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.
Is It Effective?
NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
- 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.
Is it Safe?
Bear's garlic has chemicals that might help protect against heart disease, by reducing blood platelet activity and lowering blood pressure.
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.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
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.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Bear'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.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Bear's garlic might slow blood clotting. Using it with other herbs and supplements that have this same effect might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Some of these herbs and supplements include angelica, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, red clover, turmeric, willow, Panax ginseng, and others.
There are no known interactions with foods.
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.
Ail des Bois, Ail à Feuilles Larges, Ail des Ours, Ail Pétiolé, Ajo de Oso, Ajo Silvestre, Allium ursinum, Baerlauch, Bear Garlic, Broad-leaved Garlic, Hog's Garlic, Ramsons, Wild Garlic, Wood Garlic.
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