The word onion comes from the Latin word unio for "single" or "one" because the onion produces a single bulb. The name also suggests the union of the many separate concentrically arranged layers of the onion. Onions are native to Asia and the Middle East and have thought to be cultivated for over five thousand years-they were highly regarded by the ancient Egyptians.

Onions come in a variety of colors and flavors. Looking for the right onion for a recipe at the grocery store can be overwhelming when you see the wide range of red, yellow, green, and white onions that you can buy. While all onions can be used to add flavor to a dish, knowing the different types of onions and how to use them can help you choose the best onion for each recipe. It contains Vitamin A, Vitamin B and Vitamin C. Onions are rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium and sulphur, it helps to stimulate hair growth and cleansing the blood Lowers blood pressure and acts as an anti-clotting agent and can be used to treat coughs, sore throat and ear infections .

The antioxidant qualities of quercetin also neutralize free radicals in the body and are thus able to protect cell membranes from age-related damage. Diabetics value onions for their ability to equalize blood sugar levels. Heart patients are advised to eat raw onions because they promote circulation, reduce blood pressure, clotting and levels of LDL, the bad cholesterol. Other medicinal actions of the onion include its use as a diuretic, antibiotic, analgesic, expectorant and antirheumatic.

Onion smell is pervasive and irritating long after the delicious meal is over. It clings to the fingers and nail region with ferocity. It even affects your breath! Indeed, onions have a very potent smell, because onion oil contains 1-propenyl sulfenic acid, which is thought to be the lacrimator in onions. The lacrimator is something that makes your eyes water and gives the onions such a distinct smell.

Thin skins mean a mild winter is coming while thick skins indicate a rough winter ahead. As history progressed, folk healers used onions to treat edema, worms, warts, and boils. Onions are known to prevent hair loss and protect against cancer. Boiled or roasted onions are recommended for coughs and colds.

Its antiseptic and therapeutic qualities assist in curing the following diseases: Asthma, Bronchitis, Pnuemonia, Influenza and Cold. Victims of Tuberculosis have been reported to improve considerably as a result of heavy consumption of onion. Onion has helped bring about improvement in cases of Low Blood Pressure, and Obesity. It also aids the destruction of worms and other parasites in the body.

Onion and its leaves have a very deep relationship. If leaves are more, layers of onion would be larger in number as well. That means the onion grown is bigger. More leaves will therefore indicate that you are growing bigger onions in your backyard or kitchen garden. Onions grown from seed mature in about 130 days but offer a much wider range of varieties than those grown from sets. Seed longevity, however, is only one year. One ounce of seed is sufficient for 100 feet of row. Seed should be in the ground just as early as possible, even before the last frost. It should be planted thickly and evenly in a shallow drill, covered with 1/2 inch of sifted compost And firmed.

Onions are also a great immune system booster as it helps treat virus born diseases like colds, cough and asthma. Onions are also a good alternative repellant to insects such as mosquitoes and cockroaches. In ancient China, Onions are used to treat angina, coughs, bacterial infections and respiratory problems.

Read about herbal remedies Also read about home remedies for kidney stones and home remedies for joint pains .

To add a comment please login by clicking here