Article content
Onions are one of the cornerstones of Czech cuisine and we would hardly be able to imagine most recipes without them. But did you know what this year‑round available vegetable can be used for and what ailments it can rid you of? Besides acting as a natural antibiotic (who doesn’t know the childhood remedy of onion juice with honey or sugar for a cold), it has a number of other uses. Ideally, use home‑grown or at least local onions and don’t try to save money by buying imported ones. What problems can an onion help you with?
First aid for burns or bee stings
If you burn yourself while cooking or ironing, cut an onion in half and press one half onto the affected area as quickly as possible. The juice from the onion will soothe the skin and help relieve the pain. This tip, however, only works for very minor burns. If your injury is more serious, don’t experiment and seek professional medical treatment. Placing an onion on the affected area also works in the case of bee or wasp stings. The procedure is the same as for a burn. The first step, however, should be to remove the stinger. If you are allergic, follow your doctor’s instructions — in this case every minute counts.
Onion reduces fever and helps detoxify the body
One of the often used old wives’ tips to bring down a fever is the so‑called onion socks. The method is simple: slice an onion, put it in your socks, and put the socks on your feet. The fever should drop within an hour. Today’s popular detox cures often cost a fortune. Kitchen onions can also help cleanse the blood and remove toxins from the body, and almost for free.
Other health benefits of the kitchen onion:
- Contributes to a healthy intestinal microflora and the proper functioning of the digestive system.
- An onion compress relieves bruises and sprains of the limbs.
- Helps destroy warts.
- Reduces blood pressure.
