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Common name: |
Garlic. |
Botanical name: |
Allium sativum |
Family: |
Liliaceae. |
Origin: |
Central Asia. |
Description: |
The bulb of garlic is made up of a cluster of small bulbets (cloves). The flowers are held in an umbel. |
Uses: |
Food. Garlic has a long history of being used as a complementary medicine to protect against coughs and colds. It is commonly used as a poultice when it can cause very nasty burns. Traditionally also a vampire repellant! |
Allergens: |
Diallydisulphide, allicin. |
Allergy: |
Probably the most common cause of an allergic contact dermatitis on the finger tips. Most commonly it affects the thumb, index and middle fingertips of the non-dominant hand as a clove of garlic is held. Inhalation of garlic dust can cause severe asthma. Garlic poultices can cause significant burns (probably irritant). |
Cross reactions: |
Onion, leek, chives. |
Other information: |
|
Patch test: |
50% garlic in arachis oil, diallyl disulphide 5%. |