Before modern medicine garlic was used for almost whatever ailed you. And today's scientists are discovering that what the ancients knew was true.

Garlic contains more than 100 therapeutic sulfur compounds but one, alliin, is converted into allicin, and it's the chemical responsible for garlic's healing powers.

Garlic is best known for its beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Garlic is effective in preventing and treating high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels, reports the American Heart Association.

Some studies show that a daily garlic supplement can even stop and reverse atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries.

According to German researchers garlic appears to prevent the buildup of fatty plaques in the arteries and may even shrink existing plaques.

Garlic can help keep blood thin so it doesn't produce clots thus reducing the risks of stroke. Anyone taking a blood thinner should be careful of adding garlic to their diet for this reason.

Garlic has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties.

Yeast infections, colds, flu, sore throat, sinus problems, respiratory infections, and bronchitis, all yield to garlic because allicin blocks key enzymes that aid bacteria and viruses.

Garlic works like a broad-spectrum antibiotic but because it's a naturally occurring substance no antibiotic resistance can be built up like with synthetic drugs.

During both WWI and WWII doctors used garlic juice to treat battle wounds to prevent gangrene.

Garlic aids in the elimination of intestinal parasites, builds the immune system and even helps to reduce the pain of rheumatism and arthritis.

MRSA, the most commonly referred to as hospital acquired infections, can be very serious especially to the elderly and the young.

Scientists at the University of East London found that allicin can cure MRSA within weeks. It was also effective on the newer strains of MRSA which are not cured by even the most potent of all antibiotics, Vancomycin and Glycopepetides.