Why Should You Put Onions On Your Feet Before Bed?

You might have heard about the practice of placing sliced onions on one's feet before bed, and you may be curious about its effects.

This article will explore the reasons for placing onions against your feet and inside your socks before bedtime, and why this intriguing health remedy might be worth trying.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT ONIONS ON YOUR FEET BEFORE BED

The skin, being the body's largest organ, can absorb various substances, including chemicals, ions, minerals, drugs, and cosmetics. This absorption through the skin is known as transcutaneous absorption.

Research indicates that nutrients from onions could be absorbed when placed on the feet during sleep. Studies on newborns' skin showed that coconut oil and safflower oil applied to the skin led to increased triglycerides and fatty acids in the infants' bloodstream, as if the oils were ingested.

Healing practices in foot reflexology, Ayurvedic medicine, acupressure, acupuncture, and Traditional Chinese Medicine involve stimulating foot areas linked to the body's overall health. These stimulation points correspond to energy meridians within the body.

ONIONS' ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES

According to whfoods.org, onions share similar antibacterial properties with garlic, though they haven't been studied as extensively. The San Francisco Globe quotes Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society: "Onions contain various sulfur compounds with antibacterial activity. Moreover, cutting an onion releases enzymes that start a chemical reaction, producing propenesulfenic acid, which then decomposes into sulfuric acid... Sulfuric acid also inhibits bacterial growth."

HOW TO APPLY ONIONS TO YOUR FEET BEFORE BED

Cut any onion (white, yellow, or red) into half-inch thick slices. Place a slice on the bottom of your foot, covering the toe area, and put on your sock over your foot and the onion slice. Add another one or two slices to cover the arch and heel of your foot before fully pulling on your sock.

If you have corns or hard skin growths on your feet, onions can help remove them overnight. Soak an onion slice in vinegar, then place it on the corn, put on your socks, and go to bed. The acetic acid in the vinegar and the sulfuric acid from the onion will soften the corn's skin, potentially making it easier to remove with a pumice stone or foot file.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF ONIONS

Onions, despite their pungent odor, are a beloved addition to pizzas, salads, salsas, sandwiches, and other dishes, enhancing the flavors of other ingredients. This distinctive smell is due to sulfur.

Sulfur, an essential nutrient for protein synthesis, becomes available for absorption by the body when onions are placed on the feet before sleep.

It plays a crucial role in forming healthy hair, nails, producing insulin, and muscle development. Applying onions to the feet before bedtime allows the oils to be absorbed through the skin, supplying sulfur to the body. Naturally, consuming onions also provides these benefits, but avoid eating the ones used on your feet.

HEALTH ISSUES THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM APPLYING ONIONS TO THE FEET

For centuries, onions have been used in folk remedies to 'purify the blood.' Applying onions to your feet before bed may aid in addressing several health issues.

According to liveandfeel.com, the following health problems may benefit from the topical application of onion oil:

• Common cold and flu
• Gland imbalance
• High blood pressure
• Immune system issues
• Inflammation
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness

For those who prefer not to use raw onion slices, concentrated onion oil is available. Seek out a high-quality, organically grown essential onion oil. To use, mix two drops of onion oil with a teaspoon of a carrier oil such as coconut, jojoba, or avocado oil. Apply this mixture to the soles of your feet before bedtime, and wear socks to prevent staining your sheets.