Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Allium cepa L.


English Name : Onion

Family : Liliaceae

Origin : Central Asia

Description
It is a widely used vegetable with sound, tender bulbs. The bulbs are rather large, of irregular shape, from 2 to over 3 inches in diameter and about 2 inches thick. The flesh of the bulb is agreeable to the taste and of good quality. The skin is thickish and of a coppery yellow colour.

Habitat
Cultivated and uncommonly escaped to waste ground. Also persistent around old homesites.

Parts Used : Bulb and fresh juice

Herb Effects
Anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, homeopathic, hypoglycaemic, hypotensive, lithontripic, stomachic, tonic, aphrodisiac, antidysenteric, reduces fever, helps prevent snakebite, sedative, stimulant, increases the secretion of gastric juices. mild counter-irritant, lowers blood cholesterol and blood sugar, antifungal.

Active Ingredients
Organic sulphur compounds (cause odor), such as trans-S-L-cysteine sulphoxide (bulb); Abscissic acid, acetic acids, allanine, allicin, allin, alpha amyrin, alpha tocopherol, arginine, ascorbic acid, benzyl isothiocyanate, beta carotene, beta sitosterol, caffeic acid, catechol, choline, diallyl sulfide, ferulic acid, kaempferol, mufa, oleanolic acid, protocatechuic acid, rutin, beta-hydroxybenzoic and vanillic acids, and quercetin (bulb skin).

Medicinal Use
In abscesses, albuminuria, arteriosclerosis, as an emmenagogue, vermifuge, apertif, in cancer and tumors, cataracts, catarrh, common cold, bronchitis, jaundice, hydrophobia, diphtheria, dropsy, dysentery, ear maladies, edema, fever, influenza, hepatosis.

Dosage
Tincture: 5 to 10 drops in water.
A syrup of onion, prepared by drawing the juice with sugar, is a very effectual expectorant cough medicine for infants, young children, and old persons.
Juice:1 tsp 3 or 4 times per day.

Reference

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