Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Sweet (Madhura), Pungent (Katu)
- Quality (Guna)
- Heavy (Guru), Unctuous (Snigdha), Sharp (Tikshna)
- Potency (Virya)
- Hot (Ushna)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet (Madhura)
- Key Constituents
- Quercetin (a flavonoid), volatile oil, sugars
- Also Known As
- English: Onion
Sanskrit: पलाण्डु, सुकन्द
Hindi: प्याज
What is Onion (Palandu / पलाण्डु)?
Palandu (Onion) is one of the most universally used vegetables in Indian cooking. It is pungent when raw, sweet when cooked. It is heavy, oily and hot. It strengthens the body and is considered aphrodisiac. It pacifies Vata. Different varieties — white, red and pink. It is used in virtually all Indian preparations. Verse: 63.
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 9
Therapeutic Actions (Karma)
- Vrishya (aphrodisiac — strong)
- Balya (strengthening)
- Deepana (appetizer)
- Krimighna (anthelmintic)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 1
Onion: Ayurvedic Properties and Uses
Onions are pungent and heating with a sweet vipak. Raw onions are aggravating to vata and pitta, and soothing to kapha. When cooked, they calm vata and kapha, but still can aggravate pitta when taken in quantity.
- Convulsions and fainting: Cut an onion and inhale the aroma until the tears come.
- Epileptic convulsion: Squeeze 2 drops of fresh onion juice in each eye to help stop the convulsion.
- Hemorrhoids: Mix 1 tablespoon of onion juice, 1 teaspoon of rock candy or organic sugar and ½ teaspoon of ghee. Take internally twice a day.
- High fever: Wrap grated onion pulp in a wet piece of cloth and apply to the forehead and then the navel for about 10 minutes at each location.
- Sexual debility: Take 1 tablespoon of onion juice mixed with 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger juice, 2 times a day.
- Rapid heartbeat: Take 2 teaspoons of onion juice mixed with ½ teaspoon sitopaladi, 2 times a day.
- High cholesterol: Take 1 teaspoon of onion juice mixed with a pinch of trikatu, before lunch and supper.
Source: Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing, Chapter 8: Foods for Healing — Vegetables
How to Use Onion by Condition
Explore how Onion is used for specific health concerns — with dosage, preparation methods, and classical references for each.
▶ Classical Text References (3 sources)
References in Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan
109-111 पला डु ता गुण यूनः ले मलो ना त प तलः Palandu (onion) is inferior in the above qualities, increases of pitta.
— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
Source: Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food
References in Charaka Samhita
Onion cooked with butter-milk or upodika along with badaramla (sour vinegar prepared of badara) or the soup of masura made sour by adding butter-milk should be given in bleeding hemorrhoids.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Onion taken alone or along with meat soup, khada (pungent drink), yusha (vegetable soup) and yavngu (thick gruel) cures excessive bleeding and aggravated vata.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Large quantity of onion cooked with the trunk of a young goat should be given by adding alternatively, sweet and sour ingredients if there is diminution of stool and blood.
— Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
Source: Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa Sthana — Therapeutic Principles, Chapter 14: Hemorrhoids Treatment (Arsha Chikitsa / अर्शचिकित्सा)
References in Sushruta Samhita
Trikatu (three pungents), palandu (onion), madhuka (licorice), the best salt, lac with gairika (red ochre) as collyrium pills;
— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Source: Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 19: Chapter 19
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.