Thus, applying onion would not be an effective way to treat viruses and infections. However, there are some reasons why this hack may work towards purification of blood and may cleanse the body. For example, onions are one of the richest sources of dietary flavonoids, which may decrease your risk of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Onions are also great source of vitamin dr oz herpes cure C, a vitamin that plays an important role in immune function. Regular consumption of the organosulfur compounds found in onions and garlic may also prevent the development of cardiovascular disease, according to a 2010 review. If you have the flu and are willing to try anything to bounce back, the good news is that putting onions in your socks is unlikely to hurt you.

In recent years, many articles online have claimed that this folk remedy is effective. Dr Schwarcz says placing onions in socks may have to do with reflexology, which applies pressure to the sole of the foot to treat disease. The site says that “long before germs were discovered, the dominate belief was contagious diseases were spread by miasma, or ‘noxious air,’” that onions absorbed.

The bottom of your feet are powerful and direct access points to internal organs in your body through what is known as meridians in Chinese medicine. Some people say that meridians do not exist within the body or at the bottom of the feet. For those that understand Chinese medicine you may know that the meridian system is very closely correlated with the nervous system. Place two onion slices into your socks and make sure that they are under your feet.

There is no research that has specifically been done to assess the benefit of putting onions on your feet or anywhere else on your body. Online claims do not reference any scientific studies, just anecdotes. Not only in the west, but even in parts of Asia, putting onions in socks was believed to naturally cleanse the body, fight ailments, infections and boost immunity. Onions are one of the richest sources of dietary flavonoids, which decrease the risk of inflammatory diseases.

The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties present in onion help you build a natural defense against germs. So whenever an antigen or infecting organism will enter your body the immune system will start creating antibodies to fight against diseases or illness. That said, there have not been any scientific studies that have looked at this specifically.

Viruses also require direct contact with a human host to spread. As a result, an onion would have no impact on a virus inside of the body. The idea that onions can soak up germs dates back to the 1500s, when it was believed that cut raw onions could protect people from the flea-borne bubonic plague, according to the National Onion Association. This was back when people thought diseases were spread via miasma, or bad smells. While many home remedies involve placing a cut onion in the room of someone who’s sick, there is no evidence that this works.

A powerful treatment in its own right, thinking that something will make you feel better can actually help you feel better. That’s why you need randomized placebo-controlled trials to determine if any kind of treatment — even onion-stuffed socks — actually works better than the psychological benefit alone. Perhaps the reason some people say they feel better after sleeping with an onion in their sock or bedside table is because of the thiosulfinates, Havey said. As groundbreaking as that would be, there’s just no evidence to support this, according to experts who spoke to BuzzFeed News, including a pediatrician, respiratory therapist, and former onion breeder.

MacDonald and others said onions can certainly be good for you when EATEN. But neither an onion nor a potato will pull a virus from the bottoms of your feet or draw out impurities through your toes. There is no scientific evidence that an unpeeled onion can absorb germs and protect people in the room from bacteria or viruses. The pungent smell of onion has limited its presence only to the kitchen. But a piece of onion in your shocks can clean the air of your surroundings and can remove toxins, viruses, and chemicals while you are asleep. An onion slice absorbs all the impurities present in the air when exposed to oxygen, purifying your surroundings and letting you breathe in fresh air.

You’ll want to use organic onions because they will be free of pesticides and other chemicals you don’t want sitting on your feet and entering your bloodstream all night. You’ll just want to cut the onions into flat slices so that they can be applied to the bottom of your entire foot so the bottom of your feet are immersed with onion while you sleep. The remedy dates back to at least the Late Middle Ages, when many people believed it could protect you from bubonic plague, known as the Black Death. Some medical historians say it goes back much further – to ancient Chinese medicine.