Garlic Remedies for Pain & Arthritis

It tastes great in tomato sauce and hummus, but garlic has many more uses than a flavoring in your favorite foods. Civilizations all over the world have used garlic to ward off evil spirits and cure all types of ailments hundreds of years before modern medicines were invented. Garlic has been shown to have a powerful effect on the immune system, and can be used as an anti-inflammatory, meaning that it is perfect for relieving pain and stiffness that comes from arthritis.

Garlic Tincture

• Healthy hands

  A tincture is a concentrated herbal remedy that is made from soaking a plant or herb in oil or alcohol to extract all the healing elements. You can make your own garlic tincture by peeling about 40 cloves of fresh garlic and then dicing or crushing them. Put the macerated garlic in a glass jar, and cover it with 80- to 100-proof grain alcohol. Let the mixture sit in the sealed jar for around 20 days, shaking it once every day. When complete, you can add 15 to 20 drops to a small glass of water and drink it once a day, before meals, for one month.

Garlic Spread

• You can ingest garlic in a variety of ways. If you like the strong taste of garlic already, a paste or spread can be an enjoyable way to liven up a meal and alleviate your arthritis symptoms. Take 10 to 20 cloves of fresh garlic and mince them with a sharp knife. Lightly fry the fresh garlic in clarified butter or olive oil before adding it to a food processor where it is ground into a paste. Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep this spread in a sealed glass jar, and apply liberally to breads and starches.

Garlic Oil

• If you'd rather not eat fresh garlic directly, you can make garlic oil. This can be used in cooking, or rubbed directly on the joints that are experiencing arthritic pain. Take about 20 cloves of fresh, peeled garlic, and submerge them in a glass jar filled with about 4 cups of extra virgin olive oil. Allow the garlic to steep in the olive oil for around 10 to 15 days before straining out the garlic cloves, which can still be used in cooking. Seal the jar, and store in a cool, dry place. Rub the oil, as needed, on joints that are stiff or painful.

Garlic Pills

• If you are suffering from arthritics and are looking for a fast way to add garlic to your diet, garlic pills and tablets are available from many natural food and vitamin stores. Be sure to buy a deodorized variety or take them on a full stomach, or you might develop garlic breath.