13 Surprising Garlic Benefits That Will Improve Your Life

Try garlic for these unexpected health benefits, who-knew beauty uses, and hidden home repairs.

woman holding her long hair
iStock/Manuel Faba Ortega

Grow beautiful hair with garlic

Garlic could end your hair loss problems because of its high levels of allicin, a sulfur compound similar to that found in onions, which were found to effectively treat hair loss, according to a study in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology.ย (These are the 7 reasons your hair might be falling out.) Rub sliced cloves of garlic on your scalp, squeezing as you go for the most benefit. You can also infuse oil with garlic and massage it into your scalp. In addition to preventing hair loss, using garlic like this also acts as one of the most effective dandruff remedies out there.

woman examining her face in mirror
iStock/PeopleImages

Garlic clears acne

It might not be a main ingredient in your drugstore acne medication, but garlic may helpย banish unsightly blemishes. Its antioxidants kill bacteria, so try rubbing a sliced clove of garlic on the pimple. Garlic has been shown to potentially help with other skin issues, such as psoriasis and fungal infections. Don’t miss these 13 surprising home remedies for acne.

woman blowing her nose
iStock/OJO_Images

Garlic prevents and treats colds

Packed with antioxidants, aย daily doseย of garlic in your recipes could benefitย your immune system, according to a 2015 study in the Journal of Immunology Research. (These are the things doctors and nurses to do stop a cold in its tracks.)

woman in towel touching her knees
iStock/PeopleImages

Soothe psoriasis with garlic

One of the most surprising garlic benefits is that it can improve your skin. Since garlic has proven anti-inflammatory properties, it could be useful in relieving uncomfortable psoriasis outbreaks. Try rubbing a little garlic oil on the affected area for smooth, rash-free skin. These are 10 home remedies for eczema and psoriasis.

Control your weight with garlic

Garlic could help you control your weight, according to aย study in the Journal of Nutrition that showed mice eating a garlic-rich diet reduced their weight and fat stores. (If you don’t like garlic, explore more ways to lose weight without a lick of exercise.) To take advantage of this benefit, try to cook with garlic daily.

foot soaking in tub
iStock/Flemming Hansen

Treat athlete’s foot with garlic

With its anti-fungal properties, some research suggests that garlic may help relieveย itchy athlete’s foot. Soak your feet in a bath of warm water and crushed garlic. Don’t have any garlic? Try these other home remedies for athlete’s foot.

mosquito sitting on green leaf
iStock/PitiyaO

Keep away mosquitoes with garlic

Scientists aren’t sure why, but mosquitoes don’t seem to like garlic. Research showsย people who rubbed a garlicky concoction on their arms and legs weren’t bothered by the pesky buggers, according to an article from Colorado State University. On the other hand, here’s why certain people attract mosquitoes. Make a solution of garlic oil, petroleum jelly, and beeswax for a natural repellant or place cloves of garlic nearby.

woman's perfect teeth
iStock/LuminaStock

Garlic conquers cold sores

Garlic benefits the entire body, including the mouth. A popular cold sore home remedy involves holding a bit of crushed garlic directly on the cold sore; its natural anti-viral properties could help reduce pain and swelling, according to a 2014 study inย Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine.

cracked but not yet broken glass window
iStock/deyangeorgiev

Garlic works as a natural glue

Garlic benefits your body as well as your life. Have you ever noticed how sticky your fingers get after chopping garlic? That natural adhesive quality is why some people use garlic to fix hairline cracks in glass. Crush some cloves and rub the juice on the crack, wiping away any excess.

snow shovel leaning against garage door
iStock/ShulteProductions

De-ice your sidewalk with garlic

A town in Iowa used donated garlic salt to remove ice from roadways. Next time you stumble on old garlic salt in the back of your spice cabinet, save it for an icy walkway.

man gardening
iStock/PeopleImages

Protect plants with garlic

Garden pests don’t like garlic, so make a natural pesticide using garlic essential oil, mineral oil, water, and liquid soap. Pour into a spray bottle and mist your plants to keep away destructive critters.

older man and boy fishing off a dock
iStock/ArtisticCaptures

Catch more fish with garlic

Garlic benefits your fishing expeditions, too. Fish are so attracted to the scent of garlic that you can buy bait with the smell built in. Or, get this benefit byย making your own using food scraps and, of course, plenty of cloves.

Sources
  • Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine. โ€œGarlic: A Review of Potential Therapeutic Effects.โ€
  • Colorado State University. โ€œNutrition Column โ€“ Garlic May Repel Pests as Well as People.โ€
  • Dermatology Reports. โ€œGarlic in Dermatology.โ€
  • Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. โ€œCombination of Topical Garlic Gel and Betamethasone Valerate Cream in the Treatment of Localized Alopecia Areata: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Study.โ€
  • Journal of Immunology Research. โ€œImmunomodulation and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Garlic Compounds.โ€
  • Mental Floss. โ€œ15 Hilariously Effective Baits Used by Fishermen.โ€
  • Myoceses. โ€œEfficacy of Ajoene, an Organosulphur Derived from Garlic, in the Short-term Therapy of Tinea Pedis.โ€
  • NPR. โ€œFacing Ice, Snow, Iowa Town Looks To ... Garlic Salt.โ€
  • Scientific Reports. โ€œInsecticidal Activity of Garlic Essential Oil and Their Constituents Against the Mealworm Beetle, Tenebrio Molitor Linnaeus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae).โ€
  • The Journal of Nutrition. โ€œReduction of Body Weight by Dietary Garlic Is Associated with an Increase in Uncoupling Protein mRNA Expression and Activation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase in Diet-Induced Obese Mice.โ€
  • World Intellectual Property Organization. โ€œNatural Adhesive Using Garlic and Fabricating Method of the Same.โ€
Medically reviewed by Elisabetta Politi, CDE, MPH, RD, on October 13, 2019
Reader's Digest
Originally Published in Reader's Digest

Alyssa Jung
Alyssa Jung is a writer and editor with extensive experience creating health and wellness content that resonates with readers. She freelanced for local publications in Upstate New York and spent three years as a newspaper reporter before moving to New York City to pursue a career in magazines. She is currently Senior Associate Editor at Prevention magazine and a contributor to Prevention.com. Previously she worked at Reader's Digest as an editor, writer, and health fact checker.