Foraging and Identification

Wild garlic can be gathered in the wild, it is abundant and not under threat, but keep in mind that moderation is always part of ethical harvesting. Its strong garlic-like odour is a helpful feature for identification, along with the triangular stem, to distinguish it from other similar looking plants. You can pick a leave, smell it, and you will know!

Member of the Amaryllidaceae family, Allium ursinum L. in latin, wild garlic grows on damp soil in shady locations and luxuriously covers woodland floors. It's a perennial commonly found in England. It appears in early spring, at about the same time than bluebells, using the light coming through the bare trees, and rapidly forces its way to the surface to mature to about 30 cm tall, enjoying then the shady protection of the canopy of trees. It blooms from March to June, developing its symphony of white star-like flowers arranged in umbels on top of triquetrous stems. The plant reproduces via seeds and also bulb vegetative propagation. Wild garlic dies down completely in summer, leaving space for other plants to flourish.

Which active chemicals and constituents are involved?
The smell of wild garlic is an indication of the presence of sulphur-containing compounds broken down when the plant is crumpled or munched on, to give volatile compounds, including allicin (Brunning, 2020). These chemicals are used by the plant against pests, and also to inhibit the growth of other plants. In the human body, they exhibit antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antibiotic and antimycotic activities and furthermore, 'unlike conventional antibiotics, allicin is volatile and can kill bacteria via the gas phase' (Leontiev et al., 2018, p.1), conferring on ramsons useful properties for lung diseases.
A. ursinum is a good source of phenolic compounds and kaempferol derivatives which contribute to its anti-oxidant properties.
Steroidal saponins are also part of its constituents and often found in other members of the Amarylidaceae family, and in the Asparagaceae, Lilliaceae and Dioscoreaceae families as well. They participate in a wide range of actions as expectorants, platelet aggregation inhibitors, anti-parasitics, anti-bacterials, anti-fungals, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour agents (Escobar-Sánchez et al., 2015).
Additionally, wild garlic has been found to contain higher levels of magnesium, manganese and iron than culinary garlic (Allium sativum)(Sobolewska et al., 2013).
Finally, the bulbs are rich in nourishing polysaccharides and fatty acids.

How useful can it be for my health?
Wild garlic was already known by the Celts and later on it was recorded by Dioscorides as endowed with depurative properties (Sobolewska et al. 2015). It is still used as a spring tonic. Similarly to garlic, ramsons have a wide range of indications. A comparative study of the two plants concludes that despite some minor variations, it is appropriate to consider 'wild garlic as a substitute of garlic' (Sendl et al., 1992, p.1).
It is useful for respiratory conditions like 'asthma, bronchitis and emphysema' (PFAF, 2020). It is also a potent agent to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. An in vitro study found that A. ursinum exerts similar anti-aggregatory effects than A. sativum, with similar potencies, preventing the creation of blood clots (Hiyasat et al., 2009). It is additionally a good hypotensive agent and vasodilator, with cardio-protective qualities. It could actually be more effective than garlic in lowering blood pressure and decreasing cholesterol (Preuss et al., 2001).
Wild garlic improves digestion and intestine health and is of great value in treating related conditions like diarrhoea, flatulence, colic and parasitic infestations (PFAF, 2020). Externally, it can be used to support wound healing and also as a rubefacient in order to ease painful rheumatic or arthritic joints.
As a strong anti-infective, it is effective against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enteritidis, Candida lipolytica and Mycoderma (Sobolewska et al., 2015).
Additionally, it has potential inhibitory effect against the proliferation of various cancers 'including breast, lung, colon cancers, lymphomas and neuroblastoma' (Sobolewska et al., 2015, p.94)

Is it safe?
Generally, A. ursinum is recognized as safe. It is not part of the list of banned and restricted herbal ingredients in the UK, and can be used freely (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, 2014). However, likewise garlic, some allergic reactions are possible (Sobolewska et al., 2015). As with all herbs, it is always wise to start slowly, with small/moderate quantities. Wild garlic may also potentiate anticoagulant therapies and in this case it should be used moderately and with caution (Hiyasat et al., 2009).

