Allium cepa

Common Name: Onion

Family: Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis family)

Parts used: Bulb

Constituents: Glucosinolates

Taste/smell: Tear-inducing, spicy, sweet, bitter, sour, acidic, strongly aromatic

Actions

• Anti-atherosclerotic

• Hypolipidemic

• Antiplatelet

• Antidiabetic

• Antimicrobial

• Anti-H. pylori

• Immunomodulating

Uses

Anti-atherosclerotic:

• Atherosclerosis

• Ischemic stroke prevention

• Hypercoagulable states

• Angina pectoris

• Impotence (from arterial insufficiency)

• Erectile dysfunction

• Hypertension

Hypolipidemic:

• Hyperlipidemia

• Dyslipidemia

• Hypercholesterolemia

• Intermittent claudication

Anti-Diabetic:

• Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Topical Antimicrobial:

• Dermatophytosis

• Onychomycosis

• Warts (common or plantar)

• Infectious vaginitis

• Otitis media

Contraindications

• Bleeding diathesis due to its antiplatelet activity

• Bleeding disorders

• Concomitant use with anticoagulant drugs

• Thyroid disease (high doses may inhibit thyroid uptake of iodine and cause problems in people if they have marginal iodine intake, which is very rare in the US)

Adverse Effects

• Breath and body odor

• Bleeding at excess doses

Toxicity

• Antiplatelet activity

Interactions

• Can potentiate anticoagulants due to platelet-inhibiting effects

• Can potentiate insulin (inhibits its breakdown) and hypoglycemic drugs