Allium Cepa

A/lium cepa covers more symptoms of common cold than any other remedy,

as the well-known effect of onions in producing tears would suggest. It will cure a large

proportion of cases of cold in the head, but the conditions which most particularly indicate it are:

Cough, or cold, or headache < in warm room, > in open air, < again on returning to warm room.

It causes burning of eyelids, nose, mouth, throat, bladder, skin. Inflammation and increased

secretion of mucous membranes: neuralgic pains like a /ong thread; in face, head, neck, and

elsewhere; < evening; towards ear from deep within head. The toothache of Cepa is > by cold air

• ▸or cold washing.
• ▸It is suited to traumatic neuritis.
• ▸Hurts do not heal.
• ▸The feet are easily galled by

walking. It was recommended by Dioscorides as a remedy for this condition, and homceopathy

has confirmed his observation. Desire for raw onions is an indication for it. Thread-like pains are

common in various parts and are characteristic of Cepa. Thread-like pains in face. Left-side

facial paralysis has been cured by Cepa. The cough of Cepa is caused by tickling in larynx;

constant inclination to hack in order to relieve it. It has cured violent catarrhal laryngitis; hoarse

cough with feeling as if it would split and tear the larynx, causing watering of eyes. Cough from

inhaling cold air. Cepa has yawning and drowsiness. A raw onion eaten just before going to bed

is a popular remedy for sleeplessness. Cepa is a left-side medicine primarily. Symptoms go from

• ▸left to right.
• ▸Left eye; left facial paralysis; left inguinal ring.
• ▸Rest <; motion >.
• ▸< Afternoon and

evening; when lying down. Damp cold wind and weather = colds and toothache. But cold water

and open air >; warm room < Picking or sucking teeth > toothache. Eyes sensitive to touch.

Effects of exposure to damp cold winds and weather. Colds of spring; hay-fever of

• ▸August; epidemics of spasmodic cough in autumn.
• ▸Wet feet.
• ▸Eating spoiled fish.
• ▸Injuries.

Surgical operations (fine shooting pains after).

Very melancholy.—Fears pains will become unbearable.—Often very anxious, with

catarrh, dulness of intellect.

Stitches and burnings; aching.—Stitches (head, eyes, ears, rectum,

skin).—Burning (eyelids, throat, nose, mouth, bladder, skin).—Bad effects from wet

feet.—Phlegmasia alba dolens.—Traumatic neuritis, pains violent and continuous, wearing out

patient.—Inflammation and increased secretions of the mucous membranes.—Senile

• ▸gangrene.
• ▸—Trismus after injuries.
• ▸—Weak and tired; has to lie down.
• ▸—Aching throughout the

body.—Neuralgia from old injuries.—Neuralgic pains, like a long thread, in face, head, neck, and

elsewhere; < evenings.

Catarrhal headache, mostly in forehead; worse in warm room towards evening. Thread-like pains in face. Headache ceases during menses; returns when flow disappears.

Dulness.—Dull headache, with coryza, < in the evening; > in the open air; but < when

returning to a warm room.—Pains in temples, most in right; aggravated by winking; extending

over forehead, worse on |. side.—Pain in occiput and down the neck.

• ▸Red.
• ▸Much burning and smarting lachrymation.
• ▸Sensitive to light.
• ▸Eyes suffused and watery; profuse, bland lachrymation, better in open air.
• ▸Burning in eyelids.

Flow of (mild) tears.—Excessive non-excoriating lachrymation; |. eye worse, with

redness of the eyeball; sensitive to light; worse evenings.—Sensation as if eye were hanging by a

string or torn.—Itching, biting, burning in the eyes.—Dulness of the eyes, with aversion to light,

• ▸and coryza.
• ▸—Letters appear smaller.
• ▸—Near objects seem distant with yawning.
• ▸—Swelling around

the eyes.

Earache, shooting in eustachian tube.

