Uses for Onions

Traditional Uses for Onion

Onion is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Beyond its common culinary application, onion has been used medicinally for a variety of indications, and is found across a wide range of climates in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. It has been used for thousands of years for various conditions, including insomnia, wound healing and baldness. Further study is needed, however, before definitive conclusions may be drawn about onion's effectiveness for the treatment of these or any other conditions.

African medicine: In southeastern Morocco, onion is popularly used to treat various health conditions, including diabetes and hypertension.

Arab medicine: Onions have been combined with eggs and sesame oil to cure coughs and colds. They may also be used in the form of onion juice as eardrops to treat ear infections as well as deafness. Onions may also be used to relieve sore throat.

Ayurveda: Onion may be used for the relief of earaches, cardiovascular disorders and bleeding hemorrhoids. For the latter condition, an ounce of onion crushed in water and two ounces of sugar has been used twice daily. A paste of mustard oil, turmeric, and onion juice has also been used. Honey and onion juice mixed in equal amounts has been used to treat coughs. Onions have also been used to increase libido, although strict practitioners may purportedly avoid them, as they might increase desire. Hing is generally used as a substitute in this case. According to Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa's book The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs, the famed Yogi Bhajan once said, "I said, in this universe, in Ayurveda, the basic method of healing, there are only three things: ginger, garlic, onion. These are called Triyajhad, three roots." Yogi Bhajan continued that this combination may be ideal for spinal issues. Raw, chopped onion is believed to be a "cure-all" herb with rejuvenating capabilities and may promote longevity if consumed regularly. For fever, an infusion of onion and tulsi cooked in coconut oil is applied to the head.

Caribbean medicine: In the Bahamas, colds are supposedly treated by placing an onion slice in the shoe near the heel. Onions are used with honey to treat respiratory disorders such as bronchitis and catarrh in the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, headaches are purportedly relieved headache by placing sliced onions on the head. In Trinidad, onion decoctions are made for coughs, colds and tuberculosis. In Curaçao, tinnitus and earache are treated using the neck of the onion as a plug.
Central/South American medicine: In Bolivia, onion bulbs are eaten for respiratory disorders, kidney disorders (kidney stones), and urinary disorders and as a sleep aid and anti-inflammatory. Candied onions are used for cough and respiratory disorders (pertussis). Onion skin tea has also been used to treat respiratory disorders, such as laryngitis with vocal loss in, both Peru and Bolivia. In Nicaragua, the Garifuna supposedly ingest onion juice for respiratory disorders and parasitic infections (particularly intestinal parasites).

Chinese medicine: Onion is used in Chinese medicine to regulate qi, improve circulation, warm the body, treat respiratory disorders (loosen phlegm) and as an appetite stimulant and sleep aid. Abdominal pain associated with parasitic infections may purportedly be treated using one tablespoon each of green onion juice and sesame oil daily. Ulcers are treated using 2-3 tablespoons of green onion juice with brown sugar and hot water twice daily.

European medicine: Onions are purportedly used in Italian traditional medicine for chilblains and wound healing (from thorns and splinters). In Russia, vinegar-boiled onion is applied to treat skin conditions such as corns. During World War II, Russian soldiers used onions as an antiseptic on battle wounds. In Spain, onion is often utilized for the treatment of deafness and tinnitus.

Japanese medicine: In Japan, a cut onion is placed under a pillow as a purported sleep aid.

Modern (Western) herbal medicine: In modern herbal medicine, onion has been used for hypercholesterolemia and hypertension.

Veterinary medicine: Secondary sources suggest that onions are purportedly toxic to animals.

For more information about onion, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

References

1.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. http://www.naturalstandard.com/  

http://www.depsyl.com/

http://back2basicnutrition.com/

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com/