Onions & Flu: Myth or Real?

During the plague in 1500, it was believed that keeping a plate of chopped onions in the house will soak up the “bad air” that is carrying the disease and save the household from catching it. This practice was seen on plenty of literature works and journals from the time of the plague. However, in the 21st century, confiding to a method like this would be embarrassing today’s scientist as this is only considered to be an old wives tale and has no scientific base.

Despite the heavy absorption quality of the onion, it can not absorb bacteria. During the middle ages doctors used to leave a freshly peeled onion in the middle of the room with patients in it, and it was advised to replace the onion everyday with another freshly peeled one. Back then bacteria still was not discovered and it was considered “bad air” that was spreading all the disease. Over time scientists have discovered that onion does not perform as a bacteria soaker what so ever.