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When I began using natural remedies over 10 years ago, I was so surprised at the remedies I could use from foods I had in my kitchen.  Onions are one of those.  Many people don’t realize how they have natural medicine cabinets sitting in their fridges and cabinets.  Onions give flavor to dishes, but they also provide important nutrients.  Onions contain iron, folic acid, calcium, fiber, and are high in vitamin C.  Do you know they also contain the antioxidant, Quercetin?  Quercetin fights aging, diseases, and cancer; it lowers blood pressure and cholesterol while helping to raise the good cholesterol. {Source}

I absolutely love the fact that a simple kitchen food can help me keep my family well!

The healing power of onions

Below are 3 ways I use the healing power of onions in my home:

Earaches/Infections

Onions are superb at healing ear infections and easing the pain of earaches.  I have used them on my children when they suffered from terrible ear pain.

Simply slice an onion in half and place it in a 450° oven for 15-20 minutes.  Remove the onion and allow to cool until it’s comfortable to the touch, but make sure it’s still warm.  Place half of the warm onion on the ear until pain subsides.  I have read of those that will leave the onion on all night by tying a cloth around it or wearing earmuffs to allow the onion to pull all the infection out.

Another option is to scoop the center out of the cooked onion and extract some juice.  Place a drop or two of onion juice in the ears, making sure the patient lies for 5 minutes on each side after application.  Repeat as needed.  Always treat both ears because the infection can move from one ear to the other.

Chest Congestion

Besides using onion internally for coughs and congestion, you can also treat externally at the same time!  Bake a sliced onion as indicated above, wrap the onion in cheesecloth or a thin towel, and place the warm onion poultice on the chest of the patient.  I like to wrap plastic wrap around the poultice and place towels or a blanket on top to help keep the poultice warm and in place.  This poultice can be left on overnight and reheated as needed.

Cough Syrup

Consistent coughing can often be tied to mucous trapped in the lungs.  Onions are an expectorant and help to thin and loosen phlegm.  One of my favorite cough syrups that I got from reading Dr. Christopher contains onions and raw honey.  I love it because it is so very effective, and also because it can be safely taken every 15 minutes if a cough is bad enough.

Recipe:

• 1 Onion
• Raw Honey

Directions:

1. Cut onion and place it in a double boiler. If you don’t have a double boiler, place a smaller pan inside a larger pan.  Be sure to refill water in the bottom pan because it will most likely boil all the water out before the syrup is done.  It’s best not to cook this over direct heat if at all possible because it would kill too many beneficial properties in the raw honey.
2. Cover onion with raw honey 1/2 an inch above the onion.
3. Simmer until the onion is translucent.  This can take an hour or two depending on how think the onion slices are.
4. Strain the liquid from the onion pieces, and you now have a very effective cough syrup!

Dosage: Adults take 1 tablespoon, children take 1 teaspoon up to every 15 minutes or as needed.

Other articles that you may be interested in:

• 7 Medicinal Herbs to Grow In Your Garden
• Choose Heirloom Seeds
• Plants that Can Help Improve Your Health
• 10 Herbs that Repel Garden Pests
• How do you use onion or other common foods as medicine in your home?