The ONION! Food As Medicine with Dr. Thea Rabb!
The ONION:
The overlooked and ordinary onion is anything but. All one has to do is look into the history of the opulent onion to find a vast and varied legacy of a most powerful and unfailing culinary and medicinal ally most have right under their nose.
Onion is a bulbous biennial herb within the Allium Genus (same as garlic) that’s believed to be native to Southwestern Asia. The Onion bulb has been recorded as being cultivated globally, in over175 Countries for it’s food and medicinal properties for over 5,00 years. Ancient Egyptians worshiped the onion bulb, believing its concentric rings and spherical form are symbols of eternal life. They were even used as part of Egyptian burials.
Many varietals of onions exist leading to great variations in size, shape, and color, but the most common types are white, yellow, and red. The taste ranges from mild and sweet to sharp and spicy, depending on the variety and season. This orbicular orb is among the most versatile and ancient of herbal medicines known to man having been used in poultices, teas, syrups; it has been juiced, boiled, sliced, chopped, and fried to treat illnesses ranging from earache, colds and flus, to high blood pressure by many peoples the world over.
Nutrients and Research:
As many layers are in an onion, so too are the nutrient dense compounds dwelling within this bulbous beauty. The vast richness of the onion’s powerful compounds provides delicious medicine to all those lucky enough to call onions, dinner. Onions are a rich source of dietary fiber, vitamins like Vitamin A, C, B6, Folate, minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese, as well as antioxidants, and sulfur rich compounds. One category of antioxidant particularly plentiful in onions is Quercetin. Several studies have shown quercetin to have beneficial effects against many diseases and disorders including cataracts, cardiovascular disease as well as cancer of the breast, colon, ovarian, gastric, lung, and bladder. As stated, in addition, onions are abundant in sulfur-laden phytochemicals such as disulfides, trisulfides, cepaene, and vinyl dithiins. These compounds have a variety of health promoting properties, including anticancer and antimicrobial activities. Onions are also prolific in fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which are prebiotics, meaning they are food for and lead to an increase in our beneficial bacteria and directly enhance immune function. Even though more research is warranted, recent investigations suggest that therapies aimed toward the prevention of atherosclerosis should include a diet rich with onions. Other contemporary studies have shown that onions, like garlic, may inhibit platelet aggregation, lower LDL lipid levels and inhibit the formation of blood clots. Onions have also been shown to lower blood sugar levels and improve insulin levels and are associated with a reduction in symptoms associated with osteoporosis. Onions are also great for thinning and expelling mucus secretions and have been a timeless home remedy for upper respiratory infections.
Preparation Tips: bruise or cut onion prior to using to activate sulfur rich compounds.
Dosage: A pharmacopeial grade onion bulb has not been defined at present.
The dosage for equivalent preparations (tea infusion, fluidextract, and tincture) have been provided based on the following example:
Unless otherwise prescribed: 2 g per day of [powdered, crushed, cut or whole] [plant part]
Infusion: 2 g in 150 ml of water
Fluidextract 1:1 (g/ml): 2 ml
Tincture 1:5 (g/ml): 10 ml
Safety and Contraindications: Onions are generally well tolerated and considered safe. However, onions contain FODMAPs, which are a group of fermentable carbohydrates. FODMAPs are infamous for causing common digestive issues like gas, bloating, digestive pain, diarrhea and constipation in people with sensitivity to his group of carbohydrates. Individuals with a GI disorder known as IBS are often intolerant to FODMAPs so avoidance of onions is normally recommended. Onions can also be irritating to the eyes and can evoke tears. Do not eat onions is allergic.
Home Remedies:
Onion Poultice: With it’s abundance of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds such as sulfur and quercetin respectively, the mighty onion has been another go to remedy used by families the world over for centuries for conditions ranging from chest infections, insect bites to earaches.
Directions: For Chest
There are variations but I like this recipe for the addition of Apple cider and corn flour
Finely chop two or three onions-I prefer red.
Steam in steamer until tender. Steamers work very quickly so keep an eye out.
Remove from steamer, place in a large bowl, and add a half-cup of corn flour and a couple of tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Mix until a spreadable paste is formed.
Place the paste on a cheesecloth or onto another natural fiber cloth of choice, large enough to wrap and keep over an area roughly the size of body part being treated, in this case; chest.
Apply the wrapped mash to your supine patient, as hot as can be tolerated without burning, over the chest, from the base of the neck down as far as you wish. If the cough seems more on the back then apply it over the upper back.
Place a hot water bottle or heating pad over the top of the poultice to maintain heat for greater benefit and penetration of the onion compounds.
Rest with the poultice on for at least 20 or 30 minutes.
This treatment can be repeated once or twice a day until relief is obtained. Applying the hot onion poultice before bed should help allay the cough enough to produce a more restful sleep. You may experience immediate benefit from even one application, but for some this may be accompanied with shorter bouts of somewhat more aggressive coughing fits as the hardened phlegm is loosened and gradually working its way out.
Onion for earaches:
As noted, with it’s antimicrobial and anti-oxidant properties, onion becomes a great associate to have at your disposable aiding in the treatment of infections, even ones residing within the ear. You might be surprised and pleased to see how quickly this age old remedy takes effect, leaving you relieved almost as much as your previously screaming child.
