Docetaxel Plus Garlic in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the breast * Incurable, locally advanced or metastatic disease for which therapy with docetaxel is a reasonable option * No documentation of progressive disease while on docetaxel within the past 2 months * Brain and/or leptomeningeal metastases are allowed only if all of the following criteria are met: * Asymptomatic on neurological examination, including after definitive radiotherapy * No corticosteroid therapy to control symptoms * Stable lesions * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age * 18 and over Sex * Male or female Menopausal Status * Not specified Performance status * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy * At least 12 weeks Hematopoietic * Neutrophil count ≥ 1,200/mm\^3 * Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic * Bilirubin normal * ALT and AST ≤ 2 times ULN (3 times ULN with liver metastases) Renal * Creatinine normal OR * Creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min Cardiovascular * No symptomatic congestive heart failure * No unstable angina pectoris * No cardiac arrhythmias Gastrointestinal * No known gastric emptying disorders * No persistent diarrhea Other * No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus * No active infection * No prior grade 3 or 4 allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar biological composition to garlic, docetaxel, or Tween 80 * No other concurrent uncontrolled medical condition that would preclude study participation * No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective barrier contraception * Must be able to ingest oral medication * Lactic dehydrogenase ≤ 2 times ULN PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy * At least 3 weeks since prior immunotherapy * No concurrent immunotherapy * Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) allowed after the first course of therapy at the discretion of the primary physician * No concurrent pegfilgrastim Chemotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin) * No other concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 2 weeks since prior hormonal therapy * No concurrent hormonal therapy * No concurrent megestrol during the first course of study treatment Radiotherapy * See Disease Characteristics * At least 3 weeks since prior radiotherapy * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery * Not specified Other * More than 30 days (or 5 half-lives) since prior investigational therapy * No concurrent aprepitant (Emend®) * No concurrent or oral tetrahydrocannabinol (Marinol®) during the first course of study treatment * No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients * No other concurrent investigational or anticancer medications * No concurrent antiepileptic therapy * No concurrent immunosuppressants * No other concurrent herbal therapies during the first month of study participation * No concurrent grapefruit juice during the first month of study participation * No concurrent administration of the following: * Alprazolam * Cyclosporine * Diltiazem * Dofetilide * Erythromycin * Fluvoxamine * Itraconazole * Ketoconazole * Quinine * Hypericum perforatum (St. John's wort) * Tacrolimus * Theophylline * Warfarin * Zolpidem