ONION

Onions contain a large quantity of vitamin A, B, C, also iron, iodine, sulphur, sodium, potassium, nitrates & phosphates of calcium, silicon.

Onions have anti-inflammatory properties & can be used for upper respiratory problems.
Onion is a diuretic, antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, expectorant & helps with blood circulation.
Onions are also remarkably anti-allergenic, due to the content of quercetin.
Raw onions are effective in lowering overall cholesterol while raising HDLs, the good cholesterol. Onions kill infectious bacteria, help to control blood sugar, aid in dissolving blood clots & help to prevent cancer.

Yellow & red onions, along with shallots, contain quercetin, a powerful antioxidant that acts as an anti-cancer agent to block the formation of cancer cells. 100 g of raw onions eaten regularly contain enough quercetin to offer cancer protection.
White onions lack this antioxidant.

Onions are used externally as an antiseptic & disinfectant.
Externally the herb is used for insect bites, wounds, light burns, warts & in the after-care of bruises.
Crushed onion or its juice can be applied over skin diseases & insect bites; its paste is applied with salt on unbroken chilblains.
As a poultice can be applied to the chest for colds, congestions & bronchitis & on the ear for ear infections.
A compress made of a roasted bulb applied on inflamed or protruded piles gives definite relief.
Equal quantities of onion juice mixed with warm mustard oil is good as a liniment for arthritis & painful joints.Raw onion juice as ear-drops is effective for ear infections & inflammations.
Crushed onion paste applied on the head relieves headache.

Many kinds of migraine are treated by the application of onion pulp to the soles of the feet. 

Onion preparations are used for dyspeptic conditions, respiratory conditions, pain & for malarial fever.
For a bad cold & cough there exists nothing better than the consumption of well-boiled or fried onions.
If your cold is accompanied by fevers, string cloves of garlic or small onions together & wear around your neck.

Wrap a compress of warmed, chopped onion around the throat.

Preparations are used for worm infestation, fungal & bacterial infections, for acute inflammatory illnesses, flatulent colic.
Equal quantity of raw onion juice & honey, taken twice a day are effective for stomachache & indigestion.Internally, onions can alleviate gas pains.
Onions prepared in vinegar immediately soothe stomachaches, are an excellent digestive & appetizer & have been tested against numerous diseases of the spleen, where they have been known to reduce dilation to a normal level.They are also a speedy remedy against anemia.

If eaten raw at dinnertime, the onion ensures a good night’s sleep.

Onions are said to calm the liver, moisten the intestines & benefit the lungs.

In malarial fevers, onions are eaten twice a day with 2-3 black peppers.

For shock & giddiness, fresh crushed onions should be inhaled.
In cases of fainting, patients are made to inhale a few drops of onion juice at short intervals to help regain consciousness quickly.

Bee Sting:
Firstly, remove the sting gently.
Reduce swelling with ice or cold water.
Moisten a cube of sugar, apply to the sting.
Sugar sucks up moisture & will therefore absorb the venom; this will also reduce the itching.
Cover sting with slices of fresh onion, lemon or horseradish.
If fresh garlic or onion is used to treat the sting, the pain & the swelling will lessen.

Raw onions are prescribed for constipation, for lowering high blood pressure & for healing wounds or ulcers of the skin.
Spring onions, or scallions are used to induce sweating.

Quercetin deactivates the growth of estrogen-sensitive cells often found to cause breast cancer.

Onions can prevent the biochemical chain reaction that leads to asthma attacks.

PRECAUTIONS:

Nursing mothers should use onion in small amounts, as the onion in breast milk can sometimes cause colic in sensitive babies.

Avoid when there is profuse sweating.

Raw onions when cut or bruised may irritate the eyes & nose.

RECIPES:

Onion is a basic flavoring in the kitchen.
It is used as a vegetable, or as a spice to bring out the flavor of other dishes without overpowering them.
Add to food liberally in all its forms either chopped, diced, whole, etc.
It often accompanies meat, especially mince & meat dishes such as shepherds pie & meat loaf.
Onion is also widely used in soups, pickles & cooked vegetable dishes, sauces, hearty casseroles & bean & lentil dishes.
It is a common ingredient in marinades & an onion studded with cloves is often a main flavoring in stocks & bouillons.

Onion Tea for Coughs: 

Add a peeled onion to 500 ml of water & simmer for 15 minutes.
Sweeten with brown sugar or honey & drink this cough remedy hot.

Ear Pain:

Wrap freshly cut onion slices in a dry cloth; place this onto the affected ear.
After a very short while the onion warms & begins to break down.
The pain disappears as the onion pulls out the pain.

Cold Syrup:

Chop a small onion, put it in a glass jar & cover with honey.
Seal the jar & leave overnight.
The next day you have a strong onion honey of which you take 1 tbsp several times a day.

