Bear’s Garlic
OTHER NAME(S): Ail des Bois, Ail à Feuilles Larges, Ail des Ours, Ail Pétiolé, Ajo de Oso, Ajo Silvestre, Baerlauch, Bear Garlic, Broad-leaved Garlic, Herba Salutaris, Hog's Garlic, Ramson, Ramsons, Wild Garlic, Wood Garlic, Allium ursinum, Bears Garlic, Ajo De Oso, Ail Des Ours
Overview
Bear's garlic is an herb. It grows throughout most parts of Europe and Asia. The leaf and bulb are used to make medicine.
People use bear's garlic for indigestion, intestinal gas, high blood pressure, skin rash, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Uses
Insufficient Evidence for
- Indigestion.
- Intestinal gas.
- High blood pressure.
- "Hardening of the arteries" (arteriosclerosis).
- Skin rashes, when applied to the skin.
- Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of bear's garlic for these uses.
Side Effects
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bear's garlic is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bear's garlic is safe or what the side effects might be.
Precautions
When taken by mouth: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bear's garlic is safe or what the side effects might be.
When applied to the skin: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bear's garlic is safe or what the side effects might be.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if bear's garlic is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
Bleeding disorders: Bear's garlic might slow blood clotting. This might make bleeding disorders worse.
Surgery: Bear's garlic might slow blood clotting. This might interfere with blood clotting during and after surgery. Stop taking bear's garlic at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions
Moderate Interaction
Be cautious with this combination
- Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with Bear's GarlicBear's garlic might slow blood clotting. Taking bear's garlic along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding. Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
Dosing
The appropriate dose of bear's garlic depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for bear's garlic. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
References
- Carotenuto A, De Feo V, Fattorusso E, et al. The flavonoids of Allium ursinum. Phytochem 1996;41:531-6.
- Rietz B, Isensee H, Strobach H, et al. Cardioprotective actions of wild garlic (allium ursinum) in ischemia and reperfusion. Mol Cell Biochem 1993;119:143-50.
- Lust J. The herb book. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.
- Bobak M, Skodova Z, Marmot M. Beer and obesity: a cross-sectional study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2003;57:1250-53.
- Koh-Banerjee P, Chu N, Spiegelman D, et al. Prospective study of the association of changes in dietary intake, physicial activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking with 9-y gain in waist circumference among 16 587 US men. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;78:719-27..
- Sendl, A., Elbl, G., Steinke, B., Redl, K., Breu, W., and Wagner, H. Comparative pharmacological investigations of Allium ursinum and Allium sativum. Planta Med. 1992;58(1):1-7.
- Sabha D, Hiyasat B, Grötzinger K, et al. Allium ursinum L.: bioassay-guided isolation and identification of a galactolipid and a phytosterol exerting antiaggregatory effects. Pharmacology. 2012;89(5-6):260-9.
- Hiyasat B, Sabha D, Grotzinger K, et al. Antiplatelet activity of Allium ursinum and Allium sativum. Pharmacology. 2009;83(4):197-204.
- Sobolewska D, Podolak I, Makowska-Was, J. Allium ursinum: botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological overview. Phytochem Rev. 2015;14(1):81-97.