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Garlic is not only an excellent seasoning but also a great disease preventer. However, there is a folk saying that "garlic is beneficial in a hundred ways but harmful to the eyes." Is there any truth to this?
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, eating too much garlic is indeed bad for the eyes. This is because garlic is pungent and can damage blood. Blood nourishes the liver, and the eye's ability to see primarily originates from the liver. Therefore, "the eyes can only see when they are nourished by blood."
If you experience blurred vision or frequently have eye discharge over a period of time, you should consider whether you've eaten too much garlic. Furthermore, for people with eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, conjunctivitis, styes, or dry eye syndrome, if they do not avoid eating garlic, the treatment will be less effective even if they undergo therapy.
So, how much garlic is appropriate to eat?
The amount of garlic one should eat depends on the season, one's constitution, and the food it's paired with; there is no fixed quantity. In summer, when dampness is heavy, eating more garlic can help expel it. Whether in cold salads, stir-fries, or with dumplings and noodles, a few cloves of garlic can be added. However, eating a whole clove at once can easily lead to overconsumption. It's better to mash the garlic and mix it with vinegar, which prevents excessive intake while still adding flavor and preventing disease. Pickled garlic in sugar is also fine, and eating a few more cloves won't be a problem. However, autumn is not a good season for eating garlic, so it's best to consume less.
Additionally, people with yin deficiency, night sweats, or excessive liver heat should also eat less garlic, as it can easily lead to "internal heat." It's important to remember that you should not drink tea after eating garlic, as it can easily cause stomach pain.