Clove of Garlic – Benefits for Skin, Hair & Health

Garlic grows underground as a bulb that is covered in inedible papery skin. There is a difference between a “clove” of garlic and a “bulb” of garlic. Garlic naturally grows as a bulb which is made up of 10 to 16 cloves of garlic. Hence, a clove of garlic is just one piece of garlic from the entire bulb of garlic. Garlic contains a Sulphur-based enzyme that is stored in tiny cells within its flesh. Garlic contains allicin, which is a compound that has many health benefits such as antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Garlic is also rich in vitamins such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin C and Vitamin B1. It is also a source of copper, selenium, phosphorous, and calcium.

Benefits of Garlic for Health

The benefits of garlic for one’s health are:

• Garlic helps in boosting one’s immune system. It helps in reducing one’s chances of getting affected by the flu.
• Garlic helps in reducing blood pressure for patients with hypertension. A high dose of garlic in one’s diet is linked with fewer chances of hypertension.
• Garlic helps in lowering the levels of bad cholesterol or LDL (low-density lipoprotein).
• Garlic helps in weight loss.
• Garlic also helps in improving the brain’s function. The antioxidants from garlic help in protecting one’s brain from oxidative damage.
• Garlic helps in reducing toothaches as well.

Benefits of Garlic for Skin

The benefits of garlic for one’s skin are:

• Garlic helps in fighting fungal skin infections that range from athlete’s foot to ringworms with the help of its antifungal properties.
• Garlic helps in fighting infections that are caused due to burns. 
• Garlic helps in removing the poison from insect bites and also reduces the pain caused by it.
• Garlic helps in reducing acne and wrinkles as well.

Benefits of Garlic for Hair

The benefits of garlic for one’s hair are:

• Garlic helps in reducing hair loss by reducing breakage.
• Garlic helps in nourishing hair by increasing blood flow in one’s scalp.
• Garlic helps in relieving dry and brittle hair.
• Garlic helps in reducing the itchiness of one’s scalp.

20 Home Remedies of Garlic

The various home remedies of garlic for health, skin, and hair are:

Garlic Home-remedy for Cough and Cold

Garlic helps in curing cough and cold with the help of its antivirus and antibacterial properties. To make this remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Grind 3 to 4 cloves of garlic with half a glass of water to get a juice-like consistency.
2. Now, add 2 tablespoons of honey to this juice and drink this juice in intervals (in breaks, that is, two sips every 2 hours) throughout the day.
3. You can have one glass of this juice every day until your cough and cold subsides.

Home-remedy for Ear Infections

Garlic can help in reducing the pain caused by ear infections and stops the infection from spreading to other parts of the body. For this remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Cut a clove of garlic in two.
2. Wrap one of the pieces in a small piece of tissue paper.
3. Place this tissue paper in the ear that has been infected. It is recommended to keep this overnight, but you can also keep it in your ear for 2 hours.

Home-remedy for Throat

Garlic juice helps in reducing and removing the pain in the throat that is caused by throat infections. Follow the steps given below:

1. Take a clove of garlic and blend it with a glass of water.
2. Now, gargle with this water. You can use this glass of water for gargling the entire day, in intervals, using little water every time.
3. Gargle with one glass of water every day until the pain reduces.

Home Remedy for Ringworms

Garlic helps in reducing the itchiness and burning that is caused by ringworms. For this remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Cut a clove of garlic into several small pieces and heat them on a saucepan for about 5 to 10 seconds.
2. Then, add some water and mix it until it attains a paste-like consistency.
3. Add a pinch of salt to this mixture and rub it over the ringworm.
4. Apply this thrice every day.

Home Remedy for Toothache

The allicin in garlic helps in reducing toothaches and muscle swelling. You can use garlic for reducing toothache by following the steps given below:

1. Cut a clove of garlic and rub the raw part on the tooth that is hurting.
2. You can also rub the raw garlic on your gums that are hurting or are swollen. 
3. Rub the garlic against the tooth or gums for at least 2 minutes.
4. Do this every day until the pain subsides.

Home-remedy for Insect or Bug Bites

Garlic juice helps in numbing the itchiness of insect or bug bites. Follow the steps below to use garlic juice for insect or bug bites:

1. Crush a clove of garlic and add two teaspoons of olive oil to it and mix.
2. Apply this mixture on the areas that are infected by bug bites for about 20 to 25 minutes and then rinse it with cool water. 
3. Apply this mixture every day until the itchiness of the bites subsides.

