Herbal Tea for Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Garlic Tea

Garlic cures are numerous, and as tasty as it is when used as flavoring, garlic has a lot of value as an herbal remedy outside of the kitchen. The various health benefits of garlic have been proven time and again, and this terrific herb is well worth including in your arsenal of herbal remedies. Garlic is a natural antibiotic as well as a natural antiviral and antifungal, making it a potent enemy of many ailments to mankind.

The Great Cleanser
Garlic has been used for centuries to disinfect wounds, combat infections and even treat tuberculosis using an inhaled version of garlic -- perhaps garlic tea steam. Garlic juice and oil extracts inhibit the growth of many bacteria, viruses and fungi, including candida, E. coli, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. The antibacterial and antifungal activity is due to allicin, a compound within garlic. To release allicin, garlic must be crushed, cut or chewed while raw.

Heart Health and Blood Pressure
Garlic tea may have heart-protective properties. One promising 1996 study from Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island gave aged garlic extract to 41 men with high cholesterol, and found it lowered total serum cholesterol by 6 to 7 percent over the course of the study. The garlic extract also lowered LDL, the "bad cholesterol" by 4 percent and blood pressure by 5.5 percent. Brewing a cup of garlic tea can provide this heart-healthy food in its real form. See how Chinese medicine treats Hypertension (High Blood Pressure).

How to Make Garlic Tea
Some garlic teas include other ingredients like honey and lemon. To make garlic tea, first chop the garlic to release allicin. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil, then turn off the heat. Add one to three cloves of garlic, depending on your preference. If desired, add lemon juice and honey to taste. Oregon State University notes that allicin is inactivated by cooking, but chopping and letting the garlic stand for at least 10 minutes before exposing to heat can help preserve allicin.