Onions. Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no denying the amazing health benefits they offer! Onions have been used for centuries as a natural healing remedy. They are known to reduce inflammation, heal wounds, relieve pain and prevent infections. The vitamin C and phytochemicals in onions give the immune system a natural boost to keep you healthy, and the onion’s powerful anti-fungal, anti-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties make it a natural healer.
While there are a ton of delicious recipes out there that allow you to incorporate onions into your meals, you might be surprised to find out that onions are useful for a whole lot more than meals!
Check out these unique and interesting ways to use an onion!
1. Clear Chest Congestion
If you’re stuffy, congested and looking for a natural remedy, crush an onion with some coconut oil, then coat your chest with the paste. Cover the area and leave it on until your airway opens up!
2. Relieve Ear Pain
For ear pain or an ear infection, chop an onion and put it into a thin sock. Place the flattened onion sock over your troubled ear and hold it in place. Remove it when the pain subsides!
3. Heal Cuts
The skin of an onion can help stop light to moderate bleeding . It will also act as an antiseptic for the wound, warding off bacteria and a possible infection.
4. Relieve a Cough
For a persistent cough, peel a large onion and finely chop it. Add 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, then cover the onion for 1 hour. Take a small portion of the sugar/onion mix twice a day to help with your cough.
5. Reduce a Fever
Take 1 onion and slice it thinly. Rub the bottom of your feet with coconut oil, and put a thin slice onto the arch of each foot. Wrap your feet with cling wrap and wear socks overnight to allow the onion to help the body draw out unwanted toxins!
6. Calm Nausea
Juice 1 white or yellow onion, then brew a cup of peppermint tea. Drink 2 teaspoons of the onion juice, wait 5 minutes, then drink 2 teaspoons of the peppermint tea. Wait another 5 minutes to see if the nausea subsides. If it’s still there, repeat.
7. Remove Splinters
If you have a splinter that just won’t come out, try using an onion! Place an onion slice on the splinter, and use tape or a Band-aid to hold it into place. Leave it for about an hour, then remove and check. The onion should help the splinter begin to make its way out!
8. Clean Your Grill
Chop an onion in half and turn on your grill. Use a utensil to glide the onion over the grill to scrub it clean and disinfect it!
9. Polish Your Metal
Slice an onion, then crush it. Combined the crushed onion with water and dab a cloth into the mix. Rub the cloth over the metal surface until clean!
10. Preserve Avocados
Prevent your avocados from browning too soon by storing them in an airtight container with red onions. Place half of an onion in the container skinside up, then add in the avocado. This trick will keep your avocados from going bad before you have a chance to use them!