Family: Liliaceae
Synonym:Allium cepaeum St.-Lag.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Piyaj (Bengali), Heiyaj (Noakhali).
Tribal name: Pias (Chakma, Marma, Tripura); Chungasa (Chak); Parun sen (Lushai); Masausan (Pangkhoa); Kra-sthway-ning, Kasthe-bawn (Rakhaing); Peyat (Tanchangya).
English name: Onion, Bulb onion.
Description of the plant: Annual herb. Stem underground and modified into a small disc, generally known as bulb.Leaves radical, simple, long cylindrical, fistular and sub-distichous.Flowers arranged in a terminal umbel inflorescence borne on a long leafless scape and enclosed by membranous bracts. Flowers pedicellate, complete, bisexual. Fruit a membranous, loculicidal capsule; seeds compressed, black.
Plant parts used: Bulb.
Herbal uses: A fresh juice extracted from the bulb of the plant is applied to the affected skin once a day for one week to treat blistery.
Onion juice with mustard oil in equal proportions isapplied to treatrheumatic pains, and other inflammatory swellings.
Bulbis applied as cooling poultice for boils, bruises, and wounds; applied to the navelfor the treatment of dysentery, and body heat.
Juice extracted from the bulb is dropped warm into ears to relieve earaches; applied hot to the soles of feet for convulsive disorders.
Bulb mixed with vinegar isusedas a remedyfor sore throat; cooked in vinegar forthe treatment ofjaundice, splenic enlargement, and dyspepsia.
An extract made by boiling in water is taken thrice a day (100 ml amount each time) until the chicken pox is cured.
Juice extracted from the bulb of the plant is used forthe treatment of fever, dropsy, catarrh, asthma, and chronic bronchitis.
Bulb mixed with common salt, used as a remedy for colic and scurvy; eaten raw as diuretic and emmenagogue.
Juice or slices of raw onion is applied to treatinsect bites and stings or burns.
The fresh juice extracted from the bulb is taken (10 ml amounts) once a day for one month to treat hyper tension.
A fresh juice extracted from bulbs of the plant is taken twice a day (10 ml amount each time) for three days to treat insomnia.
Distribution: Onion is cultivated all over the country.
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