Bear Bow

Bear onion: properties, applications and benefits

Bear's onion, also known as wild garlic or jewish onion, is a plant that grows throughout Europe, mainly in shady, moist forests with humus-rich soil. The plant parts used are fresh grass and bulbs, which have essential oil (garlic), flavonoids, biocatalysts, fructose and a lot of vitamin C.

The botanical species of bear onion has an elongated bulb surrounded by transparent scales, from which grows a peduncle up to 25 cm high with white star-shaped flowers collected in an umbrella. Both basal leaves are lanceolate. The whole plant has a very strong garlic smell, especially if you crush a piece between your fingers. Blooms in May-June.

Bear onions are used as a seasoning in salads, soups, vegetables, and go especially well with soft cheese and cottage cheese. Since this can only be done in the spring, I would like to advise every spicy food lover to generously season all spring salads and soups with it, as the active ingredients stimulate digestion and have a good effect on the functioning of the liver, stomach and intestines.

In folk medicine, bear onion is used mainly for disorders of the stomach and intestines, lack of appetite and general weakness. Patients are given finely chopped greens or juice is prepared, which should be taken 10-20 drops 10-20 times a day. To hide the unpleasant (for some) taste, the juice is added to milk. How highly the bear's onion was valued will be shown by Künzle's phrase from an old herbalist: "Perhaps no herb on Earth cleanses the stomach, intestines and blood as well as the bear's onion." When there are no fresh herbs, use onions, also finely chopped, or juice squeezed from them.

In folk medicine, bear onion also serves as a remedy against atherosclerosis and lowers blood pressure. It is believed that it is far superior to garlic in effectiveness, since it has lost much of its original potency over thousands of years of cultivation.

The pungency and unpleasant taste of bear onions exclude an overdose, and with a normal dose, no side effects were found. However, be aware that the leaves of bear onion are similar to the leaves of other plants that may be poisonous, so it is recommended to ensure that the plant is correctly identified before use.

Despite its valuable properties, bear onion can cause allergic reactions in some people, so it is recommended to conduct a sensitivity test before use.

Overall, bear onion is a valuable plant that can be used in cooking and folk medicine. It has many beneficial properties, such as stimulating digestion, improving liver and intestinal function, counteracting atherosclerosis and lowering blood pressure. As with any herbal preparations, you should observe moderation and not overuse bear onions.