Medical Plants You Should Know sheathing on stem; flowers greenish-white, stellate, in large globular umbels, enclosed by a thin membranous spathe; seeds flat, black. The plant is commonly cultivated for edible bulbs throughout India.
Medicinal Importance Skin of Onion has pronounced antioxidant properties. Onion nourishes, heals, renews and softens the skin and aids in tissue rebuilding. It acts as a cleansing agent to remove dirt, dust and makeup from the skin. Allicin (Onion extract) works wonders on scars, calluses, stretch marks and other skin hardening, and scar tissue. The sulfur compound in Allium reduces excessive sebum secretion and cleanses the hair of dandruff. It also aids the formation of scar tissue on wounds, thus speeding up the healing process, and has been used as a cosmetic to remove freckles. Onion juice rubbed into the skin is said to promote hair growth, and works as a remedy for baldness. It is also used in cosmetic for the treatment of freckles.
and given to the cholera patients. According to Rajelal of Chimtipur village in Patalkot, chop one raw Onion and cover with salt and leave overnight. Apply the juice 3-4 times a day on warts or wounds. It will heal the wound like anything. A syrup of 1 teaspoonful raw Onion juice with 1 teaspoonful of honey kept over 3 to 4 hours serves as an excellent cough syrup. About 50 gm of Onion soaked in water and 10 gm sugar should be eaten twice daily. This helps in curing bleeding piles. One teaspoon of raw Onion juice is good in bronchitis. Raw Onion is good to reduce the cholesterol. References Acharya, D. and Shrivastava, A. 2008. Indigenous Herbal Medicines: Tribal Formulations and Traditional Herbal Practices. Aavishkar Publishers Distributors, Jaipur. ISBN 97881-7910-252-7. Acharya, D, Shrivastava, A. 2011. Ethnomedicinal Plants of Gujarat State. Forest Department, Gujarat, Gandhinagar. ISBN 8190311484. 412pp.
Bulb of this plant is said to be effective in diabetes, hypertension and used as an aphrodisiac, in cough and fever, boils, diarrhea, abscess, fractured bones, wounds and sprains. The bulb is also beneficial in respiratory and pulmonary disorders and inducing menstruation. The bulb is externally used in skin diseases (Acharya, 2011). In Saudi Arabia, decoction of the bulb is orally given for dropsy, colic, catarrh, chronic bronchitis, epileptic fits, hysterical fits, epistasis, jaundice, enlarged spleen, rheumatic pain etc. The bud is an antiscorbutic, an antiphlogistic and externally it is used to treat infections. Juice of fresh bulb is used to improve eye sight and as a decongestant in insect bites. Root juice is given to treat cough, colds, worms and intestinal parasites (Acharya and Shrivastava, 2008).
Traditional Tribal Formulations Mix Onion extract with honey and consume. This gives warmth to the cold body. Onion juice with honey is useful for colds, coughs, bronchitis and influenza. Consuming Onion and jaggery every day helps in increasing weight. It contains iron, therefore, beneficial in treating anaemia and effective in preventing heart attack. About 30g Onion and 7 Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) can be finely pounded www.communit yseeds.com 27