ONIONS...weird but true

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jimLE

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ONIONS...
In 1919 when the flu killed 40 million people there was this Doctor that visited the many farmers to see if he could help them combat the flu...
Many of the farmers and their families had contracted it and many died.

The doctor came upon this one farmer and to his surprise, everyone was veryhealthy. When the doctor asked what the farmer was doing that was different the wife replied that she had placed an unpeeled onion in a dish in the rooms of the home, (probably only two rooms back then). The doctor couldn't believe it and asked if he could have one of the onions and place it under the microscope. She gave him one and when he did this, he did find the flu virus in the onion. It obviously absorbed the bacteria, therefore, keeping the family healthy.

Now, I heard this story from my hairdresser. She said that several years ago, many of her employees were coming down with the flu, and so were many of her customers. The next year she placed several bowls with onions around in her shop. To her surprise, none of her staff got sick. It must work. Try it and see what happens. We did it last year and we never got the flu.

Now there is a P. S. to this for I sent it to a friend in Oregon whoregularly contributes material to me on health issues. She replied with this most interesting experience about onions:

Thanks for the reminder. I don't know about the farmer's story...but, I do know that I contacted pneumonia, and, needless to say, I was very ill... I came across an article that said to cut both ends off an onion put it into an empty jar, and place the jar next to the sick patient at night. It said the onion would be black in the morning from the germs...sure enough it happened just like that...the onion was a mess and I began to feel better..

Another thing I read in the article was that onions and garlic placed aroundthe room saved many from the black plague years ago. They have powerfulantibacterial, antiseptic properties.

This is the other note.Lots of times when we have stomach problems we don't know what to blame.Maybe it's the onions that are to blame. Onions absorb bacteria is thereason they are so good at preventing us from getting colds and flu and isthe very reason we shouldn't eat an onion that has been sitting for a time after it has been cut open.

LEFT OVER ONIONS ARE POISONOUS

I had the wonderful privilege of touring Mullins Food Products, Makers ofmayonnaise. Questions about food poisoning came up, and I wanted to sharewhat I learned from a chemist.

Ed, who was our tour guide, is a food chemistry whiz. During the tour, someoneasked if we really needed to worry about mayonnaise. People are alwaysworried that mayonnaise will spoil. Ed's answer will surprise you. Ed saidthat all commercially-made Mayo is completely safe.

"It doesn't even have to be refrigerated. No harm in refrigerating it, butit's not really necessary." He explained that the pH in mayonnaise is set at point that bacteria could not survive in that environment. He then talkedabout the summer picnic, with the bowl of potato salad sitting onthe table, and how everyone blames the mayonnaise when someone gets sick.

Ed says that, when food poisoning is reported, the first thing the officialslook for is when the 'victim' last ate ONIONS and where those onions camefrom (in the potato salad?). Ed says it's not the mayonnaise (as long asit's not homemade Mayo) that spoils in the outdoors. It's probably theONIONS, and if not the onions, it's the POTATOES.

He explained onions are a huge magnet for bacteria, especially uncookedonions. You should never plan to keep a portion of a sliced onion.. He saysit's not even safe if you put it in a zip-lock bag and put it in yourrefrigerator.

It's already contaminated enough just by being cut open and out for a bit,that it can be a danger to you (and doubly watch out for those onions youput in your hotdogs at the baseball park!). Ed says if you take the leftover onion and cook it like crazy you'll probably be okay, but if you slice that leftover onion and put on your sandwich, you're asking for trouble. Both the onions and the moist potato in a potato salad, will attract and grow bacteria faster than any commercial mayonnaise will even begin to break down.

Also, dogs should never eat onions. Their stomachs cannot metabolize onions.

Please remember it is dangerous to cut an onion and try to use it to cookthe next day, it becomes highly poisonous for even a single night andcreates toxic bacteria which may cause adverse stomach infections because of excess bile secretions and even food poisoning.

Read this article for more on why onions do work!!!
 
Colds are prevalent now in the condo. I better put onions in the living room and bedroom.
Will try this out...
 
Thanks for this, my 4 yr old just got the flu yesterday as a matter of fact. Will definitely try this.
 
:) thought there was a reason for me posting this..lol... i hope the lil one gets better soon darthorius...
 
Awhile back when I was working at a local hospital...there was a young Amish couple that came in because their baby was sick.
The nurse for that patient was getting the baby ready to see the Dr when she noticed something weird. There were onion slices in the babies socks...when the nurse asked the mother why they were there the mom replied that it was to help draw the sickness out of the baby. And that they also cut onions in half and put by the windows of the home to keep other family members from getting sick.
 
My grandfather used to put half an onion on a boil or gall on a workhorse and it would generally come to a head overnight or the gall was doing better.
 
I will be trying this, this coming Winter! I know the kids will bring home all sorts of cooties from school!
 
How interesting. I hate onions so I wouldnt eat them anyway but Id like to see if this really works.
Thought I was the only one on the planet that hates them!
 
They have use an onion paulous for years now . . . when a person is sick, lay onions over the chest, etc. to draw out the sickness. We hardly ever get sick around here, maybe once every 5 years, but I do cook with onions a lot.
 
in that case eclipse..i'll gladly send you 50 of the largest and strongest onions i can find... :p lol
 
Hey if it is the onion smell verses my families health. . . I know which one I will pick.
 
lol..when my youngest brother did'nt like something..he'd say,i like it.but i dont want anymore..
 
An old fashioned cure for pneumonia.......Take 6-10 onions, according to size and chop fine. Put in a skillet over a hot fire. Then add about the same quantity of rye meal and vinegar, enough to make a thick paste. In the meantime stir it thoroughly, letting it simmer 5-10 minutes. Then put it in a cotton bag large enough to cover the lungs and apply to the chest as hot as the patient can bear. When this gets cool apply another and thus continue by reheating the poultices and in a few hours the patient will be out of danger. This simple remedy has never failed in this too often fatal malady. Usually four applications will do, but continue always until perspiration starts freely from the chest.
I have all kinds of old remedies used for sickness, insecticides and cleaners.....pays to be raised old fashioned and on a farm...lol
 
Im gonna put that in my herbal recipe collection! I think Ill try growing some onions just to see how that turns out. Ill probably ask you more home remedy questions in the future M.M. :)
 
Weird, I've always kept leftover onion in the fridge, then reused it, and never had any kind of an issue with it, even if using a couple days later. Interesting bit about the flu use though.
 
Well, plague travels by means of the fleas that travel with rats. Viuruses and bacteria are very different critters. so what works with one is most unlikely to work with the other. Onions and garlic are proven health foods, but relying on old wive's tales, when it comes to dangerous illnesses is very questionable tactics.
 

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