Home-remedy for Cold

Garlic has antibacterial and antiviral properties which help in curing a cold. To use garlic to cure a cold, follow the steps given below:

1. Cut a clove of garlic into 4 pieces. In the entire day, eat those 4 pieces in adequate intervals. 
2. If you don’t want to eat raw garlic, you can garnish some garlic on your soup or broth, and eat it that way.
3. Eat one clove of garlic every day until your cold subsides.

Home-remedy for Pimples

Garlic has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which help in reducing the swelling and pain caused by pimples. To use garlic for pimples, follow the steps given below:

1. Peel a clove of garlic and mince it until a paste-like consistency is attained.
2. Apply the paste on the areas affected by pimples for 5 to 6 minutes and then rinse it with cool water.
3. Do this twice every day.

Home-remedy for Acne

As mentioned above, garlic is effective in treating skin problems like acne and pimples. To use garlic in treating acne, follow the steps given below:

1. Crush three cloves of garlic until a paste-like consistency is attained.
2. Mix it with one tablespoon of water (use three tablespoons of water if you have sensitive skin).
3. Rub this mixture over your acne.
4. Leave the mixture overnight.
5. Wash it off in the morning with cool water.
6. Do this regularly and your acne will be clear in a week’s time.

Home-remedy for Wrinkles

The allicin in garlic helps in reducing wrinkles. To use garlic in order to minimize wrinkles, follow the steps given below:

1. Crush a few cloves of garlic and squeeze them to extract their juice.
2. Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and mix it with the garlic juice.
3. Dip a piece of cotton in this mixture and dab it over the areas you have wrinkles.
4. Let it dry for 15 minutes.
5. Rinse with lukewarm water.
6. Repeat this every day.

Home-remedy for Clear Skin

Garlic helps in removing dead cells from one’s skin and thus giving it a more rejuvenating look. To use garlic to get clear skin, follow the steps given below:

1. Combine ½ tablespoon of honey, few crushed garlic pods in a bowl of yogurt.
2. Stir it well and apply this mask covering your face and your neck for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse it off with cool water using your face wash.
4. Apply this mask once every week.

Home-remedy for Clear Skin 

Garlic helps in removing dead cells from the skin and thus rejuvenating one’s skin. To use garlic in order to get clear skin, follow the steps given below:

1. Wash your face and pat dry.
2. Blend four cloves of garlic with 1 tablespoon of coconut water until it forms a fine paste.
3. Apply that paste on your face and keep it on for 30 minutes.
4. After 30 minutes, rinse it off with cool water using your face wash.
5. Apply this mixture once every week.

Home-remedy for Hair Growth 

Garlic juice promotes hair growth since it is rich in various vitamins and minerals. To use garlic as a stimulant for hair growth, follow the steps given below:

1. Crush and mince a clove of garlic to extract its juice.
2. Add this juice to the hair oil that you use regularly and mix.
3. Apply this mixture on your hair and keep it overnight.
4. Rinse it in the morning with cool water using your shampoo followed by a conditioner.
5. Apply this mixture once every week.

Home-remedy for Dry Hair 

Garlic also helps in smoothening one’s hair due to its richness in vitamins and minerals. To use garlic in order to get smooth hair, follow the steps given below:

1. Blend two cloves of garlic with one bowl of yogurt until a paste-like consistency is attained.
2. Apply this mixture on your scalp and the roots of your hair for 30 minutes.
3. Rinse it using cool water with your shampoo followed by a conditioner.
4. Apply this hair mask once every week.

Home-remedy for Pimples 

Garlic and olive oil help in reducing the inflammation and redness caused by pimples. For this remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Peel and blend 4 cloves of garlic with 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.
2. Apply the mixture to the affected areas and keep it on for 15 minutes.
3. After 15 minutes, rinse it with cool water using your face wash.
4. Apply this mixture every day for maximum results.

Home-remedy to De-tan Skin 

Garlic, when mixed with aloe vera gel can help in reducing the tan that is caused by exposure to the sun. This is due to the allicin present in garlic juice. To use garlic in order to reduce tan, follow the steps given below:

1. Blend 2 cloves of garlic with 4 tablespoons of aloe vera gel until a paste-like consistency is attained.
2. Apply this paste on your face and your neck for 25 minutes.
3. After 25 minutes, rinse the paste with cool water using a face wash.
4. Apply this paste twice every week.

