It’s totally legit that everything tastes a whole lot better with some crushed garlic on top. However, that’s the only use of this wonder veggies. Apart from the fact that the people with the white lab coat have discovered that eating garlic every day reduces the risk of cancer, it can also be used in a shit hits the fan situation. So, the question is: should your bug out bag/survival pack contain garlic? Well, stick around to find out. Here are 9 ways to use garlic in a shit hits the fan situation.
1. Get rid of splinters
There’s nothing more uncomfortable in the field than having to endure a splint. Whether it’s in your finger or other parts of the body, a splinter can become quite the nuisance, not to mention a risk of infection. Anyway, a surefire remedy to remove a splinter is to apply a slice of garlic over it. Cover with a bandage and let it sit there for a couple of hours. The oil found inside the garlic will sort of loosen the splint, making it easier to pick up using a pair of tweezers or your fingers.
2. Treat cold sores
Cold sores can be quite bothersome: hard to treat even with conventional meds, and they tend to leave nasty scars. However, there’s a better way to go about this, and, as you might have guessed, it involves garlic. Slice some garlic, take the piece, and apply it on the cold sore. Yeah, I know it stings like Hell, but it will only last a couple of seconds. Repeat the procedure for a couple of days. You’ll see that the sore will eventually subside and no scar will take its place. Wouldn’t try this at the office, but, Hell, who’s going to see you at home?
3. Makeshift glue
Don’t have anything else on hand to stick paper or anything else for that matter? No problem: just slice a garlic clove and rub it on paper. Trust me when I say that the garlic-rubbed paper will stick to almost any surface.
4. Cheap lure
As strange as it may sound, many common fish species are attracted to the smell of garlic. Better said, to the essential oils found inside this vegetable. If you’re into fishing and ran out of ideas of what to use a lure, cut a slice of garlic and rub it over whatever you’re using for bait.
Related: How to Make Apple Cider Vinegar
5. Prevent hair loss
Yes, I know that garlic and hair just don’t mix, but, according to the researchers, they do. Garlic contains high amounts of allicin, a sulfuric compound which was discovered to combat hair loss. So, how do you go about this? Bear with me, no matter how weird it may sound. Take a couple of garlic cloves and crush them in a clean bowl. Use a spoon to stir the mixture. Continue doing so until the crushed garlic turns into a white paste. Get into the shower and moisten your hair. Apply a generous garlic paste coat to your scalp and massage it for one or two minutes. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with plenty of water and then use your regular shampoo or conditioner to get rid of the smell. You should do this at least two times a week for three to four months for visible results.
6. Homemade cough syrup
Garlic’s very much appreciated for its scientifically-proven antibacterial effect. More than that, it’s an age-old remedy for coughing and persistent colds. Tea made from garlic is just as effective as regular, synthetic cough syrup. Yes, call it a survivalist’s remedy, if you want to. So, here’s what to do in order to prepare garlic syrup: place one or two crushed garlic cloves in a mug. Pour hot water and let the infusion rest for five minutes. When the time’s up, remove the cloves, and drink the concoction. Yes, it tastes like shit, but you’ll be cold-free in a couple of days. Forgot to mention that garlic tea also works wonders on sore throats. The best remedy I heard of; would totally recommend to people who worked in an AC environment.
Related: Using Herbal Remedies on the Homestead
7. Mosquito repellant
Probably the most annoying part of camping in the summer is coming up with new ways to ward off mosquitoes. And it’s no easy feat; I can tell you that; those buggers seem to appear from nowhere. Forget bug spray or fancy gadgets. Those are useless in front of these bloodthirsty fiends. Try this instead: prepare a mixture of two cups of water, three minced garlic cloves, and one teaspoon of lemon juice. Pour the resulting mixture in a spray bottle and spray a good amount around the camping site. That’s it! You can now enjoy a good night’s sleep without scratching or waving your hand to get rid of mosquitoes.
8. Quick glasses fixer
If you’re the proud owner of prescription glasses just like yours truly, then you know how daunting the perspective of losing or breaking them can be. Probably the worst scenario I couldn’t think of is getting your glass lenses cracked in a survival-type situation. And you know all about glass and cracks: once it starts, there’s no way of stopping it. Well, not until now – to prevent the crack running all the way through, rub a little bit of garlic on the lenses’ surface. You’re welcome.
9. Kill intestinal parasites
Parasites nesting in your gut is never good news, regardless if you’re at home or in the wilderness, fighting to survive. Fortunately, there’s a sure-fire way to get rid of those bugs. Yes, garlic can kill intestinal parasites, but there’s a caveat: knowing exactly how much to eat and when to it. For most people, eating two to four raw garlic cloves per day should do the trick. However, in your case, it could less or even more. Start with a couple of them and see how it goes. Results should be visible after the third day or so.
Well, this about concludes my piece on how to reap the benefits of garlic in a shit hits the fan situation. Know any more uses? Shoot me an email and let me know what you have in mind.
