Onion
Allium cepa L.
Onion (Allium cepa) is a widely cultivated culinary bulb, closely related to garlic, with hollow tubular leaves and a layered underground bulb prized both as a kitchen staple and, traditionally, as a home remedy.
Last reviewed October 7, 2026
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What is Onion?
Origin: Cultivated for thousands of years; exact wild origin is debated, but long associated with Central and Southwest Asia.
Growing Notes: Full sun, well-drained fertile soil; a cool-season crop typically planted in early spring or fall depending on climate.
What is Onion traditionally used for?
Long used in traditional medicine across many cultures for coughs, colds, and respiratory complaints, alongside its role as an everyday culinary staple — traditional preparations include onion syrup for coughs and poultices for minor skin irritation.
How is Onion prepared?
Most traditionally prepared as a simple syrup (simmered with honey or sugar) for coughs, or simply used as a fresh culinary ingredient — onion is, first and foremost, a food.
Dosage: This site documents onion primarily as a culinary and simple-syrup preparation — normal food-use amounts, not a concentrated extract.
Is Onion safe to use?
Very well tolerated at normal culinary amounts. At concentrated or extract-level intake beyond typical food use, onion has mild blood-sugar-lowering and blood-thinning properties — worth a note for anyone on diabetes medication or blood thinners considering regular concentrated use, though this isn't a concern at ordinary food-use levels. As with garlic, some people are sensitive to raw onion's digestive or skin-contact effects.
This is educational information, not medical advice. See our full Disclaimer before use.
What else is Onion called?
- Common Onion
- Bulb Onion
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Used in rituals & traditions
The symbolic and spiritual side of Onion is kept in the Cauldron:
- Planetary & elemental correspondence
- Folklore & spiritual associations