Historians call the land around the Tigris and Euphrates the Cradle of Civilization. Records inscribed on tablets were found from the ancient city of Nineveh. This is the same city mentioned in the Bible story of Jonah and the whale. Many of the Nineveh tablets related the medicine of the day. The first mention of garlic appears in a recipe written about 3000 B.C. by the Sumerians. Next, the Assyrians used garlic as a food, brewed as a tea, or mixed with wine for a variety of medicinal purposes. They used it to strengthen the system and ward off disease, used the tea for infectious fevers and diarrhea, and applied the garlic externally in poultices for painful swellings and for strains and sprains. Fast-forwarding to our countries early settlers, Colonists from Britain also brought garlic with them to North America, and garlic was the main worm remedy of the early settlers.

In the last century, scientists have examined garlic for its ability to fight bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi, yeasts, and molds, and have found it effective against a large number of these organisms. Researchers have also found that garlic does more than kill germs directly - it also strengthens and activates the body's own immune system.

Allicin is the very potent medicinal agent in garlic, effective against bacteria, viruses, molds, yeasts and other organisms. Newer discoveries have extended the list of garlic compounds to more than four hundred, with at least 30 of them having known medicinal properties. Most of garlic's medicinal constituents result from the breakdown of allicin. Allicin is highly unstable, however, and it degrades almost completely within 24 hours. It also breaks down completely within 20 minutes at higher temperatures, such as in cooking. The degradation, however, produces new components with a wide variety of medicinal effects. Allicin and its breakdown products all contain the element sulfur in a form that readily interacts with important enzyme systems.

Growing
Garlic will tolerate some shade but prefers full sun. Garlic responds best in well-drained, rich, loamy soil amended with lots of organic matter. Raised beds are ideal, except in very dry regions.

Traditionalists in the north insist on Columbus Day as the ideal time to get next summer's crop in the ground. If you're not bound by tradition, you can plant garlic during any dry spell in October. Agreed, unless you live in the south or west, where you still have plenty of time for planting.

Place cloves in a hole or furrow with the flat or root end down and pointed end up, with each tip 2 inches beneath the soil. Set the cloves about 6 to 8 inches apart. Top the soil with 6 inches of mulch, such as straw or dried grass clippings mixed with leaves. You'll see shoots start growing right through the mulch in four to eight weeks, depending on your weather and the variety you've planted. They stop growing during winter, then start again in spring. Leave the mulch in place into spring; it conserves moisture and suppresses weeds (garlic competes poorly with weeds).

Garlic needs about an inch of water each week during spring growth. If you have to augment rainfall with the garden hose, stop watering by June 1 or when the leaves begin to yellow in order to let the bulbs firm up.

When half to three-quarters of the leaves turn yellow-brown, typically in late June or early July (depending on the variety and the weather), it's harvest time. Carefully dig up each bulb; do not pull, or you may break the stalk from the bulb, which can cause it to rot. Once it's harvested, get it out of the sun as soon as possible.

Contraindications: Although toxic side effects from garlic consumption are rare, in animals and humans alike, moderation is always good idea, particularly for cats. When used excessively or over an extended period, garlic may cause Heinz-body anemia, a potentially life-threatening blood disease. Other side effects are more predictable and less threatening; digestive upset and gas when ingested or redness and irritation when applied to the skin (usually indicative of a preparation that is too concentrated). Cats are much more sensitive to the side effects of garlic so they require more attention to watch for digestive upset and behavioral changes.