• ▸Sneezing, especially when entering a warm room.
• ▸Copious, watery and extremely acrid discharge.
• ▸Feeling of a lump at root of nose.
• ▸Hay-fever (Sabad; Sil; Psor).
• ▸Fluent coryza with headache, cough, and hoarseness.
• ▸Polypus.

Profuse watery discharge from the nose, with sneezing, acrid burning, excoriating the

nose and upper lip.—Fluent coryza, with running of water from the eyes, headache, heat, thirst,

cough, trembling of the hands; < in evening and in a room; > in the open air.—Ichor oozing out

of nose; second stage of scarlatina.—Bleeding of the nose.—A sort of hay-fever every August,

morning coryza, violent sneezing, sensitive to the odour of flowers and skin of peaches.—Nasal

polypi.

Sensation as of a lump in the throat.—Expectoration of a lumpy mucus through the

posterior nares.—Pain in throat extending to the ear.—Bad odour from the mouth and throat.

• ▸Canine hunger.
• ▸Pain in pyloric region.
• ▸Thirst.
• ▸Belching.
• ▸Nausea.

Canine hunger.—Appetite, increased or diminished.—Strong craving for raw

onions; cannot take any other nourishment.—Pressure in stomach.—Pain in region of

pylorus.—Thirst, with heat and coryza.—Nausea, coming from stomach up the throat into the

fauces.—Weak, empty feeling in stomach.—Sour eructations.

Rumbling, offensive flatus. Pains in left hypogastrium. Colic sitting, moving about.

Rumbling in bowels.—Very offensive flatus.—Belching, with rumbling in and

puffing up of the abdomen.—Violent cutting pain in the left lower abdomen, with frequent desire

to micturate, and burning micturition —Pains in hepatic region, spreading into the

abdomen.—Violent pains in 1. hypogastrium, with urging to urinate, urine

scalding.—(Strangulated hernia has been known to follow the eating abundantly of cooked

onions.).—Abdomen distended, rumbling, urging, and finally diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea with very offensive flatus. Stitches in rectum; itching and rhagades in anus. Glowing heat in rectum.

Diarrheea after midnight and in the morning. —Flatus very,

• ▸offensive.
• ▸—Heemorrhoids, tearing, jerking pains in anus.
• ▸—Stitches in the rectum.
• ▸—Rhagades at

the anus.—Itching at the anus (worms).

Strangury after wet feet—Dribbling or spouting of urine in old

people.—Frequent and copious urination.—Urine red, with much urging and burning in

urethra.—Pressure and other pains in the region of the bladder.—Sensation of weakness in the

bladder and urethra.

Sensation of weakness in bladder and urethra. Increased secretion of urine with coryza. Urine red with much pressure and burning in urethra.

Hoarseness. Hacking cough on inspiring cold air. Tickling in larynx. Sensation as if larynx is split or torn. Oppressed breathing from pressure in middle of chest. Constricted feeling in region of epiglottis. Pain extending to ear.

Oppressed breathing, from pressure in the middle of the chest; worse

• ▸in the evening.
• ▸—Cough when inhaling cold air.
• ▸—Catarrhal hoarseness.
• ▸—Acute bronchitis going

• ▸from I.
• ▸to r.
• ▸—Tickling in throat, with aching in larynx.
• ▸—Constant inclination to hack —Hacking

cough from inhaling cold air.—Violent catarrhal laryngitis; the hoarse cough seemed to split and

tear the larynx.—Much sneezing; he inflates the lungs, raises himself on his toes, then gives a

hearty sneeze.

Intense pain in nape of neck.—Chilly crawls run down the back, most at

night, with frequent urination, followed by heat and thirst.

Much pain under r. shoulder-blade.—Sore, tired feeling of the limbs, esp.

• ▸arms.
• ▸—Trembling of the r.
• ▸hand.
• ▸—Panaritium.
• ▸—Painful affections of the fingers about the nails,

red streaks running up the arm.

