Bear's Garlic

Last Editorial Review: 6/11/2021
Other Name(s):

Ail des Bois, Ail à Feuilles Larges, Ail des Ours, Ail Pétiolé, Ajo de Oso, Ajo Silvestre, Allium ursinum, Bear Garlic, Broad-leaved Garlic, Ramsons, Wild Garlic.

Overview

Bear's garlic is a plant. The leaf and bulb are used to make medicine.

People take bear's garlic for indigestion, intestinal gas, high blood pressure, and “hardening of the arteries” (arteriosclerosis).

Some people apply bear's garlic directly to the skin for ongoing rashes.

How does work?

Bear's garlic has chemicals that might help protect against heart disease, by reducing blood platelet activity and lowering blood pressure.

SLIDESHOW

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Uses

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of bear's garlic for these uses.

Side Effects

There isn't enough information to know if bear's garlic is safe.

Precautions

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of bear's garlic during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

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.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

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References

Brvar, M., Kozelj, G., Mozina, M., and Bunc, M. Acute poisoning with autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale L.). Wien.Klin Wochenschr. 3-31-2004;116(5-6):205-208. View abstract.

Gabrscek, L., Lesnicar, G., Krivec, B., Voga, G., Sibanc, B., Blatnik, J., and Jagodic, B. Accidental poisoning with autumn crocus. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 2004;42(1):85-88. View abstract.

Hermanns-Clausen, M., Schindler, F., Stedtler, U., Zilker, T., and Felgenhauer, N. [Poisoning by the autumn crocus plant]. MMW Fortschr Med 3-23-2006;148(12):45-47. View abstract.

Klintschar, M., Beham-Schmidt, C., Radner, H., Henning, G., and Roll, P. Colchicine poisoning by accidental ingestion of meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale): pathological and medicolegal aspects. Forensic Sci Int 12-20-1999;106(3):191-200. View abstract.

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. View abstract.

Smeets, K., Van Damme, E. J., Van Leuven, F., and Peumans, W. J. Isolation, characterization and molecular cloning of a leaf-specific lectin from ramsons (Allium ursinum L.). Plant Mol.Biol 1997;35(4):531-535. View abstract.

Stern, N., Kupferschmidt, H., and Meier-Abt, P. J. [Follow-up and therapy of acute colchicine poisoning]. Schweiz.Rundsch.Med Prax. 5-28-1997;86(22):952-956. View abstract.

Carotenuto A, De Feo V, Fattorusso E, et al. The flavonoids of Allium ursinum. Phytochem 1996;41:531-6. View abstract.

Lust J. The herb book. New York, NY: Bantam Books, 1999.

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. View abstract.