you're bitten by a vampire.

I believe it thins the blood?

Also has antibiotic properties.

My grandfather ate cloves of raw garlic every day. He lived to 97. Never had heart or blood pressure issues. He died when he was just ready to go.

Medicinal properties including the ones mentioned above.

I love it in most any form. My dearest friend and mentor used to take one or two cloves, smash them a bit into some butter and spread that on toast for breakfast with black coffee. She was eastern European and I suspect it was a common fare in her home country... I never asked.

I'm impatiently waiting on my San Marzano tomatoes to ripen so I can make some fresh Marinara Sauce with lots of fresh garlic. Also the Golden Jubilee, Early Girl tomatoes and the bell peppers to ripen so I can make some garlic intense stewed tomatoes. I use the smaller heads to stuff into chicken when I roast one, along with onions, carrots and celery. I put them in mashed potatoes. I make garlic soup in the Winter when I feel like I'm getting sick. And I crush and swallow small cloves, just for the medicinal qualities. My Easter lamb is full of home grown garlic and Rosemary.

It is so nice to know exactly where the garlic came from, too. My gardens. And this was a pretty good year.

If I cook for others I usually try to warn them by either asking if they "like" it or, depending on who it is, I'll say, "Hope you like garlic!".

He said she would spread a little butter on brown bread and then slice the garlic into thin slices. He said she ate it in the evening, before going to bed.

it's a blood thinner.

I use it for cold medicine. First hint of a scratchy throat/sneeze/etc., I start eating raw garlic (antibacterial), and take some elderberry (antiviral). I haven't had a cold in ~15 years.

Although studies report little or no effect, I find that raw garlic is a great systemic insect repellent. Field tested in Florida. Mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, anything that sucks blood. I suspect the studies used a standard preparation of dried garlic. Raw garlic is different. I hear that fresh garlic sliced and exposed to oxygen stimulates chemical reactions in the garlic.

Been growing garlic for years, expanding into new varieties and techniques. Easy crop, if you give it loose light soil.

see https://www.democraticunderground.com/115912998
I prefer direct planting, but I'm starting some in water to have plants ready when frost takes out the veg.