April is the home of many causes, from National Pet Month to National BLT Sandwich Month. Somewhere in between the list includes National Garlic Month. It honors the earliest documented use of garlic by humans for the treatment of diseases and maintenance of health … dubbed the “stinking rose.”
A member of the onion family, garlic is believed to be a native of Central Asia and South Asia, and has been revered as an offering fit for the gods. Over the past 5,000 years man has used garlic as food, money, medicine, magic potions and as an aphrodisiac. Egyptians used garlic to pay and feed workers and slaves on the great pyramids, believing eating garlic maintained and increased strength and productivity. They believed it was too coarse and common for the refined palates of the upper class although they accepted its power of warding off evil and as a medical herb.
Garlic touched every major ancient civilization. It was a vital product to the Egyptians who soon began usin...