Wild garlic

Bear'sgarlic is a plant whose leaves and bulb are used to make medicine. Bear's garlic is used for stomach upsets, flatulence, high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis. Some people apply wild garlic directly to the skin for persistent skin rashes.

How does wild garlic work?

Wild garlic contains chemicals that may help protect against heart disease by reducing platelet activity and lowering blood pressure.

How effective is wild garlic?

There is not enough scientific data to make a statement about the effectiveness of wild garlic for stomach upset, bloating, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, skin rash (applied to the skin) and other diseases. Further scientific research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of wild garlic in these applications.

Are there any safety concerns?

There is not enough information to know if wild garlic is safe and harmless.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Not enough is known about the use of wild garlic during pregnancy and lactation. For this reason, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid products made from this plant to be on the safe side.

Interactions

At present, there is no information on interactions between wild garlic and medications or supplements.

Dosage

An appropriate dosage of wild garlic depends on various factors such as age, state of health and others. At the present time, there is insufficient scientific data to be able to make a statement about appropriate dosage ranges for wild garlic. For this reason, you should follow the dosage instructions on the label and/or consult a doctor or pharmacist before use.

References

1. Carotenuto A, De Feo V, Fattorusso E, et al. The flavonoids of Allium ursinum. Phytochem 1996;41:531-6.
2. Lust J. The herb book. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.
3. Rietz B, Isensee H, Strobach H, et al. Cardioprotective actions of wild garlic (allium ursinum) in ischemia and reperfusion. Mol Cell Biochem 1993;119:143-50.