The all-round onion. Each layer a virtue - Tatiana Maselli

This manual contains everything you need to know about this tasty bulb , a real panacea for the body, economical and always available locally, to be used in the kitchen, for the beauty of skin and hair and for skin care. home.

There are more than one hundred onion cultivars in Italy alone, yet even today it is almost always relegated to the kitchen, among broths and sautés (after all, its various properties are often ignored even in gastronomy). Used since ancient times, both in the kitchen and for healing purposes, for men it is a true elixir of long life , as it is rich in beneficial substances that can alleviate and heal various ailments.

Onion consumption helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, some forms of cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis; it also has a proven antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal action . As regards cosmetic use, the onion bulb is used in the treatment of acne-prone skin, in the treatment of post-operative scars and stretch marks, as well as to combat dandruff and alopecia.

«To prevent onions from sprouting, rotting due to humidity or changing flavour, they should be stored in a wicker basket, cardboard box or paper bags and placed in a cool, ventilated and dark place. Onions should not be put together with potatoes and should not be kept in the refrigerator. At the time of preparation, to avoid eye irritation due to the volatile substances in the onion, the bulbs can be kept in the freezer for an hour before slicing them, or immersed in boiling water for two minutes; another trick is to cut the onion with a wet knife. To sweeten the flavor of onions with a strong flavour, if you want to consume them raw, place the already cut segments in a container with water and lemon juice: in this way you will also avoid problems with bad breath and the bulb will also be more digestible.» «To treat specific ailments, such as skin problems, flu symptoms or infections, it may be useful to make more or less concentrated onion extracts, which give extra help in regaining health and well-being.
Poultices

Coarsely chop a large golden onion. Place it in the blender and blend it for a few minutes, or crush it in a mortar, until you obtain a puree. Add a teaspoon of white clay to thicken and use the pulp obtained by applying it to the areas to be treated, stopping it with gauze.»
Tatiana Maselli

Introduction

• The onion between history and legend
• Description and characteristics of the plant
• What does the onion bulb contain?
• Studies on onion
• Onion cultivation
• Onion varieties in Italy
• How to choose, store and cut onions
• How to use onion
• Onion for health
• Cosmetic uses of onion
• Use of onion for home
• The onion in the kitchen
• Recipes of basic preparations

Bibliography