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Aromatherapy Properties:
(Uses) A perennial or biennial herb up to 1.2m high with
hollow leaves and a flowering stem, and a globe-like fleshy bulb. This is an
oily and crystaline oil, free of strange materials. The Onion essential oil is a
clear yellow to reddish yellow.
 Anthelmintic, antimicrobial,
antirheumatic, antiseptic, antisclerotic, antispasmodic, antiviral,
bactericidal, carminative, depurative, digestive, diuretic, expectorant,
fungicidal, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, stomachic, tonic, vermifuge. Onion has a
sound reputation for correcting glandular imbalance and weight problems; it also
improved lymphatic drainage, which is often responsible for edema and puffiness.
Hollands gin, in which onions have been macerated, is given as a cure for gravel
and dropsy. It is high in Vitamin A, B, and C and shares many of the properties
of garlic, to which it is closely related. Raw onion helps to keep colds and
infections at bay, promotes strong bones and a good supply to all the tissues.
It acts as an effective blood cleanser that, along with the sulfur it contains,
helps to keep the skin clear and in good condition. A roasted onion is a useful
application to tumors or earache. Used in some pharmaceutical preparations for
colds, coughs, etc.  The oil is used extensively in most major food categories,
especially meats, savories, salad dressings, as well as alcoholic and soft
drinks. Onion essential oil is generally non-toxic, a non-irritant, with
possible sensitization in some.
The warmed juice can be dropped into the ear for earache, and baked onion is
used as a poultice to drain pus from sores. Onion has a longstanding reputation
as an aphrodisiac, and it is also used cosmetically to stimulate hair growth.
Other medical uses - Altitude sickness, Breast cancer, Glue ear, Viral
infection. |
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History:
According to the Greek historian Herodotus, nine tons of gold was
spent buying onions to feed the builders of the pyramids, so popular was this
vegetable in ancient Egypt. Indeed, much to the amusement of the conquering
Romans, the Egyptians even offered the bulb as a sacrifice. In the later Middle
Ages the onion-probably because of its strong smell- was used as a charm against
evil spirits and the plague. Sulfur compounds give onions (and garlic) their
sharp flavor and aroma, which folk healers thought were indications that the
juice of the plant could prevent infection. Some modern herbals state that
applications of onion will remove warts and prevent acne. They recommend an
onion syrup as an expectorant. Onions are also held to be diuretic and to reduce
high blood pressure. Certainly the onion is a superlative tonic, since it is
rich in vitamins, including B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), and C. The
onion and its relatives have been known in North America for centuries, and were
a favorite spring food of the Indians. Frontiersmen knew that a sure way to
locate Indian encampments in spring was to follow the heavy onion scent that
clung to the area. |
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