The awesome onion: health benefits, remedies, and uses
- Southerton Business Times
- 21 hours ago
- 5 min read
Every day, we thank God for the Garden of Eden with its rich biodiversity. Last week we learnt aboutcayenne pepper and its ability to save life before, during, and aftera stroke! This week we want toexplore the awesome onion. It’s said that long before farming and even writing was invented,wildonions were a staple in the prehistoric diet.
In Numbers 11:5, the children of Israel lament the meagre desert diet enforced by the Exodus. Theysaid, “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers ……and the onionsand the garlic”. Onions were an object of worship symbolising eternity to those who buried themalong with their Pharaohs. The Egyptians saw eternal life in the anatomy of the onion because of itscircle-within-a circle structure.
It’s also reported that in 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant declared in an advisory to the federalgovernment, “I will not move my army without onions!” During World War I and II, soldiers used rawonions to test the seal of their gas masks. Because onions cause significant stinging, if a soldier couldnot smell or feel the effect of the onion, their mask was properly sealed against chemical attacks. Sopowerful was this bulb that it was dotted around military hospitals to prevent the spread of mostlyrespiratory infections. Sometimes called ‘The Father of Medicine’, Charaka was the Kashmiri sage who gathered ancientwisdom in the Charaka Samhita, which became a founding text of Ayurveda, the Hindu alternativemedicine still practiced today.
As early as the sixth century, this famous medical treatise celebrated theonion as medicine- a diuretic good for the heart, the eyes, and the joints. Tenants, you gotta listen to this! During the Middle Ages, onions were so important that peopleused to pay their rent with onions. For those who hate Valentine’s Day, onions back then were givenas gifts.
Unfortunately, we cannot travel back in time! In first-century Greece, onions were used to fortify athletes for the Olympic Games. The athleteswere required to consume pounded onions, drink onion juice, and rub onions all over their bodies before any competition.I recall during COVID, we used the onion more than we did prescription medication. My son would get so irritated when I put onions under his feet before bed when he had a cold. That ritual worked wonders he would be in school the following morning.
Had it not been for God's gift of onions, COVIDfatalities would certainly have been worse. The reason why we cry when cutting onions is that onions are filled with tiny enzymes andsulphur rich compounds. This reaction produces a gas that reaches our eyes, which dissolves a thinlayer of moisture covering our eyeballs. Our eyes have tear glands that act as a defence mechanism.
So when irritation is detected, our tear glands get to work, thereby producing tears. If onions arechilled first, the amount of sulfur is reduced, meaning fewer tears. So next time you seriously needsomething from a stingy person, just cut onions, and the tears will speak for you.
Onion family
Onion nutritional value
The multi-purpose character of onions
In case of an earache or a cold, heating raw onions, extracting their juice, and putting 4-4 drops in the ear or nose gives instant relief.
If one gets chicken pox, then it can be cured by grinding 2-3 black peppers in a teaspoon
of onion, taken 2-3 times daily with no side effects.
During our childhood, having a boil used to be a nightmare! The pain of physically extracting pus from the ripened boil was excruciating. We must certainly claim compensation for that trauma. Had our parents known that eating raw onion and tying it on boils relieves pain instantly, and the boil ripens with pus coming out easily.
Our air is filled with bacterial particles and viruses. And rituals like tying 8-10 onions in a bundle, hanging it outside the house was said to help children from many types of bacteria and viruses spread through the air.
This one baffled me! With the advent of extreme heat due to global warming, onions are an amazing solution. One can avoid the fear of a heat wave when walking in the sun by keeping an onion in the pocket or simply tying it around the neck.
If you or a loved one has a cold, putting onions under your feet and wearing socks clears the mucus and restores good health!
Onions regulate blood sugar levels.
The nutrients in onions support a healthy immune system
For excellent digestive health, choose onions. Due to their rich fiber content, onions aid digestion and help prevent constipation.
For mostly old folk battling with weak bones, onions increase bone density
Detoxification is an essential ritual once or twice a month. Compounds in onions support the body’s natural detoxification.
Antioxidants neutralise free radicals, protecting our cells from damage. Onions are rich in
antioxidants.
Some studies suggest that onions may have cancer-fighting properties
Onions reduce inflammation.
A vegetable bursting with nutrients and vitamins is the onion.
Hair grows fast when the scalp is massaged with onion juice.
Onion when soaked in water overnight, have immense benefits on liver and skin too
Regular consumption of onions reduces atherosclerosis.
If you have sleep problems, one raw onion daily will see you snoring in no time!
If you love indulging in throw-ins, make onions your best friend, as they are low in calories, fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Life was never meant to be so painful with God’s gift of nature. He never meant for us to go under knives in surgery or have needles pricking us. We owe it to ourselves to live healthy lives and choose nature as our best medicine ! There are so many more uses of this amazing vegetable, also called allium cuppa! It’s not just a health plug but a solution to many life problems. When it comes to boils and difficult-to-heal wounds, never again subject yourself or your family to unnecessary pain and suffering. Apply a clean slice of onion and let it heal. And if you have a cold or fever, it's sure to rest in peace if you follow the ritual as guided! Next time you feel sick, get into the kitchen and explore the unending benefits of the onion.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, ortreatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding amedical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because ofsomething you have read here. Dr. Precious Sibiya is a certified Wellness Practitioner, stroke survivor, and advocate for naturalhealing and lifestyle. Contact her for more Wellness insights on Email: precioussibiya2014@gmail.com+263775369467
awesome onion health benefits
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