Soreness; the skin is rubbed off by the shoes, esp. on the heel—Pain on most

external soft part of r. big toe and |. middle finger.

• ▸Lame joints.
• ▸Ulcers on heel.
• ▸Painful affections of fingers about nails neuralgia of stump.
• ▸Bad effects from getting feet wet.
• ▸Limbs, especially arms, feel sore and tired.

Pricking as from pins.—Redness; nettle-rash, measles, scarlatina, when the complaints

are characterised by the characteristic catarrhal symptoms.—Panaritia of lying-in females, red

streaks running up arm, very painful.

• ▸Yawning with headache and drowsiness.
• ▸Gaping in deep sleep.
• ▸Dreams.
• ▸Wakes at 2 am.

Y awning; with headache and cramp in stomach; with sleepiness near objects seem

• ▸distant.
• ▸—Gaping in deep sleep.
• ▸—Wakes 2 a.
• ▸m.
• ▸—Dreams of being near water; of battles,

precipices, deep wells; of storms, high waves; annoying in convalescents.

Pulse full and accelerated.—Heat, with rumbling in the abdomen, coryza, and

thirst.—Flitting heat over whole body, and thirst—Coldness alternates with heat during

catarrh.—Sweats easily and copiously.

• ▸Anus, fissure of.
• ▸Ascites.
• ▸Catarrh.
• ▸Cold.
• ▸Coryza.
• ▸Cough.
• ▸Diarrhoea.
• ▸Facial paralysis.

• ▸Feet, easily galled.
• ▸Hay-fever.
• ▸Hernia.
• ▸Influenza.
• ▸Laryngitis.
• ▸Panaritium.
• ▸Pneumonia.
• ▸Trauma.

Whitlow. Whooping-cough. Yellow fever.

• ▸Compare: Al.
• ▸sat.
• ▸, Alo.
• ▸, Conval.
• ▸, Lil.
• ▸tig, Scilla (botan.
• ▸); Antidoted by: Arn.

• ▸(toothache); Cham.
• ▸(abdominal pains); Nux v.
• ▸(coryza recurring in August); Verat.
• ▸(colic, with

despondency); Thuja (offensive breath and diarrhoea after eating onions). Roasted coffee will

• ▸remove onion breath.
• ▸Followed by Calc.
• ▸c.
• ▸and Silic.
• ▸in polypus.
• ▸Incompatible: All.
• ▸sat.
• ▸, Alo.
• ▸,

• ▸Scilla.
• ▸Complementary: Phos.
• ▸, Puls.
• ▸, Sars.
• ▸, Thuj.
• ▸Compare also: Aco.
• ▸, Chlorum, Ipec.
• ▸; Lach.

(left to right).

Compare: Gels; Euph; Kali hyd; Aconite; Ipecac.

Complementary: Phosphor; Thuja; Puls.

Antidotes: Arn; Cham; Verat.

Third potency.

Allium cepa is used principally for “colds.” There are various

phases of these “colds.” in the nose, in the throat, in the larynx, in the

bronchial tubes. The patient and all the phases of his “cold,” his

coryza, his laryngitis, his tough, all his complaints, are aggravated by

warmth, are worse in a warm room, excepting the tickling in the

larynx, which is sometimes aggravated by drawing in cold air. In

this way the cough is sometimes excited by cold air, but the patient

himself is better in cold air and sensitive to heat. Most of the symptoms are worse in the evening, the symptoms of coryza, the “cold,”

and the general symptoms. These are the two most striking general

features of Allium cepa.

It is not strange that the old ladies used to bind onions on the ear

for earache and around the neck for sore throats, for onion is very

frequently indicated in almost every climate for the effects of cold.

Cold, damp, penetrating winds, in any climate, are likely to bring on

Allium cepa complaints — coryza, la grippe, inliuenza or whatever they

may be called, and usually there is a congestive headache. Rawness in

the nose, copious How of water from the eyes, which is always bland ;

copious watery discharge from the nose, which is always excoriating.

