helps prevent the hardening of tissue.
Constituents: flavonoids, volatile oil, allicin, vitamins, sterols, phenolic acids.
Action: hypoglycaemic, antibiotic, anticoagulant, expectorant, hypotensive, antibacterial, antisclerotic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic. Shares some of the properties of Garlic. Mild bacterical (fresh juice). Promotes bile flow, reduces blood sugar, stimulates the heart, coronary flow and systolic pressure.
Uses: Oedema, mild dropsy, high blood pressure. Inclusion in daily diet for those at risk from heart attack or stroke through low HDLs (high-density lipoprotein) levels.
“An Onion a day keeps arteriosclerosis at bay.” (Dr Victor Gurewich, Professor of Medicine, Tuft’s University, Boston, USA)
Onions clear arteries of fat which impedes blood flow. Of value for sour belching, cystitis, chilblains, insect bites, freckles. Two or three drops juice into the auditory meatus for earache and partial deafness. Burns and scalds (bruised raw Onion). Claimed that juice rubbed into the scalp arrests falling hair.
“I have observed that families using Onions freely as an article of diet have escaped epidemic diseases, although their neighbours might be having scarlet fever, etc. I believe Onions are reliable prophylactics. I have prevented the spread of contagious disease in the same household by their timely use.” (Dr L. Covert)
The traditional roasted Onion is still used as a poultice for softening hard tumours and pains of acute gout.
Preparations: Decoction. Water in which Onions are boiled is a powerful diuretic and may also be used for above disorders.
Home tincture. Macerate Onions for 8 days in Holland’s gin, shake daily; strain, bottle. 2-3 teaspoons in water, thrice daily for oedema, dropsy or gravel.
Note: A research team at the National Cancer Institute, China, has shown that the Onion family (Chives, Onions, Leeks and Garlic) can significantly reduce the risk of stomach cancer. ... onion
Habitat: Cultivated as an annual all over the country. The most important onion-growing states are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh., Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
English: Onion.Ayurvedic: Palaandu, Durgandh.Unani: Piyaaz.Siddha/Tamil: Venkaayam.Action: Antibiotic, antibacterial, antisclerotic, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antiasthmatic, expectorant, carminative, anti- spasmodic, diuretic, hypotensive, antidiabetic.
Key application: For the prevention of atherosclerosis (German Commission E) and age-dependent changes in the blood vessels, and loss of appetite (WHO).The official onion bulb of the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China is a different species, Allium macrostemon Bge., than that of the German Commission E monographs, A. cepa. Chinese onion is used for cough, dyspnoea, angina pectoris and dysentery.Scallions or Spring Onion of Chinese medicine are equated with Allium fistulosum.Onion bulbs contain a volatile oil with sulphurous constituents, including allylpropyldisulphide; sulphur- containing compounds, including al- licin, alliin; flavonoids; phenolic acids and sterols.Hypoglycaemic activity of the onion is attributed to the allylpropyldisul- phide and allicin. Diphenylamine, isolated from mature bulbs, also exhibits potent antihyperglycaemic activity.Alliin and allicin have an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. Antibiotic activity is due mainly to alli-cin.Regular use of onion (50 g/day) reduces insulin requirement of a diabetic patient from 40 to 20 units a day.Thiosulphinates, isolated from onion juice, exhibited antiasthmatic activity in vivo.Dosage: Juice of bulb—10-20 ml. (CCRAS.)... allium cepaFAMILY: Rutaceae
SYNONYMS: C. limonum, cedro oil.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: A small evergreen tree up to 6 metres high with serrated oval leaves, stiff thorns and very fragrant flowers. The fruit turns from green to yellow on ripening.
DISTRIBUTION: Native to Asia, probably east India; it now grows wild in the Mediterranean region especially in Spain and Portugal. It is cultivated extensively worldwide in Italy, Sicily, Cyprus, Guinea, Israel, South and North America (California and Florida).
OTHER SPECIES: There are about forty-seven varieties which are said to have been developed in cultivation, such as the Java lemon (C. javanica). The lemon is also closely related to the lime, cedrat (or citron) and bergamot.
HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: The juice and peel are widely used as a domestic seasoning. It is very nutritious, being high in vitamins A, B and C. In Spain and other European countries, lemon is something of a ‘cure-all’, especially with regard to infectious illness. It was used for fever, such as malaria and typhoid, and employed specifically for scurvy on English ships at sea.
Taken internally, the juice is considered invaluable for acidic disorders, such as arthritis and rheumatism, and of great benefit in dysentery and liver congestion.
ACTIONS: Anti-anaemic, antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antisclerotic, antiscorbutic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrisant, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic, febrifuge, haemostatic, hypotensive, insecticidal, rubefacient, stimulates white corpuscles, tonic, vermifuge.
EXTRACTION: Essential oil by cold expression from the outer part of the fresh peel. A terpeneless oil is also produced on a large scale (cedro oil).
CHARACTERISTICS: A pale greeny-yellow liquid (turning brown with age), with a light, fresh, citrus scent. It blends well with lavender, neroli, ylang ylang, rose, sandalwood, olibanum, chamomile, benzoin, fennel, geranium, eucalyptus, juniper, oakmoss, lavandin, elemi, labdanum and other citrus oils.
PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Limonene (approx. 70 per cent), terpinene, pinenes, sabinene, myrcene, citral, linalol, geraniol, octanol, nonanol, citronellal, bergamotene, among others.
SAFETY DATA: Non-toxic; may cause dermal irritation or sensitization reactions in some individuals – apply in moderation. Phototoxic do not use on skin exposed to direct sunlight.
AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE
Skin care: Acne, anaemia, brittle nails, boils, chilblains, corns, cuts, greasy skin, herpes, insect bites, mouth ulcers, spots, varicose veins, warts.
Circulation muscles and joints: Arthritis, cellulitis, high blood pressure, nosebleeds, obesity (congestion), poor circulation, rheumatism.
Respiratory system: Asthma, throat infections, bronchitis, catarrh.
Digestive system: Dyspepsia.
Immune system: Colds, ’flu, fever and infections.
OTHER USES: Used as a flavouring agent in pharmaceuticals. Extensively used as a fragrance component in soaps, detergents, cosmetics, toilet waters and perfumes. Extensively employed by the food industry in most types of product, including alcoholic and soft drinks.... lemon
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