🌿 Why Our Grandmothers Used Onion Poultices - An Earth Grown Remedy Passed Through Generations

Before pharmacies lined every street corner…before cough syrups, vapour rubs and endless packets filled the cupboards…there were simple, humble, earth-grown remedies — like onions.

And in homes across generations, they were quietly called upon whenever sickness swept through the house. Not because they were magic…but because people trusted what the earth provided — through knowledge, through connection.

I still remember placing freshly sliced onion around the rooms whenever the kids were unwell. And when things really settled deep in the chest, I’d slip slices between socks before bed — an old remedy passed down through generations of women who worked with nature, not against it.

One winter, Mr Sweet Earth's oldest son kept arriving at our home run down and exhausted after months of recurring flu. So we went back to basics.

Warm socks. Onion slices. Rest. Nourishing food. Lots of love.

By morning, he’d bounce back brighter, clearer, lighter. He thought I was a magician.

Truthfully? It was simply one of those old earth remedies our grandmothers already knew.

The Traditional Wisdom Behind Onion Poultices

For centuries, onions have been used in folk remedies and traditional home care practices during times of seasonal illness.

Their strong aroma, warming nature, and naturally occurring compounds made them a staple in many homes — especially throughout colder months when sickness moved quickly through families.

Long before modern wellness became trendy, people leaned into what they already had growing in the garden or sitting in the kitchen basket.

And onions were almost always there.

Why Onions Have Been Used for Generations

Onions may be humble, but they carry a quiet strength. For generations, they’ve been turned to not just for nourishment, but for support during times when the body feels run down, heavy, or out of balance.

Traditionally, onions have been valued for their ability to:

• Encourage warmth within the body during colder months

• Support the body’s natural cleansing processes

• Offer grounding, comforting support when feeling unwell

• Help maintain a fresh, balanced environment within the home

• Provide simple, accessible care when nothing else was on hand

It wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence. It was about connection. It was about inner-standing. Using what you had, when you needed it.

A Glimpse into the Nature of the Onion

There’s a reason onions have held their place in traditional remedies for so long.

They contain naturally occurring sulphur compounds — the same ones that bring tears to your eyes when you cut into them — along with plant-based antioxidants and volatile oils.

These compounds are what give onions their strong aroma and their long-standing reputation in traditional home practices. While modern science continues to explore these properties…long before research existed, people simply observed what worked — and passed it on.

This is the kind of wisdom that doesn’t shout.

It sits quietly in the background… waiting to be remembered.

When This Remedy Was Reached For

This wasn’t something used for just one thing. Onion poultices were often turned to whenever the body felt heavy, inflamed, or in need of support.

Traditionally, they were used during times of:

• Chest congestion or persistent cough

• Ear discomfort or seasonal ear flare-ups

• Sore throat or swollen glands

• General fatigue when the body felt run down

It was never about targeting a symptom in isolation…

It was about supporting the body as a whole.

How I’ve Always Used Onion in Our Home

I’ll be honest…

I’ve always reached for raw onion straight from the garden — or from the organic fruit & veggie shop. There’s something about that fresh, juicy onion — wrapped simply in a cloth, slipped between socks — that has always felt right to me.

No fuss. No preparation. Just straight from the earth to the body. And time and time again… it’s worked. But I’ve also come to appreciate that gently warming the onion can help release more of its natural compounds — making it a beautiful alternative for those who prefer a slightly deeper, more activated approach.

There’s no one “right” way.

Just the way that feels right in your hands, in your home, in the moment.

How to Make a Traditional Onion Poultice

If you feel called to try this method, here’s a simple way to prepare it:

• Finely chop one fresh onion (yellow or brown are commonly used)

• Place into a small pot with a few tablespoons of water

• Gently simmer for 2–3 minutes to warm and activate the natural compounds

• Spoon the onion into a clean cloth (muslin or tea towel works beautifully)

• Fold into a small bundle

Allow it to cool slightly — it should feel warm, not hot.

Place the poultice onto the desired area:

• Chest or upper back for congestion

• Neck for throat support

• Around (not inside) the ear for ear discomfort

Leave in place for around 15–20 minutes, or until it cools.

Alternatively — my go-to for the kids:

Slice a medium onion into thin slices, place in the centre of a small cloth (around 10cm x 10cm), fold into a parcel and place inside a sock, and pop it on over another pair of socks already on the feet. A double sock job… always did the trick.

A Gentle Note on Use

Like all traditional remedies, this one asks for a little awareness and care.

• Always check temperature before applying to skin

• Avoid use if there is sensitivity or allergy to onions

• Not suitable for those unable to communicate heat discomfort

• For little ones, placing sliced onion near the bed can be a gentler option

These remedies were never about force.

They were about working with the body — gently, patiently, respectfully.

Rooted in Tradition, Re-Membering with Ancestral Wisdom

There is something deeply grounding about returning to what is simple. To what grows from the earth.To what has been used, trusted, and passed down through generations.

The humble onion is one of those quiet keepers of wisdom.

Not loud. Not complicated. Just present.

Whether placed beside the bed, around the home, or used in traditional practices like poultices, it reminds us that care doesn’t always come in polished packaging. Sometimes, it comes from the kitchen. From the garden. From memory. From those who came before us.

I’ve always found magic in the simplest of things.

And it’s in these small, intentional acts — the slicing, the placing, the tending — that we re-member.

That we reconnect. That we return to something deeper. Rooted in tradition. Re-membering with ancestral wisdom.

From paddock to jar. From jar to skin. From ritual to remedy. That is the Sweet Earth way.

Love. Balance & Wholeness.

Stay Great-full. Stay Rooted.

Love All Ways.

Hala xo 🌿✨