Garlic in all of its many forms—raw or cooked in the diet, dried and powdered in capsules, or prepared in tinctures, syrups, or even topical—provides benefits.

You can use the form that suits your tastes and lifestyle and know that your body will appreciate it.

Forms of Garlic for Medicinal Use

What’s the best way to incorporate garlic medicinally into your life?

Kirsten Carle, ND, a naturopath at The Stram Center for Integrative Medicine in Delmar, NY, shares a few tips.

• Fight Infections

  If you’re looking to fight infections, then garlic is at its best in raw form, meaning the crushed, fresh cloves.

• Boost Immunity

  As a general immune booster, add garlic liberally to foods every day.

  Additionally, take as a supplement in tincture, capsule, or syrup form at first sign of cold or flu.

• Disease Prevention

  For heart protection and anticancer benefits, daily intake in capsule or tincture form is recommended; although raw or cooked garlic will still provide some benefit.