.2017 | Reply
  161. Chewed a garlic clove first time in despeartion for a bad cough & stuffy nose. While chewing, felt my nose clear up in an instant. My cough is still there but i can feel it getting better. I definitely felt the bite & sting of its juices on my tongue & throat which i totally expected + of course the garlic breath after. I just had my next frozen clove ( after 4 hrs) w a liitle honey & a whole avocado – this time i sliced & mixed w the rest. Tasted a lot better. Noticed more expectorations so w high hopes i will get so much better very soon. Might even take it more often than every 4 hours. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

    Marivic | 08.11.2017 | Reply
  162. Cancer feeds on sugar. Consuming too much sugar can fuel cancer cells. So in essence pepsi or cola do cause cancer or at least help it .

    Mike jones | 08.16.2017 | Reply
  163. There was a time i thought COPD emphysema has no cure and it only can be controlled,i guess i can proudly say there is %100 cure for copd disease,i was diagnosed of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for over 9 years which i thought there was no cure for it just as everyone here thinks,my condition was very critical which i was very afraid that will not survive it.
    i took all the medication which doctor prescribe for me but nothing work out totally but i was able to live with it for the few years tho i still cough all day and seize of breath,i came across a post online which they were discussing how this herbal foundation help them cure their diseases,i was like wow does this really exist so i contacted the herbal foundation immediately so they gave me instruction on how the process goes which i followed exactly,i can proudly say i’m fully cure of copd emphysema without any side effect.
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    Katie Joe | 08.25.2017 | Reply
  164. It works, I take a container of potato salad and about 15 cloves. with every bite I take a clove. chew it to the side of your mouth away from your taste buds. Now add Braggs apple cider vinegar and water. Amazing it works.although it will not work on a virus. Colds, Tooth ache, sinus infections

    Charles | 09.09.2017 | Reply
  165. I have a cold right now and have been crushing 2 big bulbs of raw garlic under a knife to “activate” and then chase with ‘cola drink’ (I know it’s bad for you but it helps get it down and I rarely drink the stuff). My question is, do I need to let it rest for 15 mins? Reports are conflicting… also, how often should I do this per day and how many games per dose? Reports conflict here too… Thanks in advance.

    Jennie | 09.11.2017 | Reply
  166. CURED TOTALLY

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    maureen | 09.26.2017 | Reply
  167. I mince garlic or very small pieces and pop it in a large empty capsule..no messing!!

    Vilas patel | 10.02.2017 | Reply
  168. It’s the closest thing to a miraclc. It works! But I feel it must be done at the first sign of a cold, and done every 3-4 hours. If it doesn’t kill the cold the symptoms and duration are diminished. I’ve dodged at least 20 colds over the last 10+ years.

    Len Spinelli | 10.23.2017 | Reply
  169. Okay daniel but sugar in pepsi does cause heart disease and pepsi uses a flavoring called HEK 293 whose cells trace their origin to a single fetal kidney back in the 1970s. But whatever, “you got the right one BABY”…

    Jeff | 10.26.2017 | Reply
  170. Does pickled garlic have the same medicinal effects? It’s much more palatable. Actually tastes good, once you get used to it.

    Elizabeth | 10.29.2017 | Reply
    • I think so because it always has for me and my mom makes it

      alisha | 11.02.2017 | Reply
  171. my mom makes pickled garlic cloves and my sister and I just eat them whole that way. or, garlic stuffed green olives. both mask the garlic a little but still are good.

    alisha | 11.02.2017 | Reply
  172. Totally hooked on my own version of a Catalan favourite; make toast (wholemeal or seedy thick cut) and allowed to cool, rub raw garlic over it (one clove will rub away completely on a couple of slices) before pouring extra virgin olive oil over the toast and allowing it to soak in. Then spread tomato puree over the toast and sprinkle with a little hard cheese or crumble goats cheese on, depending on your personal preference. Kills colds and chest infections in days!

    Neil | 11.07.2017 | Reply
  173. I have been a fan of garlic for years. It also works for allergies. If you feel that precold feeling, eat garlic and it will kick it out. It really works!

