Tonic Drinks & Waters
Steamed Onion Juice
traditionally used to soothe persistent cough in children and adults
Why people make this
Bro Niu himself caught a bad cough during a particularly hectic stretch of work. He tried a herbal decoction the night before (schisandra, ginger and licorice), which helped through the night, but by morning the coughing was back. His daughter found a folk remedy online: steam a whole onion and drink the juice. He tried it, and was genuinely impressed — a single tablespoon of the concentrated onion essence was enough to quiet the cough for hours. The taste is sweet and mild, which makes it much easier to get into a reluctant child than bitter herbal medicines.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for infants from about 4 months old through to adults; adjust the serving size for very young babies (a few teaspoons is enough for an infant under 1 year).
- Particularly helpful for coughs in children, including those with G6PD deficiency, who must avoid many herbal preparations.
- For adults with a more severe cough, Bro Niu suggests this is more reliably effective for younger children; adults may do better with a stronger herbal preparation.
- If a child has a high fever alongside the cough, see a doctor first.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Onion (yang cong, Allium cepa): In traditional Chinese food therapy, onion is warming and pungent, associated with dispersing cold and supporting the lungs. Modern research also confirms onions contain sulphur compounds, quercetin and other constituents with antioxidant and airway-soothing properties.
Ingredients (about 1 tablespoon per onion)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow onion | 1 medium |
Method
- Peel the onion and slice it thickly.
- Place the slices in a deep bowl.
- Steam over boiling water for 30 minutes with the lid on.
- After steaming, press the softened onion to extract the juice — you will get roughly 1 tablespoon of concentrated liquid.
- Serve warm. Give the full tablespoon to older children and adults; adjust to a few teaspoons for infants.
Bro Niu’s tips
The most important point: do not add water to the bowl before steaming. Bro Niu initially added a few tablespoons of water thinking it would help, but his daughter called to remind him that the undiluted concentrated juice is what delivers the effect — water dilutes it considerably. After steaming, simply press the softened slices to collect the precious tablespoon or so of pure onion essence. If you have a very young baby, one onion can be steamed twice to get two doses through the day. The steamed onion flesh itself can then be used in a simple tomato and potato soup so nothing is wasted.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (罗小姐): Can a one-year-old baby have this every day? Bro Niu: If the baby has a cough, one dose of onion juice daily is fine — continue until the cough settles.
-
Q (Yuki lam): My baby is 7 months old — can they have this? Bro Niu: Yes, a 7-month-old baby can drink the onion juice.
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Q (jj, for a 2.5-year-old with G6PD and a chesty cough): Is steamed onion water safe, and is it effective for a chesty cough? Bro Niu: Yes, steamed onion juice is fine for children with G6PD. It can help with a chesty cough — give it for three days in a row. A soup with Indian coconut, snow fungus, and fig can also support a sensitive airway; the whole family can share it.
Published March 23, 2014 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
