Allium cepa, made from red onions, is used to treat colds, flu, hay fever, and other illnesses affecting the mucous membranes. It provides relief for symptoms like burning nasal discharge, dry coughs, sore throat, and earaches. The homeopathic remedy replicates the effects of onions in causing tearing and nasal discharge due to its volatile oils irritating the nose and throat. It is prescribed for conditions marked by these onion-like symptoms.

1. Allium cepa is used predominantly for illness that affect the mucous membranes. Colds and flu are often
treated with this remedy, as hay fever and allergy symptoms.
If you've ever peeled an onion, you know that it can make your eyes tear and your nose run; it can even
make you want to clear your throat. This is because your body is reacting to the volatile oils in the onion,
which affect the mucous membranes of your nose and throat. Because the homeopathic remedy Allium
cepa is made from fresh red onions, it has the same effect on the body as an onion. Therefore,
homeopaths often prescribe this remedy to treat colds marked by burning nasal discharge and extremely
dry coughs. Allium cepa also provides relief to symptoms of bacterial infection, congestion and sore
throat. And just as putting an onion on your ear effectively treats an earache. Allium cepa is also useful
for treating this complaint.
The Allium Cepa type
The person characterized as the Allium cepa type often suffers from chronic respiratory tract illness;
symptoms may grow worse in varied situations.
Are you an Allium Cepa Type?
Do you tend to have the following characteristics?
Do you often get colds during damp weather?
Do you get hay fever with sneezing and excessive nasal discharge?
Do your eyes water profusely when you have a cold?
Do your cold or hay fever symptoms worsen in a warm room and improve in the fresh air?
When you have a cold, does your nasal discharge "burn" or irritate your nose or your face?
If you answered yes to more than 3 questions above, the content below will give you more information on
the type of complaints Allium Cepa can help.
Therapeutic effect:
Like the red onion itself, the homeopathic remedy Allium cepa is an effective treatment for acute
symptoms of the common cold, which may include a gripping, dry cough and a runny nose that irritates
the nostrils and upper lip. It is equally effective for treating hay fever. Because Allium cepa affects the
mucous lining of the respiratory tract, it also eases chronic respiratory inflammation.
Primary medicinal applications
Allium cepa is typically used to treat respiratory illness and flulike infections that quickly develop in cold
and wet weather. Common symptoms include headache with tearing, fever, runny nose, sneezing fits and
scratchy throat, as well as a racking, irritating cough. Allium cepa is also helpful for treating symptoms of
hay fever, especially when accompanied by burning nasal discharge. Symptoms often start on the left
side of your head and then gradually move to the right.
How the medicine is made
The homeopathic remedy is made from fresh red onions. The onions are either mixed with alcohol or
rubbed in lactose.
Symptoms Guage
To find out if Allium Cepa is the right homeopathic remedy for you, tell your health-care professional if
your symptoms change under these conditions:
Better Worse

2. With movement In the afternoon and evening
In cool weather In warm rooms
Outside, in the fresh air With rest
In a cold room In humid weather
Used to treat coughs and colds; earaches and sore throats; hay fever and allergy symptoms; and
asthma and headaches
Indications
Disposition
No marked mental or emotional symptoms are associated with the allium cepa type
Head
Stabbing, pounding headaches that accompany other, more common cold or hay fever symptoms
Tearing of the eyes accompanied by a mild, non-irritating discharge
Eyes that are sensitive to light
Ears that twinge and ache
Buzzing in the ears
Head or forehead that feels hot
Symptoms that start on the left side and gradually move to the right
Respiratory tract
Constant postnasal drip that causes the urge to cough
Frequent, hacking cough accompanied by hoarseness
Constant tickling feeling in the larynx
Nasal discharge that is watery and tends to burn
Repetitive sneezing, especially when entering a warm room
Digestion
Excessive thirst
Skin and hair
Severe allergic reactions, such as acne and the eruption of hives