Are you familiar with the beneficial properties of garlic? A ‘must’ in Italian kitchens and in Mediterranean countries in general, garlic, in addition to giving a unique flavour to many dishes, has many medicinal properties that have been recognized for thousands of years (starting with the Egyptians) and confirmed by modern science. Discover all the virtues of garlic here.

A ‘must’ in Italian kitchens, especially in Mediterranean countries, garlic has many medicinal properties that have been recognized for thousands of years.

The virtues of garlic in the ancient world

The first to speak of the virtues of garlic was the Egyptian Hermes Trismegistus, considered the father of all sciences. The pharaohs had it administered to the workers involved in the construction of the pyramids to protect them from intestinal diseases and infections. From Egypt, garlic cultivation spread throughout the Mediterranean: the Greeks gave it to soldiers before the battles because it was considered a “concentration” of power and energy.

Alexander the Great dedicated the garlic plant to the gods of war.

The Romans ate large amounts during banquets, it was considered a sexual stimulant.

In short, garlic in the ancient world was the main ingredient in therapeutic and magical prescriptions: for example, it was considered very effective against snake venom.

Garlic was also thought to keep the ghosts of the dead away and to protect from spells.

The virtues of garlic in science

The main therapeutic properties of garlic were scientifically defined by Pasteur in 1858: antibiotic, antiseptic, balsamic, anti-hypertensive.