Background
Onion contains chemicals that seem to reduce swelling and lung tightness related to asthma. It also contains chemicals that seem to reduce cholesterol and lower blood sugar.
People use onion to prevent scarring. It is also used for obesity, hair loss, asthma, insomnia, high blood pressure. warts, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Safety Safety definitions
When applied to the skin: Onion extract is likely safe. Side effects might include skin irritation or eczema.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Onion is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if onion is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Cross-allergens: People with allergies to mugwort and celery might also be allergic to onion.
Surgery to place a pouch near the anus (ileal pouch-anal anastomosis): People that have had surgery to place a pouch near the anus might find that onion increases feelings of gas. Don't eat large amounts of onion if you have had this surgery.
Indigestion: Onion might increase indigestion symptoms.
Surgery: Onion might slow blood clotting and lower blood sugar. This might increase the risk for bleeding or interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using onion as a medicine at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Effectiveness
- Scarring. Applying a gel containing onion extract to the skin, alone or with other ingredients, for at least 10 weeks seems to improve the appearance of scars. But it's not clear what combination of ingredients or dose works best.
- Obesity. Eating onion or taking onion extract by mouth doesn't reduce body weight in people who are overweight or obese.
Dosing & administration
Interactions with pharmaceuticals
Aspirin
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some people are allergic to onions. Aspirin might increase your sensitivity to onions if you are allergic to onions. This has only been reported in one person. But to be on the safe side, if you are allergic to onions do not take aspirin and eat onions.
Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) substrates)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Onion might change how quickly the liver breaks down these medications. This could change the effects and side effects of these medications.
Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Onion might lower blood sugar levels. Taking onion along with diabetes medications might cause blood sugar to drop too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely.
Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)
Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.
Onion might slow blood clotting. Taking onion along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.
Interactions with herbs & supplements
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Onion might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Interactions with foods
Products
View all products- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Galphimia glauca
- Lycopodium clavatum (Clubmoss)
- Flower and shrub pollens
- Grass pollens
- Tree pollens
- European housedustmite
- Mixed inhalants
- Silver nitrate
- Potassium dichromate
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Euphrasia
- Sinapis nigra
- Sticta pulmonaria
- Arsenicum album (Ars alb)
- Sabadilla
- Ambrosia artemisiaefolia
- Arsenicum iodatum (Ars iod)
- Kalium iodatum (Kali iodatum)
- Naphthalinum
- Allium cepa (Onion) powder
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Allium schoenoprasum dry
- Allium sativum powder
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Piper nigrum (seed) oil
- Tapioca
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Mixed pollens and dust mite
- Histaminum muriaticum
- Arsenicum album (Ars alb)
- Paloondo
- Sabadilla
- Euphrasia
- Pheniramine
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
- Beef bones
- Paprika
- Carya juice
- Water
- Sea salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- Cichorium intybus (fibre)
- Plantago ovata (husk) (Psyllium)
- Brassica juncea (seed) powder
- Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato)
- Natural pomegranate flavour
- Allium sativum powder
- Citrus limon (juice) (Lemon)
- Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (Guar gum)
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Tamarindus indica
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Histamine
- Bee
- Oyster shell
- Ammonium carbonicum
- Arsenic trioxide
- Arsenic triiodide
- Calcium sulfide
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Lentinula edodes powder
- Grifola frondosa
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Piper nigrum powder
- Tapioca
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Piper nigrum (seed) powder
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Curcuma longa powder
- Apple cider vinegar
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Piper nigrum
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Fermented soybean paste (Red miso)
- Oryza sativa (Rice)
- Sea salt
- Aspergillus oryzae (Kōji mould)
- Medium Chain Triglycerides (powder) (MCT)
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Apium graveolens
- Oryza sativa (Brown rice)
- Allium sativum
- Curcuma longa
- Pumpkin powder
- Brassica oleracea var. acephala (leaf) powder (Kale)
- Spinacia oleracea (Spinach)
- Sweet potato powder
- Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli)
- Laminaria digitara (Kelp)
- Petroselinum crispum
- Allium schoenoprasum
- Piper nigrum
- Arctic sea algae
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Oryza sativa (Rice)
- Chicken, bones
- Chicken, roasted
- Glycine max
- Sea salt
- Apple cider vinegar
- Coconut medium-chain triglyceride (Coconut MCT)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Rosmarinus officinalis ext.
