Among the many medicinal food choices out there, garlic is one of the best. It is a highly anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory food. I often turn to garlic during cold and flu season, because it fights infection and protects the immune system so well.
GOOT (Garlic Olive Oil Treatment) is a powerful medicine traditionally made with garlic and olive oil. I prefer to use coconut oil, because unrefined organic coconut oil has soothing and healing properties of its own. GOOT is massaged into the skin, where it is absorbed into the bloodstream for the most impact. Apply it to the feet, chest, throat, and temples, or just massage it all over. Test on skin, especially for kids, to make sure it doesn’t cause a reaction. I just made a small batch of this because my son woke up sounding stuffed up, and we are travelling soon, so I want to take preventative steps. GOOT normally takes illness down with one mighty, garlicky punch.
To make this, you will need a small bowl and/or storage container (depending on how much you’re making), a few cloves of garlic, some quality coconut oil, and a garlic press, or knife and cutting board.
Coconut oil, garlic press, and garlic in a small bowl.
For a smaller batch, just press or mince a couple cloves of garlic, place in a small bowl. Then add a couple tablespoons of coconut oil. You will want to gently warm the ingredients, so the oil becomes infused. I used a glass baking bowl that is safe to be used in the oven or on the stovetop, so I simply placed the bowl in a saucepan with a little water, and warmed it over low for about 20 minutes. You could add the oil and garlic directly to a saucepan, just be cautious not to cook the garlic.
For a larger batch, you can warm 1/2 cup – 1 cup coconut oil in a saucepan, then transfer it to a blender, add a few cloves of garlic, and blend until smooth. Be careful that the oil isn’t warm enough to burn you. Transfer to a storage jar, but use within a few days, as the garlic is raw.
Two garlic cloves, pressed.
You can choose to strain your concoction, or just leave the pieces of garlic in it.
Garlic in warm coconut oil.
Massage all over skin, and cover up with an old towel or some pajamas that you don’t mind smelling garlicky. Apply several times a day for intensive use during illness, or just apply occasionally during cold and flu season, after travelling, or other situations where the immune system is weakened. It’s smelly, but it works!
I imagine so, but is this safe to use while breastfeeding? I just came down with a cold (yesterday) and I’m always looking for/willing to try something new/natural. As a stay at home mom, I’m not worried about smelling like garlic
Yes, unless your or your child have a garlic allergy, this should be perfectly safe for breastfeeding
This is also really good for earache. Warm it slightly in a bowl of hot water and use a dropper to drip a few drops into sore ear, with ear facing up on pillow, then plug with cotton wool. Works instantly!!
Can this just be eaten instead?
Yes, you could definitely just eat it! The topical treatment is a great choice for kids, since they often can’t eat garlic in raw form, in large amounts. But I chop garlic into pill size and swallow whole chunks of it to fight off infection!