The industry is establishing standards in an effort to improve its credibility - some products, such as ginkgo, are now standardized and offer some uniformity. The alleged active part of the plant is the inner bark - so this plant must be killed to harvest it. Vast areas of rainforest are now being stripped of this plant to feed the worlds' cravings for an unproven cure. See next section. Herbal products from the Amazon rain forest are available to treat any problem you might have in the marketplace in Iquitos, Peru.
Fresh garlic tends to cause heartburn and social consequences.
Garlic preparations in oil have been found to be relatively useless in some studies. The equivalent of 4 to 5 cloves per day is recommended. A 1992 German study of 18 commercial preparations showed significant allicin activity in only five. These glycosides are also potent anti-oxidants. It should be taken three times daily with meals.