The information given is informative. In case of doubt, consult the doctor. "Botanical" is not responsible for damages caused by self-medication |
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The bulb |
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| Common noun: Onion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scientific noun: Allium cepa L. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Family. Lily family - Liliaceae. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Habitat: Probably native from the South-west of Asia, although cultivated since the antique Egyptian people in warm climates, rarely naturalized. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Characteristics : Biennial plant of the lily family
- Liliaceae - up to 70 cm. Demi-cylindric leaves, growing from a subterranean
bulb which carries shallow roots. Erect stem, generally springing in the
second year of the plant's development, holding an umbell of white or
pink flowers at the top of it. |
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Main active components: - Amino-acids: glutamic acid , arginine, lysine, glycine...etc. - Minerals: Mainly: Potassium, phosphorous, calcium, manganese , sodium, sulphur and , in less quantity, iron, manganese, zinc, copper and selenium. - Vitamins: Vitamin C, Folic acid, Vitamin E - Essential oil with many sulphurous components: dipropyl disulfide ..methyl methanethiosulfinate , etc. - Quercetin - allicin, in less quantity than in garlic.
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Medicinal properties: Internal use Circulation: The presence of allicin, although in less proportion than in garlic, gives this plant antithrombotic properties ( avoids the formation of blood platelets )so, it becomes very interesting to make blood fluid, which prevents much of the following circulatory diseases: arteriosclerosis, cholesterol, hypertension, angina pectoris and some other ones related with a bad blood flow such haemorrhoids. ( Macerate 300 gr. of onion with a litre of water during 12 hours. Drink 3 glasses a day.)
Diuretic: It favours the removal of body liquids, being very suitable in case of rheumatism, dropsy, edemas, and bladder . ( 3 little cups a day of the maceration of 50 gr. of smashed onion in a litre of wine ) Bactericide: Because of its highly sulphurous contents, it becomes together with garlic, in one of the best natural remedies to fight infectious processes of respiratory tract ( influenza, bronchitis, pharyngitis, etc..) digestive tract ( intestine decomposition, diarrhoea, etc...) ( Onion syrup : Decoction for one hour of the same quantity of onion and water. 1/5 of honey and 1/3 of sugar is added to the previous resulting preparation. Stir it well till it attains a good consistency and drink three cups a day (Inhalation of onion in boiling water ) Digestive: It helps digestion by stimulating the liver, the bladder and pancreas, although it should be avoided when having hyperchloridia stomach acidity ) as well as in fragile stomachs. Last trends: Anti-cancer : Recent studies attempt to associate the consumption of onion with cancer inhibition .Among the sulphurous products, diallyl disulfide seems to be responsible ft the inhibition of cancerous cells in stomach. Flavonoid quercetin, because of its antioxidant properties, seems to play the same role in this sense. Osteoporosis: Studies accomplished in mice, seem to prove, according to some investigations performed in Switzerland, that the daily intake of this food favours the bone tissue growing , diminishing the risk of osteoporosis in a 20 %.
External use Insect stings :Its bactericide properties make it a good disinfectant against animal bites of stings , specially those of insects . ( Soak the affected zone with the liquid of a fresh smashed onion) Warts: Warts can be eliminated by applying a plaster with the juice of an onion smashed in vinegar twice or three times a day. Hair lotion:: Besides stimulating the hairy follicle, sulphur gets rid of dandruff and helps to preserve hair . Quercetin is fundamental in this subject (Make daily friction with the juice of a fresh onion)
Another uses Food: It is a vegetable that should never be lacking in our tables. It always should be eaten raw, since boiling destroys its essential components. One can eat onion soup, onion broth or cooked with other vegetables. It is advised to prepare raw salads which keep all the plant properties. However, stomach refusal can be solved by leaving onion in maceration with olive oil during the night. The onion can be "softened" if we introduce it in a water container with some lemon juice.
The food composition of this plant for each 100 gr. is the following:
Toxicity: There are no studies pointing to a possible toxicity.
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Cultivation:
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