Allium cepa Medicinal Uses (Family: Alliaceae)

Binomial Name	Allium cepa L.
Family	Alliaceae
Common Name	Onion
Tamil Name	வெங்காயம் (Vengayam)
Hindi Name	Pyaz
Manipuri	Tilhou

Allium cepa Medicinal Uses

Raw bulb: The raw bulb is eaten to improve eyesight; taken orally for gastronomic purposes, amenorrhea, menstrual and uterine pains.
Hot water extract of fresh bulb: It is believed that hot water extract of the fresh bulb if taken orally, acts as an aphrodisiac (to increase sexual desire) for both men and women.
Dried bulb:The dried/roasted bulb is used either orally as a contraceptive, antiphlogistic, or intra - vaginally to induce menses.
Hot water extract of dried bulb: Hot water extract of the dried bulb is taken orally for diabetes, dropsy colic, catarrh, chronic bronchitis, scurvy, epileptic and hysterical fits, epistasis, jaundice, enlarged spleen, rheumatic pain and strangury.
Fresh bulb juice: Fresh bulb juice is used externally as an anti-inflammatory agent on insect bites and for bronchitis, applied opthalmically to improve eyesight.
Seeds: The dried seed is used as an abortifacient - 3 parts of the seed, 3 parts of Punica granatum root, 2 parts of cajanus cajan and red lead oxide are taken with honey.
Shoot: Decoction of the dried shoot is taken orally as a cicatrizing agent and to treat insect bites.
Root: The root of the onion plant is taken orally to facilitate expulsion of the placenta.
Essential Oil: Fresh bulb essential oil, administered by inhalation, is used for the treatment of colds. The bulb is taken orally for gastrointestinal infections.Extract of onion is also used as homeopathic medicine to treat cold and several other ailments.