We may know of onion as one of the main ingredients used in cooking and found in practically almost all recipes in a cooking book. Yes, that bulb-looking vegetable that will only make you cry as you attempt to cut it up. However, did you know that there is such a thing as onion essential oil too?

This essential oil is unique because unlike many other essential oils, it cannot be used as a form of aromatherapy as it has a very strong pungent smell. But onion has high vitamins A, B and C content, and it undoubtedly has numerous health benefits and properties that make onion essential oil a must-have to add as part of your essential oils collection!

Before we delve into the health properties of onion essential oil, let’s look at how you can make onion essential oil at home! Obtaining the recipe from tandurust.com, here’s what you need to do.

• Obtain 100g of thinly sliced onions, 50g of thinly chopped spring onion and a cup of carrier oil (such as sunflower oil).

• Mix them all together in a pot and set it to low-medium heat.

• Wait until the spring onion turns dark.

• Proceed to take the wok from the stove.

• Using a strainer, proceed to strain the onion oil into a bowl.

• Leave it to cool and then transfer it to a plastic/glass bottle.

Usually, for commercial purposes, the onion bulbs are steam distilled to obtain the onion essential oil. The oil is a yellowish to golden brownish liquid and it possesses many therapeutic and health benefits. Below are the top benefits of using onion essential oil.

Benefits of Using Onion Essential Oil:

• Detoxification: Because it possesses diurectic compounds, it means that onion essential oil is able to increase urination levels. Thus, it is able to remove toxic and harmful substances from the body, such as urea, uric acid, excess fats, salts and water. This hence detoxifies the body and cleanses it, keeping it free from various infections and diseases due to the buildup of such harmful compounds.

• Remedy for Respiratory Ailments: Onion essential oil is an expectorant, which simply means that it can clear congestion and mucus buildup, especially along the respiratory tracts to promote unobstructed airflow. This thus helps alleviate coughs, sinuses and phlegms. They open up blocked passages and induces phlegm and mucus to come out of the body. Thus, onion essential oil provides relief from these common respiratory ailments.

• Hair Growth: Onion essential oil can also help to promote hair growth naturally. It clears the scalp and makes it dandruff-free, thus facilitating a much healthier scalp. When this happens, hair can grow easily and your hair will be softer, healthier and shinier. Additionally, it prevents hair loss from happening.

• Heals Wounds: Onion essential oil has numerous antibacterial and antifungal properties. Hence, it is a useful antiseptic agent to clean any wounds, cuts or scrapes obtained without causing infections. It kills off any bacteria from festering on the wound or cut and thus, promotes the fast healing of wounds and scrapes. So next time you obtain a wound or a cut from a daredevil attempt at sports, fret not, because you can always count on onion essential oil to save the day!

• Pain Killer: If you suffer from toothaches or even earaches, then onion essential oil can help provide some pain relief to these areas as its bactericidal properties help to destroy bacteria and germs from causing these infections in the first place.

• Clears the Skin: Related to its antimicrobial properties, onion essential oil can also be used to treat skin disorders such as acne, eczema or even psoriasis. Onion essential oil can kill off the bacteria and prevent these skin conditions from worsening. The oil can also lighten up marks, scars, spots and blemishes on your skin hence making it a useful product to have to treat your skin woes!

How to Use Onion Essential Oil:

• Topically: Onion essential oil can be applied topically onto the desired area. However, ensure that you dilute concentrated onion essential oil with a carrier oil before applying it topically.

• Consumption: It is widely believed that onion essential oil can also help to solve indigestion problems and that you can add a few drops of the oil to a glass of warm water to provide relief for the problem. However, not enough research has been done in this area so be sure to consult your doctor first before ingesting onion essential oil.

Safety Precautions:

• When applying onion essential oil topically, be sure to do a skin patch test first. Apply a small amount of it onto a non-sensitive part of your skin (such as your forearm area) and see if there are any allergic or sensitive reactions within 24 hours of application. If there are none, then go ahead and apply onion essential oil as a natural remedy for your ailments.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor first before using onion essential oil.

• Onion essential oil can interfere with anticoagulant medications and may inhibit blood clotting. Be sure to consult your doctor first before using onion essential oil as an alternative remedy for your various ailments