In ancient times, long before antibiotics and other pharmaceutical products, garlic represented the entire pharmacy to humans because of its broad spectrum of health benefits.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information, the genetic sequence database of the National Institutes of Health, provides a wealth of information compiled at its National Library of Medicine.

There is evidence that garlic is one of the first plants to have been cultivated by man. Indigenous to middle Asia, its exact origin places it specifically in western China. It is believed the Sumerians (from 2600 to 2100 BC) brought it to China, and it later spread to Japan and Korea.

Varying ancient beliefs of the health benefits of garlic have remained unchanged throughout history. It is revered for its medicinal properties in many guises in cultures worldwide, such as Russian penicillin, a natural antibiotic and plant talisman.

Garlic was a valuable commodity as trade evolved across Eastern Europe, and production was quickly adopted in India, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Africa and middle Europe, particularly in Italy and France.

It reached the United Kingdom in the 14th century and was introduced to North America in the 16th century. Its popularity began to increase in the United States in the 1920s.

Throughout history, garlic was used for a nearly endless list of medicinal purposes. Ancient Israelites used garlic as a starvation stimulator, blood pressure enhancer, body heater, parasite-killer and more.

Owing to garlic, in 1720 a thousand inhabitants of Marseille were saved from the spread of plague. In 1858, Louis Pasteur wrote that garlic killed bacteria, even highly resistant strains.

In the early 20th century, medical research confirmed that the antiseptic properties of garlic were beneficial in reducing the spread of cholera, typhoid fever, influenza and diphtheria.

Ongoing scientific research by accredited institutions resulted in the NIH reporting that garlic shows evidence of having a wide range of health benefits. Some reports claim protection from common cold, beneficial effects on LDL cholesterol, decreased blood pressure and more, including that it has proven to be active against sarcoma in laboratory rats.

In conclusion, the NIH states that garlic is the plant necessary in everyday life from past to present days. It contains active compounds that are responsible for its effect on almost every part of the human body. Data compiled to date suggest that garlic should be consumed as much as possible.

Garlic’s use throughout history includes mystical and magical beliefs. People of many Mediterranean countries wove garlic into necklaces and wore them as protection against evil spirits and against enemies. It is listed in nearly every religious text around the world. The Talmud prescribes a meal with garlic every Friday, and the Bible mentions that a meal with garlic and cheese is to be consumed by reapers.

According to the Agriculture Marketing Resource Center, or AGMRC, compiled by Hayley Boriss of the Agriculture Issues Center, University of California, and revised in April 2014 by Shannon Hoyle, AGMRC, Iowa State University, the average garlic consumption per capita per year in the U.S. is two pounds. The report states that the steady increase in demand for garlic is attributed to an increased affinity for its flavor and the promotion of its health benefits.

In 2013 the majority of fresh and processed garlic production was concentrated in California, which harvested 23,000 acres. The value of U.S. garlic production that year was $232 million, an increase from the previous year.

The AGMRC report notes that prices have varied over time, from a low of $24.49 per hundredweight in 2004 to a record high of $71 per hundredweight in 2010. The average price was $60 per hundredweight with an average yield per acre of 162 hundredweight in 2013.

Globally, China remains the largest garlic-producing nation representing two-thirds of the world’s total production. Following behind are India and South Korea. The Unityed States ranks eighth in total global garlic production.

In 2010, the United States exported 18.6 million pounds of fresh garlic valued at $16.4 million, primarily to Canada and Mexico.

The United States is the world’s largest import market for fresh garlic, becoming a net importer of 164.4 million pounds in 2010. China accounted for the majority of total U.S. garlic imports. Other top suppliers of garlic to the United States were Argentina and Mexico.