Rawness in the larynx and throat, extending down into the chest.

Rawness in the nose. In twenty-four hours it reaches the larynx.

Cough, excited by tickling in the larynx and when lying down at night

in a warm room. On going to bed in the evening Allium has its most

troublesome aggravation. 1 have heard patients describe the pain in

the larynx on coughing, saying that it felt as if someone was reaching

down with a hook at every cough. Tearing in the larynx with every

cough. Sneezing, rawness of all the mucous membranes and that

tearing cough, all symptoms worse in a warm room and in the evening ; it is astonishing how quickly the onion will break up that “cold.'’

Now we will take up the particulars of the coryza. Among the

earlier symptoms will l)e the sneezing, which comes with increasing

frecjuency. A watery discharge drips from the nose constantly, burns

like lire, and excoriates the upper lip and the wings of the nose until

there are rawness and redness. Notice that the fluid from the nose is

excoriating and the fluid from the eyes bland. Bear that in mind, for

when we come to study Euphrasia we will find just the opposite. We

will hnd just such a watery discharge from the nose and such copious

lachrymation ; but the lachrymation is acrid and the discharge from

the nose bland. The na^al discharge of Cepa fairly cats the hair olf

of the upper lip. And there is so much congestion that the patient has

a sensation of fulness in the nose, with throbbing and burning, and

sometimes nosebleed. Pains through the jaws, in the face ; and these

pains extend into the head. Dull frontal headaches, occipital headaches ;

headaches very severe and the eyes cannot stand the light ; tearing,

bursting, throbbing in the head.

Now, there is another phase of this medicine. Why it begins on

the left side and goes over to the right I do not know, but it usually

does this. Stuffing up of the side ot the nose, watery, acrid discharge,

from the left side of the nose — in another twenty-four hours the right

• ▸side is invaded.
• ▸“Profuse nasal discharge.
• ▸Colds after damp northeasterly winds.
• ▸'* That is, after damp, cold winds, for they may come

from different directions in different localities. Fluent coryza with

headache, tears from the eyes, want of appetite, cough and trembling

in the open air. '‘Every year in August, morning coryza, with violent

sneezing, very sensitive to the odor of flowers and skin of peaches."

That is one form of hay fever cured by Allium cepa. It will wipe out

an attack of hay fever in a few days, when the symptoms agree. You

may know that the true nature of hay fever is not generally underallium cepa

stood. It is really only an explosion of chronic disease, that is, it is a

manifestation of psora, and can be eradicated only by antipsoric treatment. Many a time have I seen hay fever wiped out in one season

by a short-acting remedy, only to return the next just the same, and

perhaps another remedy will be required. As soon as the hay fever

is slopped you must begin with constitutional treatment. There will

be symptoms, if you know how to hunt for them, that differ altogether

from the acute attack. When the hay fever is on these do not appear.

It is a difficult matter to find a constitutional remedy when the hay

fever is at its height, for it resembles an acute disease ; but it is a

manifestation of psora, like any other manifestation of psora, as eruptions. cough, etc. The nose may manifest only a certain phase of

chronic disease in one season which may, for instance, be suited to

Allium cepa. I remember one time having occasion to prescribe Allium

cepa at long distance. It was near a homteopathic pharmacy. I wired

the pharmacist to send my patient Allium cepa, and he labeled it.

Well, the patient kept the bottle and used it next season, but it did

no good. That is likely to be the case, even when the symptoms seem

to agree. In a psoric condition a short-acting remedy is insufficient ;

it may help for one day only, and the deep-acting remedy that includes

the patient as well as the hay fever and all the other symptoms will

have to be administered. The best time to treat hay fever is after the

acute attack sul)sides and until it begins again the next season. It

will then occur in a greatly modified form, different from any the patient

has ever had, and calling for a different remedy. That will be the case

if the constitutional remedy has been properly selected.

