A popular Vietnamese lifestyle post recommends putting a clove of garlic under your pillow at night, listing benefits such as better sleep, stronger immunity, fewer insect bites, relief from nasal congestion and general relaxation. The original piece also offers quick kitchen tips for peeling garlic. (Original Vietnamese post). Tạp Chí Đời Sống

Below I’ve rewritten that article in clear English, expanded it with scientific context and safety notes, and added citations from reputable medical and food-science sources.

What people claim (traditional/home remedy)

The home-remedy claims are straightforward: an unpeeled garlic clove under your pillow will

• help you sleep more soundly,

• “boost” your immunity or reduce colds,

• act as a natural insect repellent (mosquitoes/flies),

• ease nasal congestion, and

• promote calm or relaxation.
  The Vietnamese write-up also lists fast ways to peel garlic (smash first, soak briefly in hot water, microwave for a few seconds, or rub cloves together in a hot pan). Tạp Chí Đời Sống+1

What the evidence actually shows

1. Sleep and relaxation. There’s no solid clinical evidence that sleeping with garlic under your pillow improves sleep quality. Any calming effect is most likely psychological (a placebo effect) or the result of ritual and expectation rather than a pharmacological action from the garlic fumes. (No robust sleep trials exist). Sleepopolis

2. Immunity and colds. Laboratory and some small human studies suggest garlic compounds (notably allicin) have antimicrobial and antiviral activity in vitro, and a small randomized trial reported fewer colds in people taking a standardized garlic supplement vs placebo. But systematic reviews conclude the clinical evidence is limited and inconsistent — and those trials tested ingested garlic supplements, not passive exposure to a clove under a pillow. So the idea that a pillow-clove will reliably prevent colds is unsupported. ScienceDirect+2PubMed+2

3. Insect repellent. People commonly believe garlic repels mosquitoes. Controlled studies have generally not found that eating garlic reliably prevents mosquito bites; concentrated garlic oil can show repellent activity in lab tests, but it’s far less effective and practical than EPA-recommended repellents (DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus). Relying on a clove under the pillow for insect protection is not recommended. PubMed+2ABC News+2

4. Nasal congestion and “allicin vapor.” Viral TikTok trends have promoted sticking garlic in the nostrils, but ENT specialists warn this can irritate mucous membranes and even worsen congestion or cause injury; the mucus seen in viral clips is a reflex response, not proof of a cure. Similarly, there’s no proof that passive inhalation of garlic from a clove under a pillow will meaningfully clear sinuses. If congestion is a problem, saline rinses or proven medical treatments are safer. Cleveland Clinic+2Food & Wine+2

Practical garlic-peeling tips (safe kitchen hacks)

If you’re putting garlic to culinary use, here are quick, low-risk ways to peel cloves: smash the clove first then remove the skin; soak separated cloves in hot water for a minute (skins slip off); microwave whole cloves for ~8–10 seconds to loosen skins; or rub cloves together in a heated pan to loosen the peel. (These are standard chef tips.) Bon Appétit

Bottom line — harmless tradition, but don’t expect miracles

Placing an unpeeled garlic clove under your pillow is a low-risk folk remedy and may feel comforting to some people, but major claimed benefits (preventing colds, reliably repelling mosquitoes, clearing sinuses, improving sleep chemically) are not well supported by clinical evidence. Garlic does contain biologically active compounds with proven antimicrobial effects in the lab, and some eaten garlic supplements have shown modest effects in trials — but those findings don’t validate the “pillow clove” as medical therapy. If you have persistent sleep, cold or sinus problems, or you’re relying on mosquito protection in a disease-risk area, use evidence-based treatments (good sleep hygiene, medical care, EPA-approved repellents) and consult a clinician. Medical News Today+2PMC+2