Home-remedy for Body Pain 

The anti-inflammatory properties of garlic help in reducing swelling and pain caused by bone or muscle problems. To use this home remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Crush 2 cloves of garlic to extract their juice.
2. Mix this juice with 6 tablespoons of sesame oil.
3. Apply this mixture to the areas that are swollen and keep it overnight.
4. In the morning, rinse it with cool water using your soap.
5. Apply this mixture every day before sleeping for maximum results.

Home-remedy for Brittle Hair 

When garlic is used along with egg whites, it helps in reducing hair damage. This is because egg whites are rich in protein whereas garlic is rich in vitamins and minerals and has anti-viral properties. To use this home remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Blend 4 pieces of garlic with one egg-white until a paste-like consistency is attained.
2. Apply this mask on your hair, covering your scalp and the roots of your hair.
3. Leave the mask for 30 minutes and then rinse it with cool water using your shampoo followed by conditioner.
4. Apply this hair mask once every week for maximum results.

Home-remedy for Clear Skin 

The nutrients of garlic and egg whites also help in clearing one’s skin by removing dead cells and tan. To use this remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Blend 1 clove of garlic with 1 egg white until a paste-like consistency is attained.
2. Apply this paste on your face and neck for 15 minutes.
3. After 15 minutes, wash your face with cool water using your face wash.
4. Apply this paste twice every week for maximum results.

Home-remedy for Acne Scars

When garlic juice is mixed with rose water and Vitamin E oil; it helps in reducing acne scars. The anti-bacterial properties of garlic help in reducing and lightening the scars that are caused by acne. Rosewater helps in reducing the redness of the acne scars and helps in achieving glowing skin. To use this remedy, follow the steps given below:

1. Blend 1 clove of garlic with ¼ cup of rose water and 1 teaspoon of Vitamin E oil until a paste-like consistency is attained.
2. Apply this paste to the affected regions for 15 minutes.
3. After 15 minutes, rinse off the paste with cool water. Do not use your face wash while rinsing off this paste.
4. Apply this paste every day for maximum results.

Precautions and Side Effects

Here are the precautions one must take when using garlic as a home remedy:

• Some people are allergic to garlic. Thus, always do an allergy test before using the above-mentioned remedies. Rub some garlic on your elbow or eat a small piece of raw garlic. If you notice any swelling, redness, or itchiness, it means you are allergic to garlic. In this case, you must refer to a doctor before any further use of garlic.
• If you have sensitive skin, always dilute the garlic juice with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water or rose water in order to avoid burning or skin irritation.
• When you’re using fresh garlic, you must take care of how much garlic you consume at once. This is because garlic has a pungent smell and can lead to a bad odour of the mouth and body.
• If you eat too much garlic, you can experience heartburn, indigestion, nausea or vomiting. Thus, if you have a sensitive stomach, you should avoid eating more than three cloves of garlic in a day. 

Myths and Facts 

MYTHS	FACTS
Garlic doesn’t have any important nutrients.	This is false. Garlic is packed with B vitamins, various minerals, amino acids, and flavonoids.
Cooking garlic after crushing or chopping does not reduce its benefits.	This is a myth. Cooking garlic after crushing or chopping can diminish its health benefits. Hence, one should avoid crushing the garlic completely in order to reap its benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does garlic work as a mosquito repellent?

A: Yes. Garlic works as a mosquito repellent due to its high allicin content and pungent smell. It also helps in providing relief from mosquito bites due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties.  

Q: What are the benefits of eating raw garlic?

A: Eating raw garlic has shown to be beneficial in reversing many health problems such as cholesterol and hypertension. Eating raw garlic also reduces the chances of being affected by cancer, which is one of the leading causes of death. Raw garlic also helps in fighting dementia and diabetes.

Q: What is aged garlic? What is it good for?

A: Aged garlic is an alternate source of fresh garlic. Aged garlic, in general terms, is “old garlic”. Due to the fact that it’s old, it loses its odour as it ages. Fresh garlic can lead to indigestion in people who have a sensitive stomach due to its high content of organosulfur compounds. Thus, they can consume aged garlic as an alternative to fresh garlic. Aged garlic is odourless and contains more antioxidants than fresh garlic. Aged garlic offers the same health benefits as fresh garlic. The only difference is that aged garlic is easier to digest than fresh garlic.