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Add garlic to any recipe and you get an instant flavor boost. Okay, maybe not every recipe; I don’t know about any desserts that include garlic, but you never know… There’s a lot of creative cooking out there. Because garlic has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic properties, it’s also great as a natural treatment for some common problems. Read these unusual ways to use garlic and you’ll love it even more!

1. Remove a splinter. Cover the splinter with a slice of garlic and place a band-aid or piece of tape over it for about 30 minutes. Remove and the splinter becomes easier to remove.
2. Athlete’s foot. Let garlic help you get rid of athlete’s foot. Soak your feet in crushed garlic and warm water for a half hour.
3. Eat it. Okay, maybe not so unusual to eat garlic, but I’m talking about the fresh kind- not from a jar or a powder. Garlic helps you maintain a healthy weight, contributes to heart health, can prevent and treat colds, and may prevent cancer. Remember what I said about garlic and dessert? Since we’re talking about unusual uses for garlic, be brave and try out this recipe for Garlic Chocolate Truffles!
4. Pesticide. Don’t spray chemicals on your plants- kill and keep the bugs away naturally with garlic. Chop the cloves of a head of garlic and steep overnight in a quart container of hot water. Strain and store in a spray bottle.
5. Treat acne. Cut open a clove and rub over breakouts.
6. Ear infection. Put a few drops of warm garlic oil in the ear. You can buy garlic oil for this or make your own: crush a clove of garlic, mix with one teaspoon hot olive oil and leave it for five minutes. Strain and let it cool before using. If it doesn’t get better, see a doctor.
7. Hair loss. Massage a cut garlic clove on the scalp to stimulate hair growth.
8. Toothache. Crush garlic and place in mouth near the affected tooth for relief before you can get to a dentist.
9. De-icing the sidewalk or driveway. If you’re caught without the proper supplies you can always sprinkle some garlic salt to melt snow and ice.

You’d think that something so amazing and useful would be pretty expensive, but no! A head of garlic costs less than a dollar, which is great because you’ll be buying a lot of them!

Do you have any unusual ways to use garlic? Share with us on Facebook and Twitter!

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