  174. To treat sore throat the most effective way is to chew garlic first.
    When destroyed, garlic will release allicin compounds that are antibacterial, antifungal, as well as antiviral. Another way that can be used is to inhale garlic vapor for 15 minutes. If you can not afford to eat them raw, try to mix them with other ingredients, such as honey, olive oil, or juice. Only, allicin will be more effective if chewed while still raw.

    Felicia | 11.24.2017 | Reply
  175. My COPD got significantly worse and unbearable because of my difficulty catching breath. this year, i started on a natural COPD Herbal therapy from NewLife Herbal Clinic, i read a lot of positive reviews from patients who used the treatment and i immediately started on it. I had great relief with this herbal treatment. I breath very much better now, no case of shortness of breath or chest tightness since treatment, my lungs condition is totally reversed. Visit NewLife Herbal Clinic website ww w. newlifeherbalclinic. com. This treatment is a miracle!!

    Julian ellis | 12.03.2017 | Reply
  176. I came across your site with a cold. I basically am doing garlic bread with raisin bread, [raw] garlic minced on top. Before you poo- poo it- it’s actually is quite good! [if not strong-]- the sweetness from the raisins works with the garlic. 1 clove minced per 2 slices of raisin bread with vegan butter. Thanks for the info! : )

    Shari | 12.10.2017 | Reply
  177. Wow, the power of garlic – 5 year old post, but the comments are as fresh as ever 🙂
    I’ve just had what I think were the first cold symptoms today, and since it’s work Xmas party week, I need to make sure not to get ill. So I’ve been pre-treating in the evening with raw garlic and apple cider drink and drinking water with lemon 🙂 Fingers crossed for the better!

    Andrew | 12.11.2017 | Reply
  178. Thank you so much for all these very healthy and helpful suggestions using garlic as cold remedies. I firmly believe that garlics are the miracle pills!

    Dr. P. Cabrera | 12.12.2017 | Reply
  179. I have just tried your tips on taking garlic to stave off a cold. I chopped two cloves of garlic and mixed with Olive oil and spread on two crackers. That was Christmas Eve and I had started to feel achy and cold like. Its now Boxing Day and so far I’ve stayed cold free. Quite miraculous really but I think you must take it at the first sign of a cold or sore throat.

    Dan Harris | 12.26.2017 | Reply
  180. One fresh, peeled clove of garlic, rubbed completely onto a standard size piece of cooled, dry sourdough toast, which is then buttered with soft butter. Eat 3 to 4 times a day. Follow with fresh squeezed orange juice. If started early enough, symptoms of cold will disappear within 2 to 3 days.

    Henri Laborde | 01.07.2018 | Reply
  181. Unusually, I developed a serious cold two days ago, headache, streaming nose and feeling drained. At lunch time yesterday I crushed and chopped 4 cloves of garlic and ate them with pate on oatcakes. By evening I was already feeling better so I crushed and chopped a further three garlic cloves, mixed with softened butter and placed on top of lightly cooked fresh spinach. Both meals were delicious and by the time I went to bed all the symptoms had disappeared. This morning I awoke completely cold free and feeling like a new person. Fortunately my husband is away at the moment! Absolutely convinced it was the garlic and, trying to understand how it had worked, asked my iPad ‘how does garlic cure a cold’. That is how I came across your website. Should a cold ever come my way again I will eat garlic immediately.

  182. I love garlic so I thought how difficult could this be? I’ve been trying to expel mucus all week so thought I’d give this a try. I chopped up 2 cloves of garlic, spread it on apple slices and thought not so bad. 2 minutes later I was so nauseous I threw it all up. Now all I have left is really bad breath.

    Mimi | 01.13.2018 | Reply
  183. I have been chewing raw garlic for several months now primarily for a niggly tooth and because I have inflammatory arthritis. My arthritis has improved noticeably. I eventually went to the dentist and only needed a tiny filling. he also said that although my gums have receded I no longer have the signs of active gum disease. Now despite really trying to take care of my teeth ( brushing with electric brush but soft bristles , flossing , good diet etc ) and gums my gums have been a bit ‘meh’ since my late twenties. I even had to have a deep clean a couple of years ago. There has been an acknowledgement that the disease was probably an hereditory thing that was not great but not terrible etc but now since the garlic my mouth is average according to my dentist and no active disease. I am convinced it’s the garlic.

