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Could Garlic Inhalation Help Control COVID-19? Exploring a Bold Therapeutic Proposal

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed science to its limits in the search for effective treatments. While pharmaceutical interventions took center stage, a lesser-known natural remedy has been proposed with intriguing potential: inhalation of allicin, the active compound in crushed raw garlic.

In a paper authored by Dr. Samah Mohammed Mahmoud Abozaid of Minia University, Egypt, the therapeutic potential of allicin inhalation was explored as a low-cost, natural strategy to combat COVID-19. The premise is simple yet compelling—allicin, a volatile sulfur compound released when garlic is crushed, may possess antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating effects that are especially beneficial for respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2.

What Is Allicin and Why Does It Matter?

Allicin forms when raw garlic is crushed, initiating a reaction between the compounds alliin and alliinase. While unstable and quickly transformed into other compounds, allicin is potent in its gas phase—allowing for possible direct inhalation into the lungs, the primary site of COVID-19 infection.

According to research cited in the paper, allicin shows:

• Antiviral activity, including interference with viral replication.

• Binding potential with ACE2 receptors and SARS-CoV-2 proteases—key to viral entry and replication.

• Immune stimulation, particularly boosting natural killer (NK) cell activity.

• Anti-inflammatory effects, such as IL-6 inhibition, crucial for reducing cytokine storms in severe COVID-19 cases.

• Antiplatelet and antioxidant properties, addressing complications like blood clots and oxidative stress.

Inhalation vs Ingestion: Why Smell May Work Better

One of the paper’s key arguments is that inhalation offers a faster, more direct delivery route to the lungs, where SARS-CoV-2 initially takes hold. Ingesting garlic, particularly when cooked, destroys allicin. Even swallowing raw garlic has limited bioavailability due to digestive transformation.

Instead, the author proposes inhaling vapors from freshly crushed garlic using custom-designed inhalers. The idea is based on historical uses of garlic vapor to treat tuberculosis and the compound’s ability to diffuse through cell membranes rapidly.

Proposed Use & Safety Considerations

• Dosage: Inhale vapors from 2 crushed cloves for 20 minutes, 4–6 times daily.

• Delivery: Specialized inhalers or simple methods like breathing near freshly crushed garlic.

• Benefits: May reduce viral load, speed up recovery, and prevent complications.

• Side effects: Mild eye or nasal irritation, bad breath—manageable with lemon juice or mint.

The author emphasizes no serious adverse effects were noted and recommends population-based trials to further assess efficacy and acceptance.

Final Thoughts: A Smelly Solution to a Serious Problem?

While the idea of using garlic vapor as a COVID-19 therapy may sound unconventional, it’s grounded in logical mechanisms and supported by promising biochemical data. More research and clinical trials are needed, but this approach highlights the untapped potential of traditional remedies when approached through a scientific lens.

In times of global health crises, even humble kitchen ingredients like garlic may have a role to play.