Directions:
Cut one onion (yellow or red) in half let sit for 10-15 minutes (to instigate (enable) formation of beneficial compounds) then heat via steamer, oven, or on stovetop until onion is tender. Let cool until tolerable to touch and able to be placed onto skin. Wrap in natural cloth like cheesecloth and apply directly to painful ear. Make certain the compress extends enough so that it contacts the skin both in front of the ear, as well as over the bone directly behind the ear (the mastoid).
*Some variations of treatment recommend squeezing juice from onion and then applying a few drops into the ear canal. I like to juice one half of one onion for dropper application and then use the other half for direct skin application. If there is any indication that the eardrum is perforated then you must NEVER put anything directly into ear canal.
Onion Socks:
Some of us, for certain reasons or time, may not wish to apply a compress or poultice to the body but still want the cold/flu/fungal properties of onion getting into their body. So instead they turn to the overnight onion sock treatment. Remember, compounds smaller than a certain size (500 datons) are readily absorbed through the skin and then subsequently the bloodstream. Many of the valuable compounds of onion meet that criterion.
Slice onions (red or white) into flat slices. If feasible try using organic onions to make sure we are not burdening the body with the absorption of pesticides and chemicals.
Place a slice or two of onion into each sock. Slip your foot inside to secure the onion on the flat of your foot.
Sleep!
Easy as 1, 2, 3!
While science has yet to research onions effectiveness for treatment of the flu by this method, it should go to note that most who have used or received this therapy fervently believe in the power of the onion socks!
Onion cough syrup:
Onion is a natural expectorant, meaning they can help rid the lungs of mucus and congestion by thinning out secretions and aiding in their expulsion from the body. When combined with honey and taken by the spoonful a few times a day, we can ingest and incorporate the beneficial compounds found in onion into the body providing a great and easy home remedy to help ease the symptoms of a cough and relieve the body of mucus.
Directions:
Thinly slice an onion and add it to a saucepan. Pour honey over the onion, just until covered. Approximately ½ cup, maybe less.
Gently heat the honey over very low heat, not exceeding 115 degrees, until the onions are soft and translucent.
Take a spoonful of the onion honey every 3-4 hours, or until symptoms subside. To use as a preventative measure, take a spoonful or two every day during flu season.
Note: do NOT give honey to children 1 year or younger.
Onion Tea:
Onion tea is something that’s been use by countless generations for soothing and nurturing a sore throat.
Directions:
To make onion tea, you’ll actually use the skin of the onion.
Place skin of ½ -1 onion (preferably red) into a pot with a cup of cold water
Bring to boil, reduce to simmer and cook until color of water changes to that of the skin of the onion-approximately 20 minutes.
Strain and drink when cooled.
Fire Cider: Recipe from Mountain Rose Herbs-recipe inspired by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar
Fire Cider is a popular herbal folk remedy championed by herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. This flavorsome vinegar infusion, through the support of it’s powerful herbal companions, helps stimulate digestion, warm the body, and provides us with a useful and strong immune ally during the cold winter months. Be careful, you might just fall in love with this fiery tonic.
The ingredients are fluid (as is the folk remedy tradition) and are based on where you live and what you have available, so can change from season to season. However, the standard base ingredients are apple cider vinegar, garlic, onion, ginger, horseradish, and hot peppers.
Ingredients:
1 medium organic onion, chopped
10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped
2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped
Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon
1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root (or organic ginger root powder)
1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root (or organic horseradish powder)
1 Tbsp. organic turmeric powder
1/4 tsp. organic cayenne powder
2 Tbsp. of dried rosemary leaves
organic apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of raw, local honey, or to taste
Directions:
Prepare your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart-sized glass jar. Be prepared for a sinus opening experience when grating horseradish!
Pour the apple cider vinegar into the jar until all of the ingredients are covered with vinegar reaching the jar's top.
Vinegar can corrode metal so place a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal li. A plastic lid works as well. Shake well.
Store in a dark, cool place for a month. Shake daily-with love!!
After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Squeeze all the liquid from the pulp.
Finally, add honey to taste.
Fire cider can be taken straight by the spoonful, added to any beverage, splashed in broths, fried rice, or over salad. You can also save the strained pulp and mix it with shredded veggies like carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and fresh herbs to make delicious and aromatic stir-fries and spring rolls.
Onion For Purifying Air:
This remedy has yet to be confirmed through research but the old wives tale of placing a cut onion next to your bed overnight to help purify the air and absorb pathogens was purportedly used during the black plague and even before. People thought plague was caused by exposure to “miasma,” a poisonous mist, and that strongly scented materials could absorb the dangerous vapor, onion being one of them. The current scientific theory behind this age-old belief is that when an onion is cut the volatile chemical compound propanthial s-oxide (the compound that causes us to cry when chopping onions) is released into and purifies the air. Propanthial s-oxide is the plants natural defense deterring animals from eating it as well as being lethal to bacteria and fungi.
Think an unseen chemical can’t be released into and travel through the air-consider the well-known fact onions make even the strongest cry (propanthial s-oxide) and walking into a room where onions are cooking makes the mouth water!
Directions: Cut up an onion and place next to nightstand