    Angela | 01.21.2018 | Reply
  184. the chills came, indicating the onset of flu. I ate garlic three days in a row. symptoms gone. i’ve been doing this for twenty years and it always works. just mince it and put it in your food after it is cooked. stir fry, pasta sauce etc. also make a big batch of vinegar and oil salad dressing with pressed garlic.

    Mark R Jacobson | 01.26.2018 | Reply
  185. I swear by garlic. When I start feeling a cold coming on i will eat or if sore throat will suck on a slice and it will take sore throat away. I have used it also for abscess with teeth when I did not have insurance. Garlic is amazing how it works.

    Shawn Cantrell | 01.28.2018 | Reply
  186. I Definitely believe in the power of eating raw Garlic. I am 44 yes old and started eating pure Garlic cloves one year ago. I have seen my number of colds and Sinus infections almost become monsters of the past.

    Tabetha | 01.30.2018 | Reply
  187. If you don’t want Garlic breath yet want to absorb the quick benefits from the Garlic to kill a cold, simply peel a single clove and use it as a suppository. What a rush of health and boost of energy .

    Josh | 01.31.2018 | Reply
  188. I have used garlic for the past few years to fight colds. Usually right when I feel the symptoms I eat 20 cloves lightly boiled in some olive oil and it kills it in its tracks. I hadn’t been sick in a year and just a couple days ago caught a bug while I was not in a place to prepare garlic. I went a full day and a half into it thinking I was too late. I’ve been mincing 10 cloves and mixing it into every meal for the past 24 hours and it’s gone!! I swear by this remedy. I actually found this page while searching for “why does garlic kill a cold”. I still don’t understand it but it works!!

    Tim B | 02.01.2018 | Reply
    • Stuffed garlic clove in large olives. Love them, 2 per day keeps doctor away. Wife and I both been doing it for years. Double up while traveling.

      John | 02.01.2018 | Reply
  189. I woke up feeling awful. One of my Ethiopian students suggested taking garlic. I found a home remedy of mincing clove of garlic in small glass of water. I felt better immediately!

    H B Polak | 02.03.2018 | Reply
  190. I just made this concoction today (2 cloves of Garlic, ginger, cinnamon, lemon juice, and honey). I was common down with the flu. I had symptoms such as fever, chills, body aches and headache. I did this twice today and I am feeling much better now.

    pamela | 02.13.2018 | Reply
  191. We actually don’t chew the garlic, we chop into small pieces , wait 15 minutes and take a spoonful with lots of water. Just swallow it.

    G alfares | 02.13.2018 | Reply
  192. I eat a tomatoe salad for breakfast that includes: 1-2 chopped tomatoes, 1-2 large handfuls of raw cashews, 1-2 clove of chopped garlic, olive oil, sea salt, and pepper. (This is also good with blue tortilla chips as a part of lunch or as a snack). I’m a stressed out student and am amazed that I haven’t caught the flu already. I really think my daily raw garlic routine prevents sickness.

    Raquel Flecha Vega | 02.14.2018 | Reply
  193. I just came down with a cold yesterday morning while I was still in bed. Upon recommendation from a friend, I started drinking a garlic-lime juice concoction that he taught me to make a few months back. It’s now my second day of the cold and I’m already feeling better. I have a stuffy nose, but I’ve taken the remedy twice a day for these last two days and it’s working! I’m going to continue on this regimen until the cold is gone.

  194. I don’t chew it. I slice the clove into pieces, then swallow it. No bad breath.

  195. I had a throat infection on Friday with a lot of pain in my throat I ate about 5 raw garlics within a two day period and my throat no longer hurts I am very surprised never tried this method and I am hands down that it works I think even better then medicine!!

    Johnathan | 02.18.2018 | Reply
  196. If I’m sick with any infection or virus I eat 3-4 big cloves a day and it definitely helps. I find the easiest way to eat it is with a piece of wholemeal seed bread with butter and honey. Then I can eat more without it burning my mouth. Two years ago I had a virus which lasted 6 weeks and was really dragging me down. I’d been having 2 cloves a day and it hadn’t made much difference. During the last week of that horrible bug I decided to eat more, and did it every 3 hours or so. That combined with Echinacea (angistifolia tincture) just blasted the heck out of that bug! I was perfectly well and happy within 3 days. I think for a bad infection you need to eat it more frequently.

    Sylvia | 04.02.2018 | Reply
  197. I totally believe in the magic healing powers of garlic, I eat it daily in my food. At the onset of a cold and sore throat I chop and clove and mix with a little olive oil and swallow it with water and within a few hours feel better!!!!

    Emily Scott | 04.27.2018 | Reply
  198. Trust me, it’s works like a charm. I’ve been eat this magic since years ago. Tips from me, if you got the symptoms e.g your throat feel scratchy and irritated that’s the early phase of flu Take 1-2 cloves of garlic immediately, i personally eat it raw or crush it then it eat, chew it for a moments so the allicin will mixed with your saliva, slowly swallow them. Usually it take only one day, on the next day you’ll feel mucus in your throat just spit it out. That’s healing phase, voila you’re virus free now.

    Fauzi | 06.03.2018 | Reply
  199. When I was a child my dad used to make me swallow a garlic clove whole with a glass of pure orange juice. It seemed to shorten the cold.

    Shelley Edge | 10.28.2018 | Reply
  200. Or chopped garlic up put spoon breakfast mix a little breakfast food spoon eat .same with lunch and dinner lot better take it that way.with your meals raw garlic cause meal drawns some of the taste works good that way . especially with kids .

    Sheila Brooks | 11.07.2018 | Reply
  201. Have come down with the most agonising sore throat and chesty dry cough started on. the 18th Dec. Started chewing raw garlic cloves yesterday evening (19th). Have had 4 cloves today. I cut the clove in half stick one in each suck the juices and chew and break it down and swallow in about two minutes. I like the way it burns! Definitely felt an improvement in my throat but my coughing has increased which I hope is a productive cough and sign of removing the mucus. Also drinking hot water w/ lemon juice and honey, taking a water dissolvable vitamin C and Zinc tablet, ibuprofen (for throat swelling and pain) a multivitamin, an over the counter cough syrup, and gargling with salt water in the morning.

    Truly feel like the garlic is helping the most though. I’m going to up it to at least 6 cloves tomorrow. I had to go home ill from work today and this cough is irritating. I’ve spent weeks planning for Xmas day party I’ve not been sick at all this winter and suddenly this happens! 4 days til Christmas I really don’t want to be ill during it 🙁 wish me luck!

  202. I ate a whole clove of garlic and followed it with a cup of ginger tea that I made with ground ginger from my spice rack and hot water now my stomach is upset what can I do

    Annette | 12.23.2018 | Reply
  203. Cut one Glove of Garlic very small let it stay 10 min swallow the amount down drink 1 glas of water and afterwards eat a bit of parcley.
    It will help you with your stomach and no smell afterwards

    Baba | 01.06.2019 | Reply
  204. Garlic is great for cough/cold. I used various OTC drugs but the cough won’t stop,a friend told me to try garlic tea but I decided to eat it raw. i chew two cloves every two hours by the end of the day u already coughed out the phlegm from my throat and blew out the one from mynose. for the first time in a week after I had the cough I slept without having to cough

    Olamide Folarin | 02.09.2019 | Reply
  205. Have been 4-5 garlic cloves every morning on a empty stomach and loving it also cutting out refined sugar 59 years old working 13hrs a day 4 days a week went from hurting every night to sleeping without pain able to sit on the floor with my grandchildren and get up easily inflammation a minimum, working at hospital prayers to continue with good health, this winter season people sick around me, thank God I ave stayed well.

    Valerie Reece | 02.26.2019 | Reply
  206. I have eaten raw garlic (off and on) all my life, I’m 73 years old. I ate it for no other reason than I love the taste. I didn’t realize until a couple of days ago how powerful and healing garlic is. I was exposed to the flu, (didn’t get a shot this year) and felt the symptoms coming on with a vengeance. I knew I had to do something fast, I was already starting to cough and my body was aching. I remembered in my youth my Dad always gave me garlic and I was rarely sick. I decided to chop up three cloves of garlic put it on some good artisan bread with butter, and enjoyed it. I did that twice a day for two days and all my symptoms disappeared. My friend that I was exposed to is still quite sick, she went to the doctor and got all kinds of medicines that cost a lot of money that aren’t really helping. I want to tell her what I did with the garlic and how it healed me but she would think I was nuts. I’m a believer!! It really works!!!

    Jackie | 03.19.2019 | Reply
  207. There is an easy way to chew raw garlic without the horrible tongue burning.
    Chop or crush the garlic clove and let it sit for about 10 minutes to let the enzymes work.
    Have a glass of water ready. Put the chopped garlic in the mouth and fill with some water and start chewing.
    Keep sipping the water while chewing so there is always some water in the mouth until the chewing is done.
    The burning will be very bearable to none. It can be further reduced by covering the chopped garlic with something like sour cream or honey or maple syrup.

    Haresh | 07.10.2019 | Reply
  208. Well i love raw garlic…. I have always had ear problems and one day i heard from a friend to place a clove in my ear.. I was in pain and wanted to try something homeopathic and so i did it over night. The next day no pain at all.. The same went when i started getting the flu.. It was coming on so fast my chest hurt my body hurt and so i cut up a clove and let it rest for about 5 minutes took with a glass of orang juice and repeated every 3 hours.. The next day i was great.. Now i give it to my girls when ever i see them starting to get sick.. No more going to get meds i just make sure i have garlic on hand.. I really do believe its a cure all…

    Shannon marie | 07.16.2019 | Reply
  209. why can’t you just have raw garlic crushed in a salad dressing (made fresh of course)?

    Jacqueline | 09.24.2019 | Reply
  210. Many comments about chewing raw garlic, or leaving it in your mouth for a few minutes. Never for me! I put a large clove through a garlic press which does the ‘chewing’ for me. I add some water and quickly swallow it. No lingering garlic in my mouth. I have done this for many years at the first hint of a cold and it’s amazing the way the cold symptoms are suppressed–no runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat. If I stop the garlic too soon, the symptoms return. I’m sure there’s a scientific explanation for this but I still call garlic a miracle drug!

    Sharon | 10.30.2019 | Reply
  211. Like all myths, truth stems at such tales. Case in point Garlic and Vampires. Mythological Vampires like all Parasitic organisms, including actual blood suckers like Mosquitoes are repelled by the Allicin Sulfur of Garlic in the human body bloodstream host which has ingested it. Raw Garlic Allicin ingested also will cause Viruses like the Common Cold and even Flu Microbes to flea from you ASAP.

    A listener | 12.03.2019 | Reply
  212. How did you treat the air for mold with the gse John?

    cj colley | 12.19.2019 | Reply
  213. Both,fresh garlic(and onions),have tremendous healing properties.I take garlic capsules daily,for the all around health benefit.It’s also a natural blood thinner so it’s allowed me to go off prescription blood thinner,without issue.;)Additionally,my high TSH level completely regulated itself within 2 weeks of implementing only 1 garlic capsule(1000mcg),daily.Garlic and onions,naturally improve heart function,and aid in strengthening the immune system,(naturally).I (personally), found the best way to achieve the benefit of both fresh garlic and onions daily,was adding both(diced&chopped),to a mashed avacado,along with sea salt and fresh ground pepper.That mixture,can be used in place of mayonnaise on any sandwich,as well as being stirred into any salad or even as a chip dip or cracker topping.The avocado tames the acidity of both,onions and garlic,not only to the palate,but in the stomach as well.Also,avocados contain antioxidant properties.Avocados(along with raw onions and garlic),is a great way to incorporate the health benefit of all three,into your daily diet,tastefully and naturally.;)

    Anastacie | 01.02.2020 | Reply
  214. It definitely works!!!

    Cuba | 04.03.2020 | Reply
  215. I have been eating a few cloves of garlic and raw onions everyday just to boost my immune system. Hopefully this will prevent me from getting the Coronavirus.

    Theresa L DiBari | 04.10.2020 | Reply
  216. Zgadzam się z przedmówcą.

    Kret_EiCZ | 04.14.2020 | Reply
  217. Use fresh, raw, Red garlic. (Also called “Purple Garlic”).
    Must be uncooked. – (Very important).
    I don’t recommend White garlic. (A friend of mine eats it and still gets sick from time to time).
    I don’t recommend processed garlic. (Eg. Garlic capitals). It may work with common colds, but it’s very limited with protection against flues.
    You can also try consuming the garlic with Lemon juice, and big teaspoon of honey. (The Honey will reduce any “After-burn”).
    If lemon juice is too strong for you, then try Lime juice, or even Orange juice.
    The amount of liquid you add should be equal to one mouth full. (It Just makes it easier to swallow “in one go”).
    Tip: To help make the honey runny, you can pop it in a microwave for a max of 10 seconds, or you place the cup in a pot of water on the stove.
    Vital: Don’t over heat the garlic. (Just heat the liquid till the honey is runny).
    Consume it half an hour before eating, or one hour after a meal. (An empty stomach is best).
    Note: Mixing garlic with a Dairy based product, (such as milk / Yogurt), will limit or slow its effectiveness.
    Another Tip: Take the garlic within 24 hours once your aware you maybe sick. When I do this, a cough/cold will last a max, of 9 hours, and a bad flu will last a max. of 3 days.
    (When I say a “bad flu”, I’m not making any reference to CoronaVirus).
    Note: I’ve personally not test the effectiveness of garlic on a cough/cold, or flu, after 24 hours as I’m allergic to pain. I can only assume that taking it after a 24 hour period will reduce the severity and duration of the cough/cold, or flu.
    Best Practice: I you feel any symptom of a cough/cold, or flu, (such as a headache, sore throat, cough, muscle ache, or runny nose), then take one clove of garlic three (3) times for the first day.
    If the symptoms persist on the second day then continue taking the garlic three (3) times a day. (It may mean you have a flu, in which case you may need to take it three times a day for three days running).
    Note: Some people have a genuine allergy to garlic. This is not to be confused with experiencing a stomach ache after consuming raw garlic. (On a personal note: I need the honey, otherwise I too will experience a “bad” tummy”).

    Gypsy | 04.18.2020 | Reply
  218. I adore garlic and for many years I’ve eaten a large clove or 2 small cloves of raw garlic every day. I never eat it on an empty stomach so always have it after a meal. I chew it along with a bite of strong cheese as this helps with the burning sensation in the mouth and the cheese and garlic together are delicious. I never catch anything and never ill. My boyfriend will only eat it once he has caught a cold etc but once he has eaten at least 2 cloves a day it has killed the bug by the second day. He has Asthma so worried about the awful Coronavirus….before the lockdown he had a sore throat for 3 days, so ate 3 cloves raw garlic with cheese and by the 2nd day of eating garlic the sore throat went and did not develop into anything….I guess we will never know if it was Coronavirus but whatever it was the Garlic killed it off! I always beg family and friends to eat it as swear by it…..

    karen nicholls | 04.24.2020 | Reply
  219. Thank you Jesus for garlic!!!

    June | 05.16.2020 | Reply
  220. I’m so happy to see believers. I had a terrible case of bronchitis after taking Lisinopril. I was on all kind of inhalers and antibiotics, one day I chopped 6 cloves of garlic and within an hour I started to feel a difference! The next day my cough was 50%gone , by day 3,100%gone ! Just amazing what’s in Gods Medicine Cabinet!

    Cint | 08.29.2020 | Reply
  221. What I do is roughly chop up a clove into small pieces. Take a handful, throw them in your mouth, and have a mouthful of water. Then, keeping the water in the mouth, bite and chew and crush the garlic with your teeth. The water helps reduce the burning taste and all that chewing is maximising the release of the allicin. Then swallow. Repeat for any leftover bits.

    It’s still horrific, but the only method I think is passable

    Will | 02.13.2021 | Reply
  222. I usually chop up 2 cloves of garlic, leave them while I butter 2 slices of bread and slice some nice tasty cheese. I put the cheese on one slice of buttered bread and then the chopped garlic on the other. Put them together and munch !!. I do this just before going to bed, as the active ingredients get to work while you sleep. The main ones are expelled through the respiratory areas where they are needed to clear blocked and runny noses and the rest gets to work in your body as a whole. I do this immediately I feel that burning sensation at the onset of a cold in the back of the nose. Doing this regularly also prevents you catching a cold.

    Mo hardy | 03.21.2021 | Reply
  223. Great stuff, I do this with honey and ginger. It’s works with tomato juice too. Remember chew or drink parsley tea it gets rid of the smell, maybe other strong smelling herbs work. I find a sore throat or a cold more offensive than garlic.

    Bea. | 07.26.2021 | Reply
  224. I slice up raw garlic whenever I start feeling sick. Often times leaving work for a prolonged lunch if I feel it coming on. Slice it up as fine as you can. I use 3-4 cloves sliced on two pieces of toast. I drizzle it with olive oil and sprinkle on garlic powder. Then I chew it until my eyes water and swallow making sure the mash touches the entire throat with each swallow. It is painful towards the end, but totally worth it. Your sickness is stopped dead in its tracks. Usually the following day consists of a few sneezes and a few farts. Then all is back to normal on day 3.

    Stuart | 01.25.2022 | Reply
  225. my room mate caught corona virus, passed it to me. I had been taking raw garlic every morning for around 2 months. She had a terrible case – mine was barely noticeable, more like a cold. I kept up with the garlic, and could just feel it working. I am planting garlic in the garden this year for my now-permanent regimen.
    The only difference between us was my use of garlic, nice, fresh, and spicey! I never get colds anymore. Sinusitis (always an annual thing for me) is also fading away. I cant take too much, I’m on blood thinners, so I keep to one large clove a day (yes my Md said it was OK, she is a health food advocate, too). But if one clove worked that well, imagine what more could do! Be brave, it does not burn so much once you get used to it. And that burn tells me it is working. I take it sliced, stuffed in a celery stalk with sugar free peanut butter. Mmmmm.

    Kathleen Dayton | 02.23.2022 | Reply
    • Amazing! What about garlic breath?

      The Chalkboard Editorial Team | 02.23.2022 | Reply
  226. To those people who made the comment that sodas do not cause cancer. They dont just by themselves but most sodas contain high fructose corn syrup and that contains mercury. Dr Josh Axe reports that he hired a chemist to examine it. As for how I have cured viral pneumonia. I cut up the garlic and put a very heavy layer of peanut butter on the bread and carefully slowly eat it folded over. I drank only water and at two garlic sandwiches the first day and nothing else. Same thing second day and by the time third day rolled around I needed only one garlic sandwich. I had gotten so bad with the pneumonia waiting on a relative to go and by the garlic and peanut butter that I could only breathe sitting up.

    Maisie Olson | 02.24.2022 | Reply
  227. Not love this blog and the comments.

    Growing up my mom and aunt always gave garlic treatments.

    The garlic enema is great for fevers! It works.

    Read on Mandy’s page at: https://www.realfoodrecovery.org/stop-fever-and-more-with-a-garlic-enema/

    Or read in book Prescription For Nutritional Healing.

    Easy to prepare and administer.

    Carol A | 04.23.2022 | Reply
  228. Sorry…auto correct gets me all the time!

    Change….
    “Not loving this blog…”
    To read….
    “OMG, love this blog…”

    Sorry

    Carol A | 04.26.2022 | Reply
  229. Believer in garlic as one of the best home remedies.

    I also give the garlic enema to bring a fever down.

    Read instructions in book Prescription For Nutritional Healing. Or, talk with your holistic doctor.

    I administer the enema with a reusable rubber enema bulb syringe.

    My three know a enema will be given when a cold is coming, fevers, flu and more.

    Bless all

    DeeDee | 07.11.2022 | Reply
  230. Carol and DeeDee, glad you told of the garlic enema.
    I give the same!
    Always brings a fever down.

    Read in the book DeeDee told of.

    Mom of two | 12.04.2023 | Reply
  231. Thank u 4 sharing. I forgot the remedy because I was healthy for a long time. I have my ways of keeping the flu and cold away. (Hot steam salty water inhale.) But that’s for keeping the cold away from your lungs and throath if it’s coming from sinuses. Now I do remember one time long ago I had a terrible throathache I slept with a slice of garlic in my mouth and just touched it with teeth every now and then to release the juice. I woke up smelly but healty. Tnx for the reminder. <3

    Sarty | 12.11.2023 | Reply

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