Onion Cures

This post is an ode to the humble onion. Whom I use the most often when the common cold hits. I have been asked to write this blog by serval friends who, like I, have slept many a night because of these simple onion cures. The instructions below are from many different sources but all have the onion in common.  
The next time an ear ache, sore throat or common cold reaches your house, reach for an onion. Yes, your house will stink but you won't mind at all (most likely you won't even be able to smell it). 

Ear Ache:

This the one I share the most, if you ever have been awakened yourself or by a screaming child with an ear ache you will understand why this one is so important to so many people:

What you need:
1/2 onion
hot water
large mug
boiling water
old clean wash clothe

Put the kettle on to an almost boil. Cut an onion in half. Pour hot water in the large mug and drop onion in for a a few minutes or until the onion is warm through. Take onion out and cool until it is cool enough to touch on sensitive skin (I use the back of my wrist). Place onion over ear and cover with wash clothe. This may take several onion applications, you can reheat the same onion over again. I usually have two halves going and it takes about fifteen to twenty minutes until the ear ache is gone, longer for adults. This cure is great because you don't have to put anything in the ear, which you never want to do unless you know the ear drum in intact.

Source- An ukrainian grandmother whom my husband knew as a child. 

Cough with heavily lung congestion-
This onion pack is my go to remedy for coughing children. The medical properties of the onion pack are contained in it's fumes the inhalations of them is what does the trick.  If your child has a post nasal drip from allergies or a cough like whopping cough, the onion pack will NOT work. It will work for bronchitis and pneumonia or a cough that sounds very wet. 

What you need:
1 large onion
Large mug
boiling water
Large clean napkin (old pre fold clothe diapers work great)
Hot water bottle or heating pad
* for an adult you can also add sliced fresh ginger or crushed mustard seed

Put the kettle on to a boil. Thinly slice the onion and place in mug of almost boiling water. Let the onion heat. Now get your child nice and comfortable and have your hot water bottle ready. Place slices of hot onion onto clothe and make a pack (fold like a burrito leaving the top open). Place on chest and cover with hot water bottle. Make sure child stays warm during onion pack time.

Source- Gentle Healing for Baby and child by Andrea Candee & David Andrusia 


Onion for Night Cough-
This remedy is so simple. Works very well for the cough that is much better in the day and picks up at night when you or your child lies down to sleep. And it is so easy to prepare you will even get up at 1 a.m and actually make it. I usually wait until the child is asleep before I bring in the onion. 

What you need:
1/2 Onion
plate or cloth
*a few drops oil of oregano

Cut the onion place on the plate and put as near to child's head as safely possible.
Depending on the cough I sometimes place a few drops oil of oregano on the onion for a stronger remedy.

Source- my own desperation for some sleep when I was to tired to make an onion pack 


Green Onion Sore Throat Pack-
This one contains green onions, but nothing works better for a tight and scratchy sore throat. 

What you need:
1 Cup Epsom Salts
Serval Green Onions
Newspaper or clean old thick clothe

Slice green onion and heat in a cast iron pan with epsom salts. Lay newspaper out and place green onions and salt in about an twelve inch line on the paper. Fold paper to make a pack to place around your neck and leave until sore throat goes away.

Source- Japanese exchange student we hosted when I was a child.