Most Important Bulb for Healing Properties

The onion is by far the most important bulb vegetable in terms of its healing properties. It is used both in its green stage as a scallion, or green onion, and in its mature stage as a bulb—the tightly packed globe of food-storage leaves containing the volatile oil that is the source of the onion’s pungent flavor. Thought to have originated in Asia, the onion has been cultivated since ancient times. The bulb of the onion is used in cooking and medicinally; like garlic, it warms the body and stimulates the circulation. Onions have long been considered the mainstay of every household remedy chest.

USES
• Apply fresh onion to an abscessed tooth or a boil to draw out infection and help to encourage circulation to the area, which will facilitate quick healing.
• Mix onion juice with honey to relieve the symptoms of a cold.
• Taken daily, onions can help to prevent cancers of the digestive tract.
• The regular consumption of onions can reduce nervous debility.
• Onion poultices are used to treat bronchitis and can also help in the treatment of acne and boils.
• Onions are often recommended for gastric infections; onions will be effective cooked and raw.

PROPERTIES
• Onions cause the body to “weep,” which helps to release toxins
• Onion increases blood circulation and can relax the muscles
• Expectorant and diuretic
• Helps to reduce serum cholesterol after a fatty meal
• May provide some protection against cancer
• Antibiotic, draws out infection
• Warming
• Strengthens the lungs