Preparing for Winter Colds/Flu: onion poultice

Add onions to your grocery list so that you have some on hand for any chest congestion that should arise. This was one of our mother's very favorite and might I add quite effective remedies for congestion and unproductive coughs. Simply dice the onions and saute them in a frying pan. Add a splash of olive oil and some garlic too if you have it. A dash of thyme and pinch of oregano helps too. When the onions are translucent then put half of them on the chest of your victim (err, I mean patient). We put down a wash cloth first, then the onions, then cover the person and onions with a towel or blanket to keep warm. Allow patient to rest and watch their favorite movie or TV show -- that's our bribe for cooperation for this treatment around here.

Now with the reserved half of the onion, garlic, and olive oil add some pieces of chicken, broccoli, cauliflower and continue to cook...... that's for dinner. Multi-tasking - that's how it all gets done!

This treatment is very effective. It is warming and loosens and moves the congestion that can collect in your lungs. Very safe to do on all ages, an external application so no need to worry about drug/herb interactions. If you feel a cold settling in your kidney area you could apply the onion there as well. One word of warning: Between the onion, garlic, olive oil and herbs we add such as thyme and oregano, you do end up smelling a bit like an Italian hoagie!