In these coryzas the inflammation soon spreads to the ears, the throat

and the larynx. The old mothers used to put onions on the baby's ear

when it had earache. That is not surprising, when we see all the

pains and aches belonging to this remedy. Jerking pains from the

• ▸throat loward the Eustachian tube.
• ▸Violent earache, even to the discharge of pus from the ear.
• ▸Ringing in the ears.
• ▸Stitches towards

the ear from the forehead. Pain like thick threads drawing from

deep within the head. Stitching, tearing pains in the ear, with whooping cough, with coryza,, with laryngitis. In the household where a

medicine case is kept Pulsatilla is the standard remedy for earache, and

it is true that only occasionally has a doctor to be sent for. Pulsatilla

has such a strong affinity for the ear that it will cure earache in almost

all sensitive children who cry pitifully. But those who are snappish,

who are never suited, who will throw away something they have asked

for and slap the nurse in the face must have Chamomilla. With Pulsatilla, Chamomilla and Allium cepa you can cure the majority of earaches in children.

Further, as to the eye-symptoms that accompany the Allium cepa

colds. Remember that the discharge from the eye is bland. Although

there is burning in the eyes the rears do not excoriate as they flow

down over the cheek. Profuse, bland lachrymation. Lachrymation

in the evening in a warm room.

We all know what a flatulent vegetable the onion is. It is a wonderful medicine for babies with colic. Cutting, rending, tearing pains

• ▸drawing the poor little thing almost double.
• ▸Jt screams with the violent cutting in the lower abdomen.
• ▸“Stitching pains in the abdomen.
• ▸"

“Colicky pains beginning in the hepatic region and spreading over the

whole abdomen, worse around the navel ; worse when sitting.” Wind

colic. Allium cepa is a w^onderful remedy in whooping cough, and

when it is indicated the child will often have indigestion, vomiting and

flatulency ; will pass offensive flatus, will be doubled up with colic.

Allium cepa also cures a ragged, sensitive condition of the anus, with

bleeding, in infants.

Acute complaints of the \oicc ; catarrhal hoarseness ; copious expectoration of mucus from the larynx. Violent inflammation of the larynx coming on vc^y rapidly, with that cough 1 spoke of, and the tearing in the larynx. Some will describe it as a sensation as if something

were being torn loose. Those who describe mc/re accurately will say

that it feels as if a hook were dragging up through the larynx with

• ▸every cough.
• ▸Tickling in the larynx with hoarseness.
• ▸In the whooping cough there is this satne painfulness of the larynx.
• ▸The child

shakes and shudders and yoii can sec that it dreads the cough because

of^thc tearing pain in tlie larynx. Cough and difficult breathing from

inspiring cold air, yet a warm diaft will so increase the tickling that

it is sure to set the patient cougliing. So the cough is aggravated both

by cold air and a warm room. Colds sometimes travel down into the

bronchial tubes and are attended with fever and rapid pulse. If the

tickling in the larynx, the cough from inspiring the cold air, worse in

a warm room and in the evening, with tearing pain in the larynx, arc

• ▸present.
• ▸Allium cepa will cure.
• ▸The cough is spasmodic and resemt)lcs croup or whooping cough.
• ▸Cepa has a record for croupy cough.

The old lady binds oinon on the throat of the child with croup, and no

doubt, out in the back w^oods, where there arc no doctors, it was far

better than Old School treatment.

Here is a fairly good description from the Guiding Symptoms:

“Hoarse, harsh, ringing, spasmodic cough, excited by constant tickling

in the larynx ; cough produces a raw% splitting pain in the larynx, so

acute and so severe as to compel the patient to crouch from suffering,

and to make every effort to suppress the cough.” “Severe, laryngeal

cough, which compels the patient to grasp the larynx ; feels as if

cough would tear it.” The child will reach up to the larynx and

clutch it. This is wholly different from the Aconite condition, when