│ NATURE: 
Warming │
│ TASTE: Pungent, sweet │
│ BEST FOR: Circulation, immunity, respiratory health, digestion│
│ │
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│ 
WHEN TO USE: │
│ │
│ • First sign of a cold or stuffy nose │
│ • Feeling chilled or damp (use more in winter) │
│ • Slow digestion, bloating after meals │
│ • Chest congestion, cough with clear phlegm │
│ • Poor circulation, cold hands and feet │
│ • To support overall immunity during flu season │
│ │
│ 
HOW TO USE: │
│ │
│ • Raw (strongest effect): │
│ – Thin slices in salads, sandwiches │
│ – Finely chopped in salsas, dressings │
│ – Onion poultice (see Simple Idea below) │
│ • Cooked (milder, sweeter): │
│ – Caramelized onions for soups, stews, toppings │
│ – Roasted with other vegetables │
│ – Added to bone broth or stock (simmer with skins for │
│ extra nutrients) │
│ – French onion soup (classic warming dish) │
│ • Onion tea: │
│ – Simmer sliced onion in water 10–15 minutes, strain, │
│ add honey and lemon. Sip for cough/cold. │
│ │
│ 
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: │
│ │
│ • Choose firm, heavy onions with dry, papery skins. │
│ No soft spots or sprouts. │
│ • Yellow/brown onions: All-purpose, most common. │
│ • Red onions: Milder, great raw in salads. │
│ • White onions: Sharper flavor, used in Mexican cooking. │
│ • Sweet onions (Vidalia, Walla Walla): Milder, good raw. │
│ • Store in cool, dark, well-ventilated place (not fridge).│
│ │
│ 
SIMPLE IDEA: │
│ │
│ ONION POULTICE FOR CHEST CONGESTION: │
│ 1. Chop one onion finely. │
│ 2. Warm gently in a pan (no oil) until soft but not brown.│
│ 3. Wrap in a thin cloth (cheesecloth or clean handkerchief).│
│ 4. Test temperature on your wrist – should be warm, not hot.│
│ 5. Place on chest for 20–30 minutes, covered with a towel.│
│ 6. Rest and breathe deeply. Repeat as needed. │
│ (Always test temperature to avoid burns.) │
│ │
│ 
TCM TIP: │
│ │
│ Onion is a warming food that disperses cold and moves │
│ stagnant Qi. It targets the Lung and Stomach meridians. │
│ Raw onion is more pungent and dispersing, great for │
│ acute colds. Cooked onion becomes sweet and nourishing, │
│ supporting digestion and building Qi. │
│ │
│ 
CAUTION: │
│ │
│ • If you have a tendency toward heartburn, acid reflux, │
│ or heat in the stomach, use raw onion sparingly. │
│ • People with IBS or sensitive digestion may find raw │
│ onion irritating – try cooked instead. │
│ • Onion can thin the blood slightly – if you are on │
│ blood thinners, consult your practitioner before using │
│ large amounts medicinally. │
│
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│ [
PRINT THIS CARD] [
RECIPE: FRENCH ONION SOUP] │
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