Onions Ward Off Sickness! Myth or Fact?

There’s some buzz that onions absorb germs from the air. Its also been said that this has been known for centuries and that in medieval times onions protected people against the Black Death. Could this be true? If so, why isn’t it better known?

Onions are good for us, but they have no magical powers to gather germs and prevent us from getting sick, as this ancient and persistent myth holds. The notion that onions can ward off sickness goes back to the days before people knew that invisible microorganisms caused disease. During the Black Death (an epidemic of bubonic plague) in the 14th century, many people believed that onions could help protect them. They thought plague was caused by exposure to “miasma,” a poisonous mist, and that strongly scented materials could absorb the dangerous vapor. The version of the myth that has cropped up more recently includes anecdotes, such as one about a farm family that came through the great influenza pandemic of 1918 unscathed as a result of putting onions in every room of the house.

You can read commentaries on the internet alleging that onions work by attracting and absorbing dangerous bacteria and viruses. This is ridiculous. Most germs aren’t floating in the air waiting for an opportunity to land on us. They inhabit moist environments and become airborne only when the liquid is propelled outward – for instance, when someone sick sneezes.

Garlic has a similar reputation. It does, indeed, have significant antibiotic properties, but only when you consume it, preferably raw. When I feel a cold coming on, I eat a clove or two of mashed, raw garlic mixed with food.

Onions haven’t been studied as well as garlic, but, eaten raw, they may also boost your resistance.

Another legend you may have heard is putting a raw onion inside a sock and sleeping with it overnight is a remedy that some people believe can treat a cold or the flu. But is there any scientific evidence to suggest it works?

What the Science Says

A 2002 review on the health benefits of onions notes that they are indeed rich in sulfuric compounds. However, this is as far as the evidence to support the onion in sock home remedy goes.

That said, there have not been any scientific studies that have looked at this specifically. Most articles online that recommend onion in a sock as a cure for colds and flu do not cite any scientific evidence.

Onions do have some health benefits when eaten. They are a low-calorie, high-fiber, high-nutrient food and contain vitamin C. Eating onions may reduce the risk of cancer, support skin and hair health, and reduce depression, as they also contain vitamin B9.

Those considering using the onion in sock home remedy to cure a cold or flu may find one of the following home remedies to be more beneficial:

• Drinking tea with honey and lemon: This can ease a sore throat and researchers have found honey to be an effective cough suppressant.
• Drinking hot water with fresh ginger: This can reduce feelings of nausea associated with the flu.
• Gargling with salt water: This study found that gargling might help prevent upper respiratory tract infections.

Bottom line: to get health benefits from onions, you have to eat them; they won’t do you any good adding aura to your feet or sitting across the room.

Adapted from Dr. Weil and Medical News Today