Print

khunlee09:19 UTC21 Nov 2004

Hi,
Has anyone else the "folk knowledge" that garlic helps your body cope with altitude sickness? any scientific support for this or other kinds of herbal/folk medicine apart from Gingko Biloba?
Cheers!

v2009110:01 UTC21 Nov 2004

Guide in Nepal had me taking garlic soup everynight for about one week plus acclimitization. Did it work, I didn't get sick. A US Dr in a small village gave me a reason why it helped but I can't remember what it was. Maybe it is also part of a mind game...

lumberjack5521:59 UTC21 Nov 2004

Bitter melon tea, particularly for those with diabetes. Not tried in myself, but the alkali nature is supposed to help fight the acidosis. Myself, the best "folk knowledge" remedy/preventative is good old WATER!

thegapminder17:55 UTC22 Nov 2004

While in India (Ladakh) I chewed those supharis (betelnut candies) which are supposed to help against altitude sickness but maybe I also wouldn't have got sick without them.

fingon22:15 UTC22 Nov 2004

Never heard of it. Habe been on the mountains quite a few times. As said, water, water and water, take it easy, climg high, sleep low. Those are the rules.

anaya01:52 UTC23 Nov 2004

The only thing that works for me is diamox and accasionally steroids. But im a hard sufferer from HACE and HAPE, almost killed me once.

lumberjack5508:48 UTC29 Nov 2004

Unless you've got good reason I generally urge people away from Diamox, acetezolamide, or other similar drugs, as they can mask important symptoms of underlying problems and pose special risk to some with other pre exisiting conditions, especially diabetes. Can't speak to #5's circumstances of course, so not trying to pass judgment, just my 2 and half cents.

intrepid19:59 UTC29 Nov 2004

I agree with lumberjack avoiding the drugs--go slowly if you are having trouble--I've seen the fittest of Rainier jocks coughing blood at 5000m and out-of-shape Paris pack-a-day smokers complaining about the state of disrepair of the "chinese ladder" on Everest's north face. Altitude is a genetic crapshoot.
My guide in Nepal in 2000 ordered me to drink some garlic soup on a particularly hard day--Namche Bazaar to upper Pangboche. I was fine, and he never again recommended the garlic soup. All by way of saying I think this might be a true folk remedy, in the placebo sense.

Fight altitude sickness with garlic? Interest forums / Trekking & Mountaineering
khunlee09:19 UTC21 Nov 2004	Hi, Has anyone else the "folk knowledge" that garlic helps your body cope with altitude sickness? any scientific support for this or other kinds of herbal/folk medicine apart from Gingko Biloba? Cheers!
v2009110:01 UTC21 Nov 2004	Guide in Nepal had me taking garlic soup everynight for about one week plus acclimitization. Did it work, I didn't get sick. A US Dr in a small village gave me a reason why it helped but I can't remember what it was. Maybe it is also part of a mind game...	1
lumberjack5521:59 UTC21 Nov 2004	Bitter melon tea, particularly for those with diabetes. Not tried in myself, but the alkali nature is supposed to help fight the acidosis. Myself, the best "folk knowledge" remedy/preventative is good old WATER!	2
thegapminder17:55 UTC22 Nov 2004	While in India (Ladakh) I chewed those supharis (betelnut candies) which are supposed to help against altitude sickness but maybe I also wouldn't have got sick without them.	3
fingon22:15 UTC22 Nov 2004	Never heard of it. Habe been on the mountains quite a few times. As said, water, water and water, take it easy, climg high, sleep low. Those are the rules.	4
anaya01:52 UTC23 Nov 2004	The only thing that works for me is diamox and accasionally steroids. But im a hard sufferer from HACE and HAPE, almost killed me once.	5
lumberjack5508:48 UTC29 Nov 2004	Unless you've got good reason I generally urge people away from Diamox, acetezolamide, or other similar drugs, as they can mask important symptoms of underlying problems and pose special risk to some with other pre exisiting conditions, especially diabetes. Can't speak to #5's circumstances of course, so not trying to pass judgment, just my 2 and half cents.	6
intrepid19:59 UTC29 Nov 2004	I agree with lumberjack avoiding the drugs--go slowly if you are having trouble--I've seen the fittest of Rainier jocks coughing blood at 5000m and out-of-shape Paris pack-a-day smokers complaining about the state of disrepair of the "chinese ladder" on Everest's north face. Altitude is a genetic crapshoot. My guide in Nepal in 2000 ordered me to drink some garlic soup on a particularly hard day--Namche Bazaar to upper Pangboche. I was fine, and he never again recommended the garlic soup. All by way of saying I think this might be a true folk remedy, in the placebo sense.	7

Fight altitude sickness with garlic?