American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy

acts exceedingly well with helonias, senecio aureus, viburnum, and
caulophyllum or cimicifuga.
While given for its influence-upon the reproductive organs, it tones the
stomach, increases the appetite, improves the digestion and the
appropriation of food, and thus directly promotes the elaboration of good
blood.
ALLIUM. Allium sativum
Synonyms—Garlic, Onion.
CONSTITUENTS—
It contains an essential volatile oil, mucilage, sugar and albumen.
Administration—The fresh juice is used in medicine, the crushed bulbs
are used externally, and a tincture is prepared, of which from five to thirty
drops is the dose.
Physiological Action—There is positive proof of the antiseptic properties
of this agent.
One writer claims that diphtheria does not occur in families that are free
partakers of the onion in any way. With many it produces flatulency. If
used moderately for a while the quantity can be increased without
unpleasantness. The odor is no more unpleasant than that of carbolic
acid, creolin, asafetida and some others.
Covert gave the following facts concerning the common onion: “The
volatile oil is the essential part of the onion, and has not only gastronomic
but therapeutic merit. The onion is expectorant, stimulant, diuretic,
rubefacient and discutient, and as a domestic remedy is well
remembered by the oldest inhabitants in the form of onion syrup, onion
draughts, onion poultices and the like. As a domestic remedy always at
hand and of varied virtues it stands unrivaled.
“The onion poultice stands in high favor with me for all swellings, such as
that of the throat in scarlet fever and diphtheria. It was long declared of
much importance in the treatment of croup and as an application to the
chest in all inflammations of the lungs and bronchi.
“An onion may be roasted and the cut surface applied hot to glandular
Ellingwood’s American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy - Page 22