Evidence supporting the use of: Garlic bulb
For the health condition: Colon (atonic)

Links: Go back one page, Tool main page, Ingredients list, Health conditions list, Body systems list

Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Garlic bulb (Allium sativum) has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems for supporting digestive health, including conditions like "atonic colon" (a term typically referring to a sluggish or weakened colon with reduced muscle tone, often associated with constipation). In various folk and herbal medicine traditions, garlic is believed to stimulate the digestive tract, promoting peristalsis and reducing fermentation and putrefaction in the intestines due to its antimicrobial properties. The traditional use is largely based on observations of increased gut motility and relief of digestive discomfort after garlic ingestion. However, scientific studies directly examining garlic’s effects specifically on atonic colon are limited. Some research indicates that garlic may have mild laxative effects and can modulate gut microbiota, but robust clinical trials are lacking. Most modern herbalists include garlic as a supportive agent for general digestive sluggishness rather than as a primary treatment for colonic atony. Thus, while there is a basis in historical and traditional use, the evidence remains weak by modern scientific standards. Garlic's primary clinical validation is for cardiovascular and antimicrobial benefits, with its use for atonic colon relying more on anecdotal and traditional accounts than on rigorous scientific evidence.

More about garlic bulb
More about Colon (atonic)