Despite the wide variety of cough medicines available on the market, the traditional folk remedy of treating coughs with onions remains extremely popular even today.
Below, I offer several recipes that you can easily prepare at home using onions.
First, take two onion bulbs and chop them finely. Add half a cup of powdered sugar and two tea glasses of water. Place this mixture over low heat and simmer until it thickens. Take one tablespoon of this syrup every three hours. This simple remedy has been used for generations and is known for its soothing effects on coughs.
For prolonged coughing and, in general, bronchitis, onions cooked in milk are especially effective. This remedy is particularly recommended for those who suffer from persistent coughs accompanied by chest discomfort.
To prepare this, peel 1 to 2 medium-sized onions and immerse them in milk. Place the mixture over low heat and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onions soften. After cooking, remove the onions from the milk, let them cool, then chop and consume. The warm onion pieces can help to soothe irritated airways and relieve coughing.
There is also another method for making this remedy. Take the same amount of onions, finely chop them, and cook in milk. After cooking, allow the infusion to rest for 4 hours. Then strain the liquid through a cloth or sieve. Take one tablespoon of this strained liquid every 2 to 3 hours. This preparation allows the beneficial properties of the onion to infuse into the milk thoroughly, providing relief from persistent coughs.
From our ancestors, we have inherited the following recipe:
Slice 1 to 2 onions into rings and lightly fry them in a small amount of fat—preferably pork fat—until they soften and turn slightly pink. It is recommended to consume this warm, preferably in two servings: once in the morning and once in the evening before meals. This recipe combines the medicinal properties of onion with the nourishing effect of fat, making it especially useful for those with weak respiratory systems.
Another effective recipe involves combining the properties of marshmallow root with onions. Take one tablespoon of marshmallow root and pour one cup of boiling water over it. Let it steep for 20 minutes. Then add grated onions (1 to 2 bulbs), let the mixture sit for another 20 minutes, and strain it through a cloth. Drink one tablespoon of this preparation three to four times daily. Instead of marshmallow root, you can also use mullein as an alternative.
These traditional remedies, passed down through generations, remain effective and are a natural alternative to chemical medicines. The gentle properties of onions, combined with other natural ingredients, can soothe the throat, reduce inflammation, and calm coughing fits.
This article is based on information from the book “2000 Herbal Medicinal Recipes,” which is a comprehensive collection of traditional herbal remedies.