How to use wild garlic
All parts of the plant can be used as medicine and eaten as food: leaves, flowers and bulbs (Plants For A Future - PFAF, 2010)(Sobolewska et al., 2013).
It is best used fresh as drying the herb will cause the loss of most of the volatile oil. Traditionally, ramsons leaves and flowers are added to salads, soups and omelets. They can be finelly chopped and folded into hot vegetable dishes, stews and curries, just before serving. A fiery pesto can be prepared by mashing the leaves together with basil, pine nuts, lemon juice, olive oil and grated parmesan (Gorham, 2013). A flavoured salt is obtained by stirring finely sliced leaves into sea salt.

A bit of folklore from the past...
The latin name of ramsons, Allium ursinum, is derived from the Latin word for 'bear' and refers to the fact that bears tend to eat the plant after their long winter hibernation, probably as a detoxifying tonic. In the middle age, pregnant women were encouraged to carry it in their pockets, which might be a reference to the action of the volatile oil, enveloping the lady with a protective antimicrobial scent.


References

Brunning, A. (2020). The chemistry of wild garlic. [online] Available at:
https://www.compoundchem.com/2016/04/04/wild-garlic/

Escobar-Sánchez, ML., Sánchez-Sánchez, L. and Sandoval-Ramírez, J. (2015).
Steroidal Saponins and Cell Death in Cancer. IntechOpen, [e-journal], chapter 15, pp. 331-351. https://doi.org/10.5772/61438

Ghédira, K., Goetz, P. (2016). Ail des ours : Allium ursinum L. (Amaryllidaceae). Phytothérapie, [e-journal], 14, pp. 165–169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10298-016-1042-7

Gorham, L. (2013). Herbal Condiments. [online] Available at: https://theherbarium.wordpress.com/

Hiyasat, B., Sabha, D., Grötzinger, K., Kempfert, J., Rauwald, J., Mohr, F., Dhein, S. (2009). Antiplatelet Activity of Allium ursinum and Allium sativum. Pharmacology, [e-journal], 83, pp. 197-204. https://doi.org/10.1159/000196811

Korpelainen, H., Labokas, J., Draper, D., Eliáš, P., Tavares, M., Strajeru, S., Smekalova, T. & Bulińska, Z. (2011). Ramsons, Allium ursinum. [online] Available at:
https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/172110/6826231#assessment-information [Accessed 7 December 2020].

Kräuterhaus Sanct Bernhard KG (2020). Wild Bear's Garlic Capsules. [online] Available at: https://www.sanct-bernhard.com/en-GB/products/wild-bear-s-garlic-capsules

Leontiev, R., Hohaus, N., Jacob, C., Gruhlke, M.C.H. and Slusarenko, A.J. (2018). A comparison of the antibacterial and antifungal activities of thiosulfinate analogues of allicin. Scientific Reports, [e-journal], 8(6763), pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-25154-9

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency [MHRA] (2014). Banned and restricted herbal ingredients. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-banned-or-restricted-herbal-ingredients-for-medicinal-use/banned-and-restricted-herbal-ingredients

Natural Medicines (2020). Bear's garlic. [online] Available at: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=247 [Accessed 9 December 2020].

Peška, V., Mandáková, T., Ihradská, V. and Fajkus, J. (2019). Comparative dissection of three giant genomes: Allium cepa, Allium sativum, and Allium ursinum. International journal of molecular sciences, [e-journal], 20(3) 733, pp. 1-25. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20030733

Plants For A Future [PFAF] (2010). Allium ursinum - L. [online] Available at: https://pfaf.org/user/plant.aspx?LatinName=Allium+ursinum

Preuss, HG., Clouatre, D., Mohamadi, A., Jarrell, ST. (2001). Wild garlic has a greater effect than regular garlic on blood pressure and blood chemistries of rats. International Urology and Nephrology, [e-journal], 32(4), pp. 525-530. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014417526290