Wild garlic scientifically known as bear's garlic, wild garlic, broadleaf garlic, wild garlic, bear's leek, gypsy onion, pig's garlic and wild leek is a wild relative of chives. It is part of the large Amaryllidaceae family, represented by 59 genera and over 850 species worldwide. As a member of the Allium genus, wild garlic is closely related to plants such as onions (Allium cepa), garlic (Allium sativum), leeks (Allium ampeloprasum) and chives (Allium schoenoprasum). Its botanical name, Allium ursinum, comes from the Latin word ursus, meaning bear. It is called bear's garlic because it is a real spring treat for bears that have just woken up from their winter sleep. The plant is native to moist, shaded forests in Europe and northern Asia. Wild garlic is an attractive perennial that blooms in spring and can be grown for both ornamental and culinary purposes.
History
Bear's garlic (wild garlic) has a very long history of use. The 1st-century Greek botanist Pedanius Dioscorides noted this in his five-volume herbal encyclopedia, describing its effectiveness for cleansing and detoxifying the body. During the Middle Ages, King Charlemagne of present-day France classified the plant in his Capitulare de Villis imperialibis, a guide that highlighted the medicinal properties of common herbs. In 1992, the Society for the Protection and Research of the European Flora declared wild garlic the plant of the year. Although easily overshadowed by its more lucrative cousins, wild garlic still has the same wonderful health benefits that initially earned it its coveted title. Today, it is found in several parts of the world for its wonderful health-promoting benefits and amazing addition to various cuisines.
Health benefits of wild garlic
Medically speaking, wild garlic has several outstanding uses, great help with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stomach upset and chronic diseases, among others. This garlic can be used internally or topically as an herbal supplement or added to poultices and other home remedies. Listed below are some of the well-known health benefits of using wild garlic in your daily routine.
1. The active ingredients of wild garlic have the ability to neutralize the activity of free radicals before they lead to cell mutation and oxidative stress in different parts of the body. This can help reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases, such as heart disease or arthritis.
2.Garlic is known to have a calming effect on high blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. In addition, wild garlic can lower total cholesterol levels, keeping your heart in good shape as you age.
3.The antibacterial and antifungal compounds found in this wild form of garlic can help rebalance the bacterial flora in your gut, which helps calm inflammation, bloating, cramping, constipation, and other stomach issues you may be experiencing.
4.Garlic has already been shown to have a strong antibacterial effect. But the effect is to feel strongly, take fresh, rough leaves. Wild garlic helps to clean the gastrointestinal system from microbes and bacteria.
5.Due to the presence of some important minerals, young wild garlic leaves are recommended for people suffering from high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and high blood pressure. This plant has a beneficial effect on the arteries, and can also prevent atherosclerosis.
6.Consumption of fresh wild onions has a beneficial effect on intestinal parasites. It helps prevent intestinal irritation and protects the body from colds and flu. Can help code bronchitis because it cleans the airways, facilitates breathing and reduces coughing.
7.Wild garlic in the form of a bath is ideal for anyone suffering from problematic skin, inflammatory processes on the skin, skin irritation, eczema and dermatitis.
8.The use of wild garlic has a beneficial effect on parasites in the digestive tract. It protects the digestive tract from problems such as ulcers and protects living beings from colds and flu.
9. Regenerative the properties of wild garlic are additionally excellent for purifying the body from poisons. More precisely, wild garlic cleanses the liver, kidneys, internal organs and nervous bladder.
10.Tiredness during the change of seasons bothers many people. It is often a lack of certain vitamins – calcium, potassium, iron, etc. Fatigue can be overcome very well and quickly with the help of wild garlic. The plant itself has these and many other important vitamins and minerals.
CAUTION: If you are picking bear's onion, be careful not to pick a similar leaf of the mrazovac plant, which is poisonous, see the picture.
An excellent dietary supplement is the Detox formula, which contains garlic and other herbs for cleansing the blood, lymph and skin.
You can read more about that formula HERE
Sources for this article include:
http://europepmc.org/article/med/19768983
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00926865
https://scielo.conicyt.cl/scielo.php?pid=S0716-97602004000200013&scr..
