Amaryllidaceae
Onion Red
Allium cepa
✓ Generally Safe
Safe in Pregnancy
Native to: Central Asia, Iran
Also known as: Common Onion, Red Onion, Bulb Onion
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA
Parts Used
Bulb
Therapeutic Uses
Cardiovascular disease prevention, respiratory infections (raw onion syrup for cough — clinical evidence), type 2 diabetes, H. pylori, immune support. Highest quercetin source per serving.
Herbal Actions
Antioxidant (quercetin), anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, mucolytic (cough syrup), cardioprotective, prebiotic (fructooligosaccharides)
Active Constituents
Quercetin (high — especially red onion), allicin (minor), organosulfides (dipropyl disulfide), flavonoids, prostaglandin A1, chromium, folic acid, vitamin C
Preparation Methods
🍯 Syrup🏺 Tincture☕ Herbal Tea💊 Capsule
Traditional Preparation Notes
| Herbal Tea | Fresh raw onion juice: 1 tbsp 3x daily for cough. Decoction: 1 onion in 500ml, simmer 20 min. |
| Tincture | Fresh extract: 5–10 ml (1:3, 25% ethanol), 3x daily. Or eat half a raw onion daily. |
| Notes | Raw onion most potent — cooking destroys allicin. Red onion highest quercetin. Onion syrup (slice onion, cover with honey, sit overnight): traditional cough remedy with clinical backing. Quercetin absorption enhanced by cooking (freed from cell walls). |
Safety Information
Safety Rating
✓ Generally Safe
Pregnancy
Safe in Pregnancy
Drug Interactions
Possible — consult doctor
Contraindications: Anticoagulant effect — caution with blood thinners. IBS/FODMAP sensitivity (fructooligosaccharides). Otherwise very safe.
Side Effects: GI bloating (FODMAP content). Bad breath. Rare allergic reactions. Blood thinning. Very well tolerated as food.