Cepa, Onion
Piyaz (Unani)
Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485 |
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563 |
Two varieties of OnionKreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586
Left: A. oleraceum, Right: A. cepaFlora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886
Botanical name:
Allium cepa
Various related species are used similarly: Spring Onion: A. fistulosum; Chinese Onion: A. macrostemon, A. oleraceum and others
Parts used:
Bulb; mostly the Seeds
Temperature & Taste:
Hot, dry. Pungent
opens, cuts, cleanses
Classifications:
2A. APERIENT 2C INCIDERS 2G. CLEANSING 2K. RESOLVENT 2M. DRAWING 2U. SUPPURATIVES
3E. DIURETIC 3J. INCREASE SEMEN 3K. EXPECTORANT 3L. ANTI-TUSSIVE
4e. STOMACHIC
N. Yang Tonics P. Clear Phlegm
Uses:
1. Clears Cold Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-clear Cold-Phlegm from the Lungs (juice boiled with Honey)
-Cough, Bronchitis, Asthma
2. Warms the Kidneys, Clears Cold and Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Dysuria, obstructed Urine, Edema
–1 oz. of the juice in Wine ‘gives immediate ease in the Stone, and at length dissolves it, and brings it away’. (Salmon)
-beneficial for Diabetes
-seeds are used in Kidney Yang tonics; Aphrodisiac, for Impotence
3. Moves the Blood:
-promotes Menstruation: Amenorrhea from cold
-Chest Pain, Angina Pectoris
4. Kills Worms (in infusion)
5. Externally:
-externally to ripen and break Abscesses and Boils (roasted or boil and applied)
-also applied to Burns (beaten with Salt and applied)
-Hemorrhoids.
-fried and applied to the Bladder area, they promote Urine
-the juice as an Errhine draws phlegm from the Head
-applied to Rabid Dogs bites (with Rue, Salt and Honey)
-juice (with Pennyroyal juice) applied helps Gout and Sciatica
-juice applied helps the Hair to grow
Dose:
Seed in Powder: 500mg–3 grams
Juice: 20–40mls.
Main Combinations:
1. To warm the Kidneys in Impotence, Onion seed, Rocket seed, Cinnamon
2. Lower Back pain from Cold and Weak Kidneys (Kidney Yang deficiency), Onion seed with Asparagus root, Nettle seed, Rocket seed, Red and White Behen (as in Antidote for Cold Lumbar, for Venery, and Defect of Semen of Nicholas)
3. Obstructed Urine, boil Onion and Mallow in wine and drink
4. Worms, Cut an onion small, cover with water and steep overnight. In the morning drink the water
5. Trauma and Bruising, Onion juice mixed with Salt and applied.
6. Bruised nails, beat Onion and mix with the juice of boiled Barley and apply. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
7. Ear ache, boil Onion in Oil and drop in warm
8. To promote Hair growth, boil Onion in Olive Oil and Honey to form an Ointment.
Major Formulas:
Antidote for Cold Lumbar, for Venery, and Defect of Semen (Nicholas)
Cautions:
1. Raw, they are not for Choleric (Hot) Bodies and are hurtful to the head and eyes.