Does garlic really boost the immune system?

[Deicide]

I have often read this but the evidence seems anecdotal. Is there any hardcore scientific proof for this?

[Montague]

Many resources site "possible" benefits of garlic.
I have personal, anecdotal evidence.
Anytime I get a "common cold," garlic does a number on it for me - and fast.

However, I'm not sure it has the same effect on everyone.
One of my best friends is Indian and uses lots of garlic in her cooking.
She & her son still get sick a lot in the winter, but they also have asthma and a slew of different allergies.

Plus, I "mega-dose" raw garlic when I get sick.
Not everyone can or wants to eat that much for various reasons.

[Princess L]

Many resources site "possible" benefits of garlic.
I have personal, anecdotal evidence.
Anytime I get a "common cold," garlic does a number on it for me - and fast.

However, I'm not sure it has the same effect on everyone.
One of my best friends is Indian and uses lots of garlic in her cooking.
She & her son still get sick a lot in the winter, but they also have asthma and a slew of different allergies.

Plus, I "mega-dose" raw garlic when I get sick.
Not everyone can or wants to eat that much for various reasons.

There's a specific ingredient in garlic (starts with an 'A' and ends in 'illian'  )  that is supposed to be the "active ingredient".  I tried to add it to my supplement regimen once, but couldn't stand the garlic burps!  I always thought that my breath would stink of garlic    

Anyway, I use a lot in cooking (especially roasted) cuz it TASTES GOOD  

I don't know (exactly) what to attribute it to, but I seem to have a great immune system.

[Montague]

There's a specific ingredient in garlic (starts with an 'A' and ends in 'illian'  )  that is supposed to be the "active ingredient".  I tried to add it to my supplement regimen once, but couldn't stand the garlic burps!  I always thought that my breath would stink of garlic    

Anyway, I use a lot in cooking (especially roasted) cuz it TASTES GOOD  

I don't know (exactly) what to attribute it to, but I seem to have a great immune system.

I, too, love the way it tastes.
Most people end up with bad breath from it, and for some, the smell emits through their pores.

I don’t know that anyone makes an enteric-coated capsule, or if that would even alleviate those problems, but it’s worth looking into.

[Lord of the Roidz]

Almost all conventional garlic supplements are of little use. There is only one proven garlic supplement that works...It is called Allimed. It has stabilized allicin in it and has been shown to eradicate 100's of bacterias and viruses, including MRSA. I have been using it for 2 years and have yet to catch a flu or cold while I'm on it. I used to get a couple of colds a year. I've had my girlfriend on it and she's had the same results as me...same with a good friend of mine too. It's expensive but it definitely works. Traditional garlic supplements require your body to convert the allicin content into a usuable form. Allisure is the patented stabilized form of allicin that is in Allimed.

[Marty Champions]

allicin is the key ingrediant in garlic is only active if the garlic is raw and fresh, this is the good stuff in garlic that is beneficial to us

garlic pills and cooked garlic do not work, it has de-activated allicin

[loco]

Allicin, the major component of garlic, is a powerful antibiotic.

http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/mdd/v05/i04/html/04news4.html

[Necrosis]

Yes reams of data on garlic are availible, both orally and topically. Its one of the more potent anti-biotics known, effective topically against MRSA.

[littleguns]

Garlic has been quoted as the original Penicillin as it was very popular in ancient times.....

Heck I have been using Garlic forever and have never been approached or bitten by a Vampire