Cepa, Onion

Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485

Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563

Two varieties of Onion
Kreutterbuch, Matthiolus, 1586

Left: A. oleraceum, Right: A. cepa
Flora von Deutschland, Kohler, 1886

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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; Seeds

Temperature & Taste:
Hot, dry. Pungent
opens, cuts, cleanses

Uses:
1. Clears Cold Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-cuts Phlegm and Tartar from the Lungs (juice boiled with Honey)

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:
Of the Seed in Powder: 1–3 grams
Of the Juice: 20–40mls.

Main Combinations:
1. To warm the Kidneys in Impotence, Onion seed, Rocket seed, Cinnamon
2. Bruised nails, beat Onion and mix with the juice of boiled Barley and apply. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)

Cautions:
1. Raw, they are not for Choleric (Hot) Bodies and are hurtful to the head and eyes.

Main Preparations used: