Evidence supporting the use of: Garlic bulb
For the health condition: Colds (with fever)

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Synopsis

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

Garlic (Allium sativum) has a long history of use in traditional medicine across cultures, including for the treatment and prevention of colds and fevers. Folk medicine systems, especially in Asia and Europe, have used garlic as a remedy for respiratory ailments, attributing its benefits to its pungent compounds such as allicin. Traditionally, garlic bulbs are consumed raw, infused in teas, or added to foods to "ward off" illness and promote sweating, which was believed to reduce fever.

From a scientific perspective, some laboratory studies have demonstrated that garlic has antimicrobial, antiviral, and immune-modulating properties, largely due to sulfur-containing compounds like allicin. A few small randomized controlled trials have suggested that garlic supplementation may modestly reduce the incidence or duration of the common cold. However, the evidence remains limited and results are not entirely consistent; most studies are small, have methodological limitations, or show only a mild effect. There is little direct evidence specifically addressing garlic's effect on colds accompanied by fever. As such, while its use is justified by centuries of tradition and some preliminary scientific findings, robust clinical validation is lacking, and its effect size is likely modest. Nonetheless, garlic remains a popular folk remedy for colds in many cultures.

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