Garlic
Garlic: A perennial herb of the lily family cultivated for its pungent, edible bulbs. Garlic has been used with the intention of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Preliminary studies suggest that garlic consumption may reduce the risk of developing several types of cancer, especially cancers of the gastrointestinal tract.
Side effects include breath and body odor, heartburn, upset stomach, and allergic reactions. These effects are more common with raw garlic.
Garlic can decrease normal blood clotting in a manner similar to aspirin. Caution should be used if surgery or dental work is planned and in patients taking medications to prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants) such as warfarin /Coumadin.
Garlic has been found to interfere with the effectiveness of saquinavir, a drug used to treat HIV infection. Effects on other drugs has not been well studied.
Read Also:
- Gas chromatography (GC)
Gas chromatography (GC): A type of automated chromatography (a technique used to separate mixtures of substances) in which the mixture to be analyzed is vaporized and carried by an inert gas through a special column and thence to a detection device. The special column can contain an inert porous solid (in gas-solid chromatography) or a […]
- Gas exchange
Gas exchange: The primary function of the lungs involving the transfer of oxygen from inhaled air into the blood and the transfer of carbon dioxide from the blood into the exhaled air.
- Gas, intestinal
Gas, intestinal: The complaint referred to as “intestinal gas” is a common one and the discomfort can be quite significant. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by burping or passing it through the rectum. In many instances people think they have too much gas when in reality they have normal amounts. Most people produce 1 […]
- Gas, laughing
Gas, laughing: Nitrous oxide, is a gas that is used in dentistry for its sedative or analgesic properties in the management of fear and anxiety, especially for children and special needs patients. The patient must be able to breathe normally through the nose, or the effectiveness of the gas is greatly reduced. It is contra-indicated […]
- Gastric atrophy
Gastric atrophy: A condition in which the stomach muscles shrink and become weak. Gastric atrophy may result in a lack of digestive juices due to accompanying shrinkage of the digestive glands.