Application for the Common Cold:

Take 20 spring onions & simmer them with rice to make porridge.
Add a little vinegar & eat while it is warm.
Then wrap yourself up in blankets to induce sweating.

Remedy for Corns & Calluses:

1 tbsp juice of onion
1 tbsp honey
Mix together & spread over the problem area.
Cover with a bit of bandage.
Fix it on place with plaster.
Change it twice a day.
On 3rd day skin looks smoother & heals within a week.

Roasted Onions:

Slice onions & spread them out on a lightly oiled a baking pan.
Roast them at 200C for about 25- 35 minutes until they turn golden brown, turning them every 10 - 15 minutes.
Season if desired.

Roasted Scallions:

Toss them in a little extra virgin olive oil, lay them on a lightly oiled baking pan & roast at 200 C for about 15-20 minutes, turning them frequently.
To avoid drying them out, you can cover them with aluminum foil, dull side up.

French Onion Soup:

50 g butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 kg onions, halved & thinly sliced
1 tsp sugar
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tbsp plain flour
250 ml dry white wine
1.3l hot strongly-flavored beef stock
4-8 slices French bread
140 g Gruyère, finely grated
Melt the butter with the oil in a large heavy-based pan.
Add the onions & fry with the lid on for 10 min until soft.
Sprinkle in the sugar & cook for 20 min more, stirring frequently, until caramelized.
The onions should be really golden, full of flavor & soft when pinched between your fingers.
Take care towards the end to ensure that they don’t burn.
Add the garlic for the final few min of the onions cooking time, then sprinkle in the flour & stir well. Increase the heat & keep stirring as you gradually add the wine, followed by the hot stock.
Cover & simmer for 15-20 min.
To serve, rub each bread slice with a half-piece of garlic & toast until bread is firm.
Ladle soup into ceramic or glass bowls & float bread on top of each bowl.
Lay or sprinkle cheese on top of bread & place bowls under the grill until cheese melts.
Place each bowl on a serving plate & serve immediately.

Onion Relish:

1 tbsp mixed pickling spices, tied in cheesecloth
1/3 cup of water
1/3 cup of cider vinegar
2 tbsp sugar
2/3 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1 cup chopped fresh green pepper
2 cups sliced white onions
Heat spices & remaining ingredients except the onions & bring to boil.
Reduce the heat & cook ca 3 min.
Stir in onions & cook further 3 min.
Remove spice bag.
Cover & refrigerate.

MAGIC:

Onions are magically linked to protective magic, so you can braid the onions & recite an incantation linking them to whatever sort of protection you feel you need.

In Hungary, onion skins are burned during childbirth to protect the mother & baby who are believed to be most susceptible to the evil eye & evil spirits at this time.
In European folk magic, knives & swords are consecrated by running the blades over the juices of a freshly halved onion.
An old Turkish legend tells that when Satan was thrown out of heaven, garlic sprouted where he first placed his left foot & onions grew where he placed his right foot.
When plague raged throughout Eastern Europe, people thought it was caused by evil spirits & they used onions & garlic as good luck charms to chase off those spirits.
Some cultures thought of the onion family as having sexual powers.
Even today, a Middle Eastern bridegroom wears a clove of garlic in his lapel to assure himself of a successful wedding night.

Hang strands of onions & garlic on doorways, windows or around the neck to keep the vampires away.
Hang up a string of onions as a protection against an infectious disease & remain immune.

Cut an onion in half & put it under your sink to absorb any negativity in your home or nastiness sent your way & replace every week or two.

Prick a whole fresh onion with black headed pins & place on a windowsill to protect from the evil eye & magical attack.

Onion skins are never thrown out, but burned to attract & keep money.
If you burn onion peels rather than just throwing them away, you'll never be poor.
The skins can also be burned for protection & banishing & when finely ground, can be added to incense blends.

To induce dreams of a prophetic nature, place a white onion underneath your pillow before bedtime.
For protection against evil influences while you sleep, cut an onion in half  & keep it close to your bed.

Against Warts:
Seven days after the moon has been at her fullest,rub the wart with the cut edge of an onion.
As you do this,recite the following incantation while visualizing the wart being magically absorbed into the onion:
Into this onion, wart be carried;
In the Mother Earth be buried.
As the soil brings your decay,
So shall this wart be charmed away!
Go to a deserted crossroads & as the first bell of the witching hour tolls, toss the onion over your right shoulder without uttering a single word.
Return home, as quickly as possible & without looking back, otherwise the spell shall be rendered impotent.

Halved or quartered onions work to absorb evil, negativity & disease.

Onion skins very thin,
Mild Winter coming in;
Onion skins thick & tough,
Coming Winter cold & rough.

                                                   Bewitched Onions from Somerset