Bram Stoker was the first to write about garlic as a way to ward off vampires. I think it was because garlic made this Irish author sick. Garlic can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It also can make one’s throat itch and constrict. That’s what happens to me because I’m allergic to it.

Garlic was used by the Greeks and Egyptians for medicinal purposes and to ward off evil spirits. Stoker would have drawn upon this information when he decided that it could be used against vampires. I like to think he had a more personal experience with the smelly herb. Hey! It’s possible!

To me, garlic is scary. I react even to the smell of it. I was buying fresh produce at an outdoor stand this summer and there was a small basket of garlic by the cash register. My throat started to itch and I began to cough. The stuff is deadly! I can understand Dracula fleeing from the smell.

I know most people love garlic. I’m aligning myself with Dracula and avoiding it!