Onion on the Soles of the Feet in Traditional Medicine

Farzollah Gholizadeh and Fariba Bayrami

Theoretical basis, how it is thought to work, and how to apply it.

Summary

Placing onion on the soles of the feet is one of the supportive methods of traditional medicine. It is used to reduce an excess of black bile (sawda), soften thick body fluids and cleanse the body. The method is built on the link traditional medicine sees between the soles and the inner organs, the hot nature of onion, and absorption through the skin. This article covers the method from the traditional point of view: its theory, possible mechanisms, benefits, helpful additions and safety warnings.

Introduction

In traditional medicine, health is explained by the balance of four basic humours: blood (dam), bile (safra), phlegm (balgham) and black bile (sawda). Each has its own temperament, and an increase, decrease or thickening of any of them can cause physical and mental problems. Black bile is cold and dry. When it dominates, it is linked with signs such as dry skin, a darkening of the face, chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, obsessive thoughts and a low mood.

To reduce excess black bile, traditional treatment usually favours methods that are warming, increase circulation and help the body clear waste. Placing onion on the soles is a gentle, local method used within this approach.

Why the soles of the feet matter

In traditional medicine the soles are seen as an important area with an indirect link to the inner organs. They are thought to have a high density of nerve endings and pathways, and stimulating them is believed to affect the liver, kidneys, digestive system and nervous system.

So applying healing natural substances to the soles is seen as a slow, gentle way of acting on the whole body, especially for people who are sensitive to strong remedies taken by mouth.

How to do it

1. Cook the onion lightly until it is just soft and warm. This reduces the burning effect of raw onion and makes skin contact safer.
2. Cut it in half and spread a mixture of olive oil, sea salt and turmeric on the cut surface that will touch the skin.
3. At night, place it on the sole of the foot, wrap it with a cloth or bandage, and leave it until morning.
4. Repeat for three to seven nights.

How it works, according to traditional medicine

Clearing black bile and thick humours

Onion is hot and dry, so it is considered effective against the cold and dryness caused by black bile. Its warmth increases local circulation in the sole, which, according to traditional medicine, helps stagnant humours to move and be cleared.

Onion is also described as muqatti’ (“cutting”): it softens thick, hard humours and makes them easier to clear. Cooking the onion lightly makes this effect more balanced and gentler on the skin.

Cleansing and antiseptic effect

Onion contains sulphur compounds that traditional medicine knows as cleansing and antimicrobial. It is believed that, absorbed through the skin, they can help purify the blood and reduce the microbial load.

In some holistic approaches, onion is described as drawing waste and toxins towards itself. This has not been proven by modern medicine, but it is often mentioned in traditional practice.

Other benefits

Besides reducing black bile, the method may help in other ways: easing cold symptoms, lowering fever and reducing congestion in the airways. Thanks to onion’s antibacterial and antifungal properties, it may also help reduce foot odour.

Stimulating the soles has a calming effect, and may help sleep quality, especially in people with insomnia linked to excess black bile.

How the added ingredients help

• Sea salt draws out moisture and waste through osmosis. Added to the cooked onion, it may strengthen the cleansing effect and help reduce swelling.
• Turmeric is hot and dry and known as a strong anti-inflammatory. In traditional medicine it is used to reduce black bile, strengthen circulation and cleanse the body, and it is thought to support liver function indirectly.
• Olive oil protects the skin from irritation, helps the active substances absorb and helps soften thick humours. It is especially suitable for sensitive skin.

Safety and practical warnings

• The onion must only be warm and soft, never hot, when placed on the skin.
• In the morning, after removing the onion, wash the feet with warm water and soap.
• This is a supportive method. It does not replace a corrected diet, a healthy lifestyle or the main treatment.
• People with diabetes, and anyone with a wound, infection or serious skin sensitivity on the feet, must consult a qualified practitioner before using it.

Conclusion

Placing onion on the soles is a simple, low-cost, gentle method used in traditional medicine to reduce black bile, soften thick humours and cleanse the body. Most of its effects rest on traditional experience, but used together with correcting temperament and diet, it can help support health. Following the safety rules, moderation and informed use are the basic conditions for benefiting from it.

Traditional medicine also recommends eating cooked onion, especially in soups and broths, and inhaling onion steam to ease cold symptoms and breathing.

Sources

1. Ibn Sina. Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb. Beirut: Dar Sader.
2. Aghili Khorasani MH. Makhzan al-Adviyah. Institute for the History of Medicine.
3. Al-Razi MZ. Al-Hawi fi al-Tibb.
4. World Health Organization. Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014–2023.
5. Block E. Garlic and Other Alliums: The Lore and the Science. Royal Society of Chemistry; 2010.
6. Lanzotti V. The analysis of onion and garlic. Journal of Chromatography A. 2006.
7. Ernst E. Complementary medicine: common misconceptions. British Journal of General Practice. 2000.

Read more

Learn more about black bile in Foods That Increase Black Bile, or check whether it is rising now with the seasonal balance test.