Already known and cultivated in the ancient Asia, from where it was brought to Europe. According to the Egyptian hieroglyphics, onion was for sure grown on the outskirts of Egyptian cities during the reign of Ramses II (1292-1234 B.C.).

It has been proven that Greeks ate onions raw while watching theatre plays, which ? fortunately ? took place in the open air, so it didn?t expose those who were less enthusiastic about this vegetable to its intense smell. At present, the biggest onion producers are Egypt, Spain and Hungary. In Poland onion is grown in several varieties, mainly dako, wolska, sochaczewska, żytawska, rawska, as well as Dutch red and white ? considered as the most durable, grown for winter storage.

The therapeutic properties of onion were already known in folk medicine thousands of years ago. Undoubtedly, the vegetable deserves at least one monument for all its beneficial properties.

The activity of onion:

• Antibacterial, produced both by the volatile elements (phytoncydes), released while cutting or crushing onions, and by the non-volatile elements in the  pulp,
• Stimulates urinary output,
• Removes the excess of water from the organism. It is therefore recommended to people suffering from rheumatism and arthritis, diseases accompanied by swelling, dysuria ? problems with urination, albuminuria (the presence of proteins in urine), uremia (increased content of urea in blood),
• Since it is rich in sulphur, it increases the organism?s immunity to diseases,
• Gently lowers high blood pressure,
• Includes vitamins and microelements, whose value has been appreciated through ages (e.g. in treating scurvy among prisoners and sailors). The onion?s leaves contain 25 - 90 mg% of vitamin C, 1.3 ? 5.9 mg%  of provitamin A, vitamins B1, B2 PP, as well as phytoncydes.
• Stimulates appetite, accelerating the production of digestive juices,
• Prevents the spread of digestive and putrefaction processes in intestines, eliminates gases and regulates the stool.
• Lowers the blood sugar level, hence it is recommended to diabetics,
• Strengthens the organism, including the heart (this is particularly the property of onion juice),
• Destroys worms, especially pinworms
• Has a positive influence on skin inflammations, helps to cure injuries and clean them,
• Soothes the mosquito, bee and wasp stings,
• According to American researchers, eating one raw onion a day for at least two months results in an increase in the ?good? cholesterol ? HLD - and a decrease in the ?bad? one - LDL