China has been utilizing herbal remedies to treat afflictions, diseases, and common ailments for centuries. Alternative medicines and therapies are commonplace in Chinese culture, and often, they succeed in curing or relieving an individual's particular ailment where Western medicines might fail. Some of the Chinese herbal medicines discussed within this article are currently well-known and increasingly practiced by Western society, while others may be more elusive.

But as America strives to be health-conscious, seeking safer, natural forms of healing rather than prescription drugs and expensive medicines and treatments, we are turning toward herbal remedies, and Chinese herbal remedies in particular, as a popular alternative.

Since garlic is so well known and widely available, it seemed like a great place to start this guide to herbal remedies. There are many health benefits of garlic, primarily as a natural antibiotic and immune booster.

Guide to Herbal Remedies: Health Benefits of Garlic

Raw garlic has natural antibiotic properties that can help stave off many illnesses. Although garlic is not as concentrated as antibiotic drugs, most people find it gentler on the body, without the side effects of many drugs. Garlic also does not seem to contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs, a major concern with conventional medicine today.

Another unique property of raw garlic is that it fights fungal infections and viruses as well as bacteria, (unlike conventional antibiotics) so you may actually be able to naturally treat certain conditions that would not be treated at all by mainstream doctors.