Evidence supporting the use of: Garlic bulb
For the health condition: Pleurisy

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 (Allium sativum) has a long history of use in traditional medicine for various respiratory ailments, including pleurisy. Pleurisy is an inflammation of the tissues that line the lungs and chest cavity, and its symptoms include sharp chest pain and difficulty breathing. Historical records, particularly in European herbalism and Unani medicine, cite garlic as an expectorant and anti-inflammatory agent. It was commonly recommended for chest complaints, coughs, and pleurisy due to its pungency and believed ability to 'break up' congestion. The rationale was based on garlic's warming, stimulating, and antimicrobial qualities, which were thought to help expel phlegm and reduce infection-associated inflammation.

However, modern scientific evidence for garlic's effectiveness specifically in treating pleurisy is very limited. Some laboratory studies have demonstrated garlic's general anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immune-modulating properties, which conceptually could be beneficial in respiratory infections and inflammations. Yet, there are no clinical trials or robust studies directly linking garlic intake with improved outcomes in pleurisy patients. Thus, while its use is justified by historical and traditional practice, especially before antibiotics, the direct scientific validation for pleurisy is weak. Garlic continues to be valued in traditional medicine, but it should not replace evidence-based medical treatments for pleurisy, especially in serious or infectious cases.

More about garlic bulb
More about Pleurisy