Why People Put Cloves in an Onion—and What It Really Does
For generations, households around the world have passed down quirky remedies meant to fight off colds, soothe coughs, or “clean the air.” One of the most enduring of these traditions is the curious practice of poking whole cloves into a peeled onion and leaving it out overnight. To some, it sounds bizarre. To others, it’s a comforting ritual that has been part of family caregiving for decades.
The method is simple: you peel a yellow or white onion, press several whole cloves into its surface, and place it on a plate near the bed of the person who’s sick. By morning, the room smells sharp—spicy, sweet, and pungent all at once. Many people swear that they sleep better, breathe easier, or feel less congested when they use this trick. Before diving into the claims, it helps to understand what might be happening behind the scenes.
Where the Idea Comes From
Traditional healers long believed that onions could “pull out” illnesses or absorb harmful air. While that idea isn’t scientifically accurate, onions do release powerful sulfur compounds that irritate the eyes, stimulate the sinuses, and can make the air feel more humid. Historically, onions were hung in sickrooms during the plague and again during the 1918 flu pandemic—not because they absorbed germs, but because people noticed they seemed to freshen the air.
Cloves, on the other hand, bring their own medicinal history. Their main component, eugenol, has strong antiseptic and mild numbing properties. Clove oil has been used for centuries to ease toothaches, fight bacteria, and relieve minor infections. Even whole cloves release small amounts of aromatic oils, creating a warm, spicy scent that can temporarily open nasal passages.
What It Doesn’t Do
Despite its popularity, the onion-and-clove combo cannot:
absorb germs from the air
cure a cold or flu
pull illness out of the body
protect you from viruses
detoxify anything
A cut onion does not act like a magnet for bacteria or viruses. Germs don’t leap out of the air and cling to produce. In reality, once an onion sits out for hours, it becomes more likely to collect dust and bacteria from its environment, which is why you should never eat it afterward.
So Why Do People Still Use It?
Even if it can’t cure illness, the clove–onion remedy can still create a few genuine effects:
Humidification: A cut onion releases moisture, which can slightly ease dry-air congestion.
Aromatherapy: Strong scents—like cloves, onions, menthol, or eucalyptