Garlic Salve
Garlic is a powerful tool when it comes to healing at home. Did you know that up until 1942, before penicillin was manufactured, that garlic was used often by doctors to kill off viruses, bacterias, and fungus? Neither did I for the longest time!
Garlic is an antibiotic. It was used in the “Four Thieves Vinegar,” a protection agent against the plague created in the middle ages used successfully in 1722. Some original recipes, even dating back to the time of Hippocrates, included ingredients such as wormwood, meadowsweet, marjoram, sage, cloves, rosemary, horehound, camphor, and garlic. There are compounds within garlic that do not work unless the bulbs are crushed. The more finely ground they are, the better they work medicinally. This concoction, mixed with vinegar from red wine, white wine, or cider was left to steep for several days until ready to use.
Most people associate garlic with its strong scent. It is probably the reason why it is not used as often in home remedies any longer! This salve, for instance, that I’ll be sharing the recipe for in this post smells… well, very heavily like garlic. It is not a pretty scent, especially mixed with essential oils.
Garlic has several healing properties. It has been studied and proven to lower blood pressure by about 15%, lower cholesterol, reduce the build up of plaque, prevent the formation of blood clots, prevent cancer of the digestive system and can even prevent the risk of tumors growing larger, remove heavy metals such as lead or mercury from the body, works as a powerful antibiotic when taken raw to kill of bacteria such as staph that have become immune to modern antibiotics, and has anti-viral and anti-fungal constituents.
The easiest way to use garlic for healing is to chop it up finely, or mince, and let sit in the open air for about 10 minutes. This allows the constituents within to activate. Once activated, swallow the tiny pieces without chewing. This can be done with water. You can do this for all different sorts of infections within the body. The thing with garlic is that, while it is effective, it must be taken much more often than modern medicine. It is best to take only 2 cloves per day as it can cause internal bleeding if overdosed upon.
What would you use garlic salve for? Everything! It is one of the few antibiotics that you can make at home and safely use on infants and children, even on adults. It works perfectly well and can be applied on certain areas that need healing such as a wound or blemish, athlete’s foot, sores inside of the mouth and cold sores, and jock itch. This salve can kill candida, harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses. If you are planning to use this in a sensitive area, be sure to test it in a small amount first, as it can cause a rash on more sensitive skin. If you plan to use this salve on an infant, try putting it on the soles of their feet.
Recipe + Ingredients:
MAKES TWO 4 OZ TINS:
1/3 cup coconut oil
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp beeswax
1 head of garlic, crushed and finely minced
5-10 drops lavender essential oil
In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil, olive oil, and beeswax until combined.
Add the minced garlic and let heat in the olive oil for 8-10 minutes, over a simmer.
Remove from heat and drop in the essential oil.
Carefully pour the salve into your selected tins. The garlic will sink to the bottom, and you should be able to slowly pour mostly liquid into your container of choice. It is alright if some chunks of garlic get into the salve, but try your hardest to not let them fall in.
Use as needed by applying directly in small amounts. Store in the refrigerator.
Easy to make and easy to use. I love a good recipe like that! Thankfully this is something that we do not often need to use in our home, but I am glad that I will have some tins handy when the time comes. This salve works wonders on respiratory issues and illnesses, minor scrapes and wounds, minor burns or cuts, decrease the length of a cold, and more. Simply rub on the soles of your feet, back, or chest.
That’s all there is to it! Happy making.
xoxo Kayla
