Bear's Garlic
Botanical Description & Habitat
Allium ursinum
Family
Alleaceae
Common Names
ransoms
Habitat
Found in shady deciduous woods throughout England and Europe
Medicinal Parts
The whole herb, fresh or dried
Historical Properties & Uses
Bear's garlic is a very popular European species of garlic. It is used in a manner very similar to Allium sativum, for applications from intestinal worms to conditions such as high blood cholesterol. The reader is referred to the discussion on garlic for more information.
Method of Action
Bear's Garlic is Very Similar to Regular Garlic
The mode of action of bear's garlic is also very similar to that of garlic, A. sativum. The vascular action is said to be much less than that of garlic, such that if one wished strong gastrointestinal effects without the cardiovascular effects, bear's garlic may be the herb of choice. In the opinion of some researchers, proprietary preparations of bear's garlic are better suited for arteriosclerotic applications than for antibiotic applications. This may suggest a hierarchy of applications as follows:
(1=primary application; 2=secondary; 3=tertiary):
| Garlic | Bear's Garlic |
| 1. Antibiotic | 1. Gastrointestinal |
| 2. Cardiovascular | 2. Cardiovascular |
| 3. Gastrointestinal | 3. Antibiotic |
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
Mineral oil, by sequestering this herb, may reduce its anthelminthic effect. The same may be true, to a lesser extent, of antacids.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Toxicity in therapeutic dosages is unknown.
Preparation & Administration
Juice
1/2 tsp juice pressed from bulb, thinned with water, two to three times daily.
Cold extract
let several cloves stand in 1/2 to 1 cup water 10-12 hours.
Note: This Herbal Preparation information is a summary of data from books and articles by various authors. It is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health care professionals.
References
Braun, H. & D. Frohne. Heilplanzen-Lexikon Fuer Aerzte und Apotheker. Gustav Fisher Verlag, Stuttgart, New York, 1987.
Kunze, und Hinzelmann, Dtsch. Zahnarztl Wschr., 1940,29., reported in Czetsch-Lindenwald, H. & Wolfsberger, I.K. Phytoantibiotika. Scientia Pharmaceutica, 23(4), 243-251, 1955.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Weiss, R.F. Herbal Medicine. Beaconsfield Publishers, LTD, Beaconsfield, England, 1988.
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