Onion

Also known as: Allium cepa, Oignon Vert, Palandu, Shallot

Wonder cure, the Onion was a powerful symbol in Egypt, embodying the universe and the eternity. Egyptian leaders used to vouch holding their right hand on an onion, while mummies had next to them onions wrapped in bandages. Many superstitions about the humble Onion conquered the time and today we know that whenever we have a dilemma, we can write each of our options on an Onion bulb, leave them in the dark and the first bulb sprouting in the answer. Also, if we stick a needle in an Onion bulb and place it at the window, we will be protected by evil spirits and if we try to heal from a disease, we should put an Onion cut in half under our bed. In cases of bad dreams with the deceased, Onion giveaway is the answer.

An old agrarian calendar using Onion is still used in Transylvania, on the first day of the New Year, to find out if the year will be dry or wet. You should select 12 onion peels for each month of the year, starting with January, place the same amount of salt on each peal and wait till the next day to see which peels will be wet and which dry. Wet peels indicate months with rain, while dry peels will indicate drought.

Medicinal uses of onion include digestive problems, asthma, bronchitis, sore throat and whooping cough, but Onion might also help decrease cholesterol levels, preventing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. By decreasing blood sugar, Onion prevents diabetes. Externally, Onion helps heal wounds and bruises, boils and warts and reduces the inflammation and pain of insect bites.