Onions are a popular addition to a wide variety of dishes, which gives them a special piquancy. However, not everyone knows about its healing properties, and yet this vegetable perfectly fights diseases and improves immunity. On what exactly the properties of onions can be useful and how to use it in the treatment of colds and viral ailments, - further in the article.

Onion properties

Any plant has its advantages and disadvantages, so it is not surprising that onions have weaknesses. At the same time, the vegetable has much more advantages, and with a competent approach to the issue of its use, there will be no negative consequences from this.

Did you know? Onion is a first aid for a bite of wasps or bees: if you immediately rub a damaged area with a piece of vegetable, then swelling and pain will decrease significantly.

Useful qualities of onions

• The main positive properties of this vegetable include:
• stimulation of appetite;
• active production of gastric juice;
• optimization of the male reproductive system by stimulating the production of seminal fluid;
• participation in the process of hematopoiesis (chlorophyll in onions contributes to the formation of blood cells);
• increasing the body's resistance to various infectious ailments;
• good diuretic effect (it will be especially useful for people suffering from dropsy and other problems associated with stagnation of fluid in the body).

Interestingly, not only the flesh of the onion, but also the husk of the bulbs, in the broth of which there is potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and a lot of useful components, have useful properties. A decoction of onion husks will be useful for various allergic manifestations and even for domestic purposes, when there is a need for coloring any surfaces.

Contraindications to the use of onions

Unfortunately, not all people benefit from onion prophylaxis, so if you have health problems, it is better to discuss the possibility of using this product with your doctor.

• First of all, people suffering from such ailments should be careful with onions:
• cardiovascular disease (a large amount of onions can trigger asthma or increase blood pressure);
• disturbances in the liver;
• diarrhea and flatulence (helps increase gas formation);
• peptic ulcer and other diseases of the stomach and esophagus, which are accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane or increased acidity;
• colitis.

Important! The unpleasant odor that appears in the mouth after eating onions can be neutralized with parsley leaves or toasted Greek nuts, which must be thoroughly chewed in the mouth for several minutes. And to get rid of lacrimation during the cutting of the bulb, a nearby water tank or periodic rinsing of the knife in cold water will help.

Excessive use of this sharp vegetable may cause a burning sensation and strong gas formation, which can cause a lot of trouble. This is especially true for women in position and young mothers - they are better off stewing or frying onions without using them fresh. After heat treatment, the product becomes softer and loses all its bitterness.

Does onion help with colds?

Our grannies also knew about the benefits of onions and leeks in the prevention of colds and viral ailments. The presence of a large number of vitamins, minerals (in particular, calcium and iron), essential oils and organic acids in the vegetable does have a positive effect on the body, however, the bactericidal property of the plant is due primarily to exposure to flavonoids and phytoncides.

Inhalation of the fumes of the chopped vegetable helps to cleanse the respiratory tract of viruses and bacteria, while acting as a good prevention of new ailments. The regular use of fresh onions in cooking helps to increase the overall tone of the body and mobilizes all its forces during seasonal epidemics.

An additional advantage of this product is its disinfecting ability. Onion juice effectively neutralizes pathogenic microflora in the stomach and oral cavity, and also acts as a strong antioxidant, which also has a beneficial effect on increasing the body's immune forces.

Important! Only fresh vegetables collected from the beds no more than 1 month ago have the maximum number of useful properties. Over time, onions lose some of their beneficial properties, especially if the storage conditions are violated.

Onion recipes for treating colds

Recipes for the preparation of medicinal potions and additional ingredients for them are selected depending on the specific problem. Therefore, we propose to consider some of the most popular ways to use onions in the fight against colds and viral ailments.

Against bronchitis and dry cough, you can use a decoction of 0.5 kg of onion gruel, 400 g of sugar and 1 liter of water. After thoroughly mixing all the ingredients, the finished mixture is sent to the stove and boiled for 3 hours on low heat. At the end of the process, you need to cool the broth, add 50 g of honey and, pouring into a jar, put in storage in the refrigerator. In the future, the broth is taken at 4-6 tbsp. l per day after the main meal.

With a dry cough and difficulty in expectoration, sputum discharge will be facilitated by a decoction of 1-2 heads of garlic, 10 onions and 0.5 l of unpasteurized milk. Fill the remaining components with liquid, they need to be boiled until soft, and then add 1 tbsp. raspberry jam or honey. They use the medicine for 1-2 tbsp. every hour during the day.

With influenza, you can use an infusion made from 1-2 grated onions and 0.5 l of boiling milk (it should not be boiled for a long time). After mixing, the ingredients are sent to a warm place for infusion, and then divide the infusion into 2 parts: for evening and morning use. You need to use the medicine only in hot form, because it helps to kill viruses and germs better, and the disease disappears after 3-4 days.

Did you know? The largest bulb in the Guinness Book of Records weighed 8.5 kg. Raised her Englishman Tony Glover.

Often onions are used for colds and sore throats. In the first case, pieces of cotton wool, previously moistened in onion juice, are put in the nose, and in the second case, they gargle with fresh juice mixed with water in equal proportions (if you reduce the amount of juice and increase part of the water at the same time, then even the kids can gargle with this mixture) .

Recommendations for the use of onions for colds

If an adult does not have any contraindications for the use of onions, then he can be treated in any way: by preparing decoctions, insisting the vegetable with other components, or even rubbing the mixture into the skin. With children, pregnant and lactating women, the situation is somewhat more complicated, since there is a high probability of side effects from an overdose of folk remedies and the plant itself.

The safest solution to eliminate sore throat, thinning sputum and eliminate coughing fits is to rinse with onion juice (for example, in combination with honey or water) and onion inhalations with the addition of chamomile and lemon flowers. For preventive purposes, you can use an onion cocktail prepared on the basis of onion gruel and lemon juice diluted with water (1 tbsp gruel is dissolved in 50-100 ml of water, depending on the age of the patient).

To reduce the likelihood of unpleasant sensations after such treatment, you can drink a cocktail with a small amount of water, always drinking it only after eating. Any medicine will have an irritating effect on an empty stomach, which often worsens the general well-being of both an adult and a child.

So, onions really are one of the simplest and most effective remedies for flu, colds and other ailments, killing microbes not only in the body, but also in the air in the room. The main thing is to choose the right way to prepare the medicine, be sure to consider the current state of health.