- Allium sativum
- Piper nigrum
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Oryza sativa (Rice)
- Beef bones
- Glycine max
- Beef
- Sea salt
- Hydrolysed bovine collagen peptides
- Apple cider vinegar
- Coconut medium-chain triglyceride (Coconut MCT)
- Nutritional yeast flakes (Dried yeast)
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Tapioca
- Allium sativum
- Piper nigrum
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Echinacea angustifolia
- Astragalus membranaceus
- Sambucus nigra (fruit)
- Lycium barbarum
- Rosa canina
- Luo Han Guo (fruit) ext. (Monk fruit)
- Echinacea purpurea
- Sambucus nigra
- Glycyrrhiza glabra (root)
- Olea europaea (leaf)
- Calendula officinalis
- Origanum vulgare
- Uncaria tomentosa
- Mentha x piperita
- Thymus vulgaris
- Cola acuminata
- Foeniculum vulgare
- Inula helenium
- Asclepias tuberosa
- Achillea millefolium
- Armoracia rusticana
- Capsicum spp.
- Allium sativum
- Zingiber officinale
- Cordyceps sinensis (mushroom)
- Ganoderma lucidum (mushroom)
- Lentinula edodes (mushroom)
- Tremella fuciformis (mushroom)
- Trametes versicolor (mushroom)
- Salvia eremostachya
- Hericium erinaceus (mushroom)
- Inonotus obliquus (mushroom)
- Ilex paraguariensis
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Euphrasia
- Kalium bichromicum
- Sabadilla
- Natrium chloratum
- Kalium sulphuricum
- Ferrum phosphoricum
- Allium cepa (Onion) 6 C
- Calcium ascorbate dihydrate (Vitamin C) 4.87 mg equiv. ascorbic acid 4 mg
- Euphrasia
- Beta-carotene carotenoids (Vitamin A) 240 μg equiv. vitamin A RE 20 μg
- Pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate (P5P) 70.63 μg equiv. pyridoxine 40 μg
- Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12) 0.06 μg
- Anemone pulsatilla (Pasque flower)
- Ferrous phosphate (Iron)
- Potassium dichromate
- Potassium iodide
- Sodium chloride (Salt)
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Sodium chloride
- Sambucus nigra (Elderberry)
- Galphimia glauca
- Schoenocaulon officinale
- Ailanthus altissima
- Ambrosia artemisiaefolia
- Aralia racemosa
- Ampelodesmos mauritanicus
- Euphrasia
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Beef bones 9 g
- Apple cider vinegar
- Honey
- Curcuma longa
- Allium sativum
- Chilli powder
- Armoracia rusticana
- Zingiber officinale
- Daucus carota powder (Carrot)
- Apium graveolens
- Malus (Apple)
- Orange
- Citrus limon (Lemon)
- Brassica juncea
- Petroselinum crispum
- Rosmarinus officinalis
- Origanum vulgare
- Thymus vulgaris
- Juniperus communis (berry)
- Piper nigrum
- Pink Himalayan crystal salt
- Sea salt
- Backhousia citriodora
- Bay leaf
- Szechuan pepper
- Allium cepa (Onion)
- Anemone pulsatilla (Pasque flower)
- Potassium dichromate
- Lobaria pulmonaria
- Marine sponge
- Barium carbonate
- Arisaema atrorubens
- Beef
- Coconut aminos
- Acetic acid (Vinegar)
- Sea salt
- Cuminum cyminum
- Piper nigrum
- Chilli powder
- Paprika
- Myristica fragrans (Nutmeg)