Onion is also known as Allium cepa (Scientific Binomial Name), Bulb onion / Common onion (Common English), Palaandu / Durgandh (Ayurvedic), Piyaaz (Unani), Pyaz (Hindi / Urdu), Vengayam / Venkaayam / Vaengayam (Tamil), Kanda (Marathi), Palandu (Sanskrit), Peyaj (Bengali), Nirulli / Ullipayalu / Yerra Gaddalu / Vulligadda (Telugu), Eerulli (Kannada), Savala (Malayalam).
Nutrition in Red and White Onions
Recent research says that, onion reduces both blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus helping to combat any tendency for heart disease. It also has a preventive effect on the development of arteriosclerosis and proved beneficial in reducing blood sugar in diabetes. Try to eat a serving of onions every day in soups, vegetable dishes, casseroles, or salads. White onions are considered as an important aphrodisiac food. It increases libido and strengthens the reproduction organs. White onions also make excellent remedy for cholera. Two teaspoons of this juice, mixed with an equal quantity of white onion juice and a teaspoon of lime juice, should be given OR about 30 grams of onion and 7 black peppers should be finely pounded in a pestle and given to the patient. It allays thirst and restlessness and the patient feels better.
Health Benefits Of Onion
Like garlic, onion has long been used to combat infections, improve the digestion and ease coughs. Like garlic, the onion owes much of its smell to a number of sulfur compounds which stimulate the digestive system and have an antibiotic action, preventing decay. To treat warts, put raw onion in food processor and dab some pulp on warts twice a day. Same trick works to bring the boil to a head. Onions make excellent home remedy for heart disease. They are useful in normalizing the percentage of blood cholesterol by oxidizing excess cholesterol. One teaspoon of raw onion juice first thing in the morning will be highly beneficial in such cases. People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) used to be advised to eat onion skins. Onion skins contain quercetin, a naturally occurring antihistamine that helps block the allergy-like reactions that IBD sufferers have to certain foods. When cooking soup, you can add a whole onion to the pot; the quercetin will seep out of the skin.
Medicinal Use of Onion
Slices of raw onion can be applied directly to soothe insect stings both bees and wasps, and can be used chopped in poultices for chilblains and to draw boils. The fine membrane between layers of onion makes a very effective antiseptic dressing. Apply wounds, cuts or burns and cover with a bandage. To treat the earache, wrap freshly cut onion slices in a dry cloth; place this onto the affected ear. After a very short while the onion warms and begins to break down. The pain disappears as the onion “pulls out the pain”. Treat a migraine with an onion compress placed on the forehead. Slice fresh onions and place on a clean cotton. Wrap into a thin parcel to make the compress. For hoarseness, wrap a compress of warmed, chopped onion around the throat. To treat indigestion, take 1/4 cup of fresh onion juice with 1/2 teaspoon honey and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
Raw Onion Home Remedies For Cough
In the home onions are ideal for coughs, catarrh, sore throats, sinusitis, and fevers. Externally they can combat warts, insect stings, burns, cuts, and boils. Onion is very good to take when you have a sore throat-the kind leading to a cold and not a variety of more serious diseases such as tonsillitis, etc. Peel an onion and chew away. There is no warning about eating too much of it, but try as much as you can is a good dose. Just a few slices should be taken at any given time, and its juice will soothe sore throat. To treat stubborn coughs, slice a large onion into rings. Place in deep bowl. Cover the slices with organic honey. Allow to stand overnight. In the morning strain the liquid creating a simple cough elixir – a homemade cough syrup. The onion has been used as a food remedy for centuries in bronchitis. It is said to possess expectorant properties . It liquefies phelgm and prevents its further formation. One teaspoon of raw onion juice, the first thing in the morning will be highly beneficial in such cases. To treat whooping cough, mix together onion juice, almond oil and ginger juice. Take all in same proportion, about 10 drops each.
Side Effects and Precautions
According to Indian Ayurveda, consuming milk and onion together is not good combination and can cause leucoderma. But there is no basis for this theory. Nursing mothers beware: onion in your breast milk may cause colic in your infant. Some people have allergies to onion and may develop a skin rash. If one appears, discontinue use. Consult a physician before consuming large quantities of onion for medicinal purposes. Some people have trouble digesting raw onion. If this is the case, steam or blanch the onion before eating.