Gender: Masculine
Element: Fire
Planet: Mars
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Celtic Zodiac/ Date: N/A
Lunar Month: N/A
Tarot: N/A
Rune: N/A
Ogham: N/A
Crystal: N/A
Deities: Hekate, Crone, Cybele
Associated Festival: N/A
Chakras: Solar Plexus
Birth Month: N/A
Meaning: Protection, health
Type: Annual herb
Grows in Zone: 4 -9
Plant for Bees?: No
Natural pesticide?: Yes
Poisonous/ Toxic: No
Garlic is an annual herb that is grown around the world. Garlic is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Allium sativum is a bulbous plant, growing up to 1 meter (3.3 ft) in height. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onion. The word garlic derives from Old English, garlēac, meaning gar (spear) and leek, as a ‘spear-shaped leek’.
Garlic is native to Central Asia and northeastern Iran, and has long been a common seasoning worldwide, with a history of several thousand years of human consumption and use. China currently produces some 80% of the world’s supply of garlic.
Many cooks make the mistake of thinking that the large bulb of garlic you buy is a clove of garlic. The whole garlic is called a “head” or a “knob”. Each segment is called a “clove” of garlic. In other words, if a recipe calls for three cloves of garlic, you would use three of the separate segments. When selecting garlic for planting, it is important to pick large bulbs from which to separate cloves. Large cloves, along with proper spacing in the planting bed, will also increase bulb size. Garlic plants prefer to grow in a soil with a high organic material content, but are capable of growing in a wide range of soil conditions and PH levels. If garlic is planted at the proper time and depth, it can be grown as far north as Alaska. Growing garlic near other plants will help protect them from pests.
Garlic will keep a long time if the heads are stored in a cool dark place. If you keep them in the fridge, they will sprout and taste bitter. The pungent odor of garlic cloves is due to active volatile oils. Its flavor is sweetened by cooking, especially baking. If you buy the garlic braids, they should be hung up to prevent bruising of the cloves.
Garlic, also known as the stinking rose, stinkweed, and poor man’s treacle, is one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world. Cultures throughout history have used it for physical and spiritual health; among the various beliefs about garlic were that it made you stronger and kept away evil spirits. Garlic was used by Egyptian and Indian cultures 5,000 years ago, and there is historical evidence of it being used by the Babylonians 4,500 years ago, and by the Chinese over 2,000 years ago. While the prescriptions changed, the use of garlic as a healing agent continued all the way up until the present day.
Researchers think the ancient Egyptians were the first to farm garlic. Its image has been found in Egyptian tombs depicted as an offering to the Gods. The pyramid builders of ancient Egypt were paid partially in garlic each day to improve their strength and ward off illness and Egyptians swore oaths on cloves of garlic. A mere 15 pounds of this ancient currency would buy a healthy male slave. Ancient Egyptians bestowed many sacred qualities upon garlic. They believed it kept away evil spirits, so they buried garlic-shape lumps of clay with dead pharaohs. Archaeologists found preserved bulbs of garlic scattered around King Tut’s tomb millennia after his burial. The ancient Egyptians believed so strongly in the power of garlic to ward off evil spirits that they would chew it before making a journey at night.
Ancient Greeks and Romans loved their garlic, too. Greek athletes and soldiers ate garlic before entering the arena or battlefield because they thought it had strength-enhancing properties. Greek midwives hung garlic cloves in birthing rooms to repel evil spirits. They placed garlic at cross-roads as a supper for the goddess Hekate, or for protection to ward off demons. Hippocrates, the ancient Greek known as the “father of medicine,” prescribed garlic for a variety of ailments around 400 B.C. It was used to treat wounds, fight infection, and ease digestive disorders.
Roman soldiers ate garlic before battle for strength, inspiration, and courage. In Ancient Rome, it was “much used for food among the poor”.
Garlic’s reputation as a medicinal wonder continued into the Middle Ages. It was used in attempts to prevent the plague and to treat leprosy and a long list of other ailments. It was also used to maintain health during the plague, as well as to ward off evil spirits, vampires, the evil eye and various spells and hexes. An Islamic legend claims that when Satan left the Garden of Eden, garlic and onions grew from his footprints.
Later, explorers and migrating peoples introduced this easy-to-grow and easy-to-carry plant to various regions around the world. The Spanish, Portuguese, and French introduced garlic to the Americas. Its alleged aphrodisiac qualities made garlic taboo for Tibetan monks. Tibetan monks were forbidden from entering monasteries if they had eaten garlic.
Garlic played its first starring role in modern medical treatment during World War I. The Russians used garlic on the front lines to treat battle wounds and fight infection, and medics used moss that was soaked in garlic as an antiseptic to pack wounds.
Garlic is an extremely popular all-purpose herbal remedy. You can add this versatile ingredient to your cooking to benefit from its many advantages. To maximize the health benefits, you should crush the garlic at room temperature and allow it to sit for about fifteen minutes. This triggers an enzyme reaction that boosts the healthy compounds in garlic. Cutting, crushing, or chewing a garlic clove activates numerous sulfurous substances. When these substances come into contact with oxygen, they form compounds that have therapeutic properties. The most researched, and possibly the most medicinally powerful, of these potent compounds are allicin and ajoene. Garlic is a versatile plant that can be eaten both cooked and raw.
Garlic is antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, and anti-fungal, anti-asthmatic, anti-spasmodic, bronchodilator, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, immunostimulant, urinary antiseptic, and vasodilator. It is a natural analgesic (pain reliever), antioxidant, and disinfectant. Labeled as an antioxidant, garlic may help prevent certain cancers such as colon cancer and can improve the effectiveness of the immune system. Anticancer action has even been reported in more recent lab studies. The sulfur in garlic’s essential oil makes a good defense for killing germs. Once garlic is ingested, it is absorbed into the blood stream and then diffused through various organs. The skin, intestines, lungs and urinary system profit highly from its healing properties.
Garlic has long been used as a field aid and home remedy over the millennia to treat wounds. It has been proven to kill various fungal infections, viruses, bacteria, and intestinal parasites. You can use it to disinfect wounds as well as treat warts, boils, psoriasis. Garlic can also be used as afield antiseptic and disinfectant for athlete’s foot, cuts, scrapes, wounds, sores, warts, boils, and psoriasis. Garlic is also great for treating ear infections.
Witch Tip: Garlic vinegar can be used to disinfect wounds and soothe rheumatic pain and any common pain (made from one liter of vinegar and ten cloves of crushed garlic steeped for at least 10 days). For athlete’s foot, warts, skin infections and acne, rub (freshly mashed) garlic over the affected area with a piece of gauze.
Witch Tip: You can step garlic in olive oil and drop it into the ear. Garlic oil can burn the skin so do not apply full strength or fresh cut directly on the skin.
Garlic is an amazing immune system booster with a vast array of healing abilities that follow regular consumption. Herbalists recommend adding garlic to your diet one to two months before the hay fever season. It contains B-group vitamins that have immune boosting properties. As well as helping to boost your immune system, garlic is a natural fungicide. Fungus spores can trigger a hay fever attack and so garlic can be very helpful throughout the seasons. It has antihistamine properties which make it useful in helping to reduce the irritating symptoms of hay fever such as a runny nose and itchy, sore eyes.
Garlic has been used to prevent other respiratory health problems including colds, flu, sore throats, strep throat, coughs, congestion, asthma attacks, sinus infections (sinusitis), respiratory infections/ distress, and bronchitis.
Witch Tip: Fresh garlic mixed with honey is an excellent home remedy for colds, hoarseness, and inflammation of the throat. crush 1 oz. of fresh garlic cloves. Mix the garlic with 1 cup of honey. Let the mixture sit for 1 hour to infuse the honey with the garlic’s essential oils. Store in a cool, dark place. At The first sign of a cold, take 1-2 tsp. of the mixture. (Repeat every hour thereafter) This remedy is also effective for relieving severe chest congestion and painful coughing.
Garlic is a cardiovascular tonic. Its stimulating effects enliven a sluggish circulation and dilate the peripheral blood vessels, thus warming the body’s extremities. Pungent sulfur compounds, which are also responsible for its distinctive odor, promote heart health via beneficial effects on lipid metabolism and reduction of cholesterol levels. Garlic lowers LDL (the bad cholesterol) and raises HDL (the good cholesterol); this helps prevent buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries. However, for those suffering from hypertension, garlic can help to lower blood pressure. It also helps blood clots from forming which is what protects against heart attack and stroke. Use caution if you are taking blood thinners or use aspirin regularly. Garlic itself is a blood thinner.
It can be used as an analgesic (pain reliever) for insect bites. Studies have found that concentrated garlic kills ticks within thirty minutes. It can be used to help cure parasitic worms in children as well. Garlic can be used to cure bladder infections, colic, stomach ulcers, tooth aches, aiding diabetics, and aids poor digestion.
Witch Tip: Garlic has been used to help treat ulcers. Eat 7-9 cloves of garlic throughout the day, with milk or spread on bread. (Not recommended for 3rd trimester pregnant women or nursing mothers as some babies will refuse to nurse after the mother eats garlic)
It has been thought to possess magical properties for centuries, and is widely used in charms and spells. Sacred to Hekate and left as offerings for her at altars and crossroads, garlic is a major protection herb. Just having garlic in your house alone is believed to protect from robbery, disease, foul weather, ghosts, evil spirits, the evil eye, and magical attack. When carried on your person, it is used to protect from monsters, storms, and physical or magical attack. Use garlic for healing, exorcisms, repelling thieves, speed, strength, endurance, courage, health, healing, exorcisms, lust, blessing a new home, spiritual purification, fortune, and absorbing diseases.
Witch Tip: Make an offering to Hekate. Sacred to the ancient Greek goddess of witchcraft and magic, garlic makes a perfect offering. Leave a clove at the crossroads or grow some by your front door to honor her. You can also leave a clove on your altar for her as well.
Eating and wearing garlic is said to improve agility, courage, and physical endurance. It is said that if you carry a garlic clove with you when traveling over water, it will prevent you from drowning.
Placing a clove of garlic, one in each of the four corners of a room, is said to banish away ghosts, evil spirits, or bad energy. Garlic is used for exorcisms. Burn the powdered herb during spell breaking and curses.
Witch Tip: Leave a clove with your divination tools.Prevent negative energies from coming through the gateway of your tarot cards, runes, or Ouija boards.
Garlic cloves can also be used to stuff poppets intended for negative magic. When evil spirits are around, a bite of garlic will repel them. A clove of garlic can be added to any mojo bag to strengthen its energy. You can use the skins for magical sachets and amulets as they smell much less than the fresh cloves. You can also use the dried, powdered garlic in your spice rack.
Witch Tip: Stop gossip by stuffing a poppet through the mouth with garlic and then sew the mouth shut
Witch Tip: Breaking a spell. Did your spell go awry? Reverse your ritual and bury any remaining spell ingredients in a deep hole with a clove of garlic to combat the effects.
Garlic can also be used to protect against psychic and
physical vampirism. In the minds of
the superstitious, simply possessing garlic was enough to bring good luck and
protect against evil — especially evil in the form of mysterious and
frightening entities, such as sorcerers and vampires.
Legends convinced people that there were certain things over
which vampires had no power, and garlic was one of them. However, it is only in
European folklore that vampires are powerless in the presence of garlic. The
bulb is not mentioned as a defensive tool in vampire legends from other parts
of the world.
Witch Tip: Use garlic to purify
after a smudging or exorcism. Garlic near the entrances prevents dark energies
from re-entering the home after exorcism.
Growing garlic around your home is said to bring good fortune. Garlic skins are burned indoors to keep money in your home. Place with silver in a sachet of leather to bring money. Scatter around the home to promote lust. Hanging garlic over a bedroom door will draw lovers into it. Garlic is said to have aphrodisiac powers when eaten.
Witch Tip: Include it kitchen magic for passion. A tomato sauce with basil and garlic makes for a classic love potion. Add candles and enchant your evening guest.
On the opposite end, legend has it that one can rid oneself of a lovesick former lover by placing a garlic bulb with two crossed pins stuck in it at a road intersection. Lure the lover until he crosses it, and he will lose interest.
Garlic braids hung over the door repel thieves and envious people as well as bring good luck. Change the braid every year. For protection while sleeping, place under a pillow or make into a wreath placed above the bed. Dreaming that there is “garlic in the house” is known to mean you will discover hidden secrets.
Witch Tip: Hang garlic over a sick person’s bed to stop fever dreams and drive away dark thinking.
Use level: Easy
Nothing on this website should be taken as medical or legal advice. Please use herbs responsibly. Always consult your doctor before using any kind of supplements.
From our altar to yours, with love from the sea,
