Fight Colds with Onion and Honey Remedy - Benefits and How to Make

Onion and Honey: A Surprising Cold Remedy

When you feel a cold coming on, onion and honey may seem like an unlikely home remedy combination. However, both ingredients contain antiviral and antibacterial properties that provide real medicinal benefits.

Many traditional cold remedies call for mixing onion juice or onion syrup with quality raw honey. Consumed together, this simple preparation helps calm coughs, soothe sore throats, and fight infection.

Medicinal Compounds in Onions

Allium and allyl disulfide oils give onions their pungent smell and taste. But these sulfur-containing compounds also offer antimicrobial effects against viruses, bacteria and fungi.

Quercetin stands as another powerful component in onions. This antioxidant flavonoid stimulates the immune system while demonstrating impressive anti-inflammatory capabilities.

When you combine fresh onion juice with raw honey, you deliver a concentrated dose of these therapeutic compounds straight to the areas causing cold misery.

Healing Elements of Raw Honey

For thousands of years, raw honey held a revered place in traditional medicines around the world. Today science continues uncovering unique healing capacities thanks to key details of honey’s composition.

Hydrogen peroxide content gives honey natural antiseptic ability against unwanted microbes. However, hydrogen peroxide levels remain mild enough to not harm healthy tissue in the process.

Honey’s thickness and stickiness enables it to coat and soothe sore throat tissues. The rich supply of antioxidants like polyphenols assists in reducing inflammation too.

Using unprocessed honey ensures you obtain all its beneficial phytochemicals. Heating and filtering honey during commercial processing diminishes many healing components.

Combining Onion & Honey Against Colds

Using onion and honey together utilizes the antiviral, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory strengths from each ingredient. This offers multidimensional relief when you’re faced with annoying cold or cough symptoms.

The quercetin in onions exhibits particular synergy and enhanced bioavailability when combined with honey. Together, their medicinal impact expands beyond what either achieves alone.

Science-Backed Benefits

With both traditional and recent scientific backing, what specific benefits may onion honey preparations provide?

1. Fights Viral Infections

Early lab research indicates onion and honey mixtures inhibit activity and growth of some viruses - including influenza viruses and certain coronaviruses.

2. Supports Immune Function

Thiosulfinates in onions and polyphenols in honey demonstrate immunostimulant roles. This empowers your body’s natural defenses against germs.

3. Calms Coughs

Cough reflex sensitivity and lung inflammation get suppressed when taking onion syrup with honey, providing cough relief.

4. Soothes Sore Throats

The thick consistency and viscosity of honey coats and protects throat tissues. Hydrogen peroxide accumulation adds germ fighting ability too for fast sore throat amelioration.

5. Functions as an Antioxidant

Free radical fighting flavonoids in onions plus polyphenols in raw honey offer antioxidant activity. This stabilizes cell-damaging compounds that accompany infection.

6. Reduces Congestion

Quercetin in onions exhibits natural antihistamine effects to calm allergy-related inflammation involved in congestion. Antimicrobial onion compounds treat sinus-invading bacteria too for decongestant benefits.

Preparing an Onion Honey Remedy

While onion honey cold remedies typically utilize fresh onion juice, you can also find prepared onion cough syrups containing honey sold in some natural health stores and online.

However, making your own allows control over ingredients for purity and potency.

Ingredients

• 1 small onion
• 1-2 teaspoons raw, unfiltered honey
• 1/2 cup purified water (optional)

Steps

Follow these steps for making basic onion juice honey:

1. Chop onion finely into chunks.
2. Process in blender until smooth, pulpy juice forms.
3. Add juice to small jar or cup.
4. Stir in 1-2 teaspoons honey until dissolved.
5. Dilute with a 1/2 cup water for less intensity (optional).
6. Consume mixture immediately for maximum potency.

Tips

• Consider organically grown onions when possible to avoid pesticide residues.
• Opt for raw, unpasteurized honey to preserve beneficial enzymes.
• Adjust honey amount based on taste and sweetness preference.
• Refrigerate leftover juice cocktail up to 12 hours.

Best Practices when Using

Here are some best practice tips when using onion juice blended with honey as a cold and cough home remedy:

1. Don't Give Honey to Infants Under 1 Year

Due to risk of infant botulism, honey should be avoided for children under one year. Stick to plain onion juice preparations instead.

2. Start with Small Doses

Try 1-2 teaspoons diluted in water first. Gradually work up to larger amounts based on tolerance.

3. Store in Refrigerator

For optimal freshness and activity of active compounds, keep leftover syrup chilled for up to 12 hours only.

4. Enjoy Plain or with Tea

The mixture can be taken straight as medicine or mixed into a hot herbal tea like peppermint or ginger.

5. Repeat Every 2-3 Hours When Needed

Most directions suggest consuming the onion honey preparation every 2-3 hours when cold symptoms flare up.

6. Couple with Other Remedies

Use onion juice and honey as part of a regimen including elderberry syrup, zinc lozenges, chicken soup, garlic, magnesium, vitamin C and eucalyptus or menthol.

Possible Side Effects and Safety Considerations

Teary Eyes and Bad Breath

Chopping onions releases compounds that can irritate eyes and the sulfur content causes bad breath. Use good ventilation, avoid rubbing eyes and rinse mouth after consuming onion preparations.

Blood Sugar Effects

People with diabetes or hypoglycemia should monitor blood sugar closely when ingesting remedies containing honey or other sugars.

Allergies and Sensitivities

Avoid onion honey if you have a known allergy or sensitivity to onions or other allium plant relatives.

Not for Infants

Do not give raw honey to children under one year due to risk of botulism and harm to the still-developing gut.

The Takeaway

Who would imagine a simple blend of onion juice and honey capable of tackling cold and cough symptoms from so many angles? Yet the science supporting this traditional remedy’s antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory prowess continues growing.

Give onion juice sweetened with a bit of raw, unfiltered honey a try the next time a cold has you feeling under the weather. Just be sure to control serving sizes and avoid giving honey to infants under one.

Finally, remember even nature’s best medicinal foods work best as part of a comprehensive lifestyle approach also incorporating proper rest, fluids, nutrition and stress management when aiming to fend off those pesky cold bugs.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.