Antall József – Buzinkay Géza szerk.: Népi gyógyítás Magyarországon / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 7-8. (Budapest, 1975)

Hoppál Mihály—Törő László: Népi gyógyítás Magyarországon (magyar és angol nyelven)

M. Hoppá —L. Törő: Ethnomedicine in Hungary 87 which was removed by pressure.

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5 It was also used there against malignant pustules

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6 and St. Anthony's fire.

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7 In Doboz it was commonly used for aches, sprains.

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8 Ethnic Hungarian settlers in Moldavia believed that eating garlic cured chest hardening

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9 and was suitable for the cure of jamming of the throat.

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0 In Orosháza rheumatic condition was treated by "rubbing the affected area with garlic vinegar,"

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1 and "chest and footsole were rubbed"

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2 in case of coughing. In Orosháza it was eaten to cure coughing and arteriosclerosis.

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3 A handwritten book of recipes recommends it for the shivers and also for herpes.

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4 K. István Mátyus writes: "garlic cooked in milk and given to children at the last quarter of the moon will frequently drive out worms".

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5 Then he enumerates those illnesses which can be cured with garlic. Among others he considers it useful against snakebite.

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6 As this discussion indicates, there takes place an intermingling of several elements in folk medical practice of the recent past in the case of garlic usage. We can assume nevertheless the ancient origins of this practice, since its role to counteract evil malady in unquestionably predominant. Recommendations to treat specific illnesses are sometimes based on correct observations. Thus, it is known that allium, an active ingredient of garlic, has an effect on purulent and inflamed illnesses and that it is also used in the preparation of medication for high blood pressure.

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7 Thirdly, we can point to examples of cultural influence. "Certain ancient peoples attributed special magic powers to garlic and wore its cloves around their neck as charms. Subsequently they also used it as medicine along with various quack materials" states the Book of Spices (Fűszerek könyve).

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8 K. István Mátyus quotes Galen, who referred to garlic as the panacea of peasants,

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9 and Pliny, who wrote that the Egyptians swore by it.

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0 We should note that these possible elements refer only to the more obvious 1

5 Cs. Póos 1964. 203. 1

6 Ibid. 1

7 Ibid. 1

8 Oláh, 1965. 205. 1

9 Bosnyák, 1973. 293. 2

0 Bosnyák, 1973. 296. 2

1 Sós, 1965. 590. 2

2 Sós, op. cit. 591. 2

3 Sós, op. cit. 590, 591 2

4 The copy of he receipt-book is to be found in the Archives of the Bakonyi Muzeum in Veszprém. 2

5 Mátyus, 1787. II. 297. 2

8 Mátyus, op. cit. 298. 2

7 Oláh, 1956. 206; "Modern medicine identified its various effects against arteriosclerosis, furthering digestion, against intestinal infection, inducing lowered blood-pressure, furthering the function of bile and liver." 2

8 Romváry, 1972. 65. 2

9 Mátyus II. 1787. 298. 3

0 Mátyus II. 1787. 302.