Garlic in the Lymph System

As early as 1,500 B.C., people have believed in the health benefits of garlic, according to New York-Presbyterian Hospital. People in India and China have used garlic historically to thin the blood. The first Olympians may have used it to improve athletic performance. Today, garlic is known to have many beneficial properties, including the ability to improve the function of your lymph system.

LYMPH SYSTEM

The lymph system is a network of vessels that carry lymph throughout the body. Lymph is a whitish fluid that carries white blood cells. Small, round structures called lymph nodes are also part of the system. The lymph nodes contain T-cells and B-cells, which fight infections. Your gastrointestinal tract and major organs also contain lymphatic tissue. A healthy lymph system drains lymph into tiny vessels called capillaries. Tiny openings in the capillaries allow water, nutrients and gases to remove waste from the lymph. Lymph also brings bacteria and other foreign bodies to your lymph nodes, which filter out these harmful substances.

GARLIC

Garlic is beneficial for lymph. Sluggish lymph is often the result of a nutrient deficiency, according to "Linda Page's Healthy Healing" by Dr. Linda Page. Garlic helps to cleanse and boost the lymph system. Cabbage, carrots, kale and bell pepper are also immune-boosting foods. Garlic is also beneficial if you have a cold. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend garlic mixed with fenugreek and turmeric to purify the lymph system. Ayurveda is an alternative medicine from India. Ask your doctor before using alternative medicine.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

Garlic has anti-microbial properties that may assist in treating infections from bacteria or yeast. Garlic helps to prevent the deterioration of healthy cells and to rejuvenate your tissues, according to a Creations Magazine article by Dr. David Russell. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that garlic might be effective for heart disease and cancer. It may kill roundworms and Ascaris lumbricoides, the most common kind of intestinal parasite. Applying garlic topically may help jock itch and athlete's foot.

CONSIDERATIONS

Garlic may improve function of your lymph system, but too much garlic can be harmful. Potential side effects include bloating, upset stomach, body odor and bad breath. You can avoid bad breath with garlic-powder pills. Touching garlic may also cause your skin to tingle and even cause lesions. Other rare side effects include fatigue, aches, vertigo, skin rash, appetite loss and headache. Because garlic thins the blood, it can elevate your risk of bleeding during or after surgery. Too much garlic can interact with blood-thinning medications as well. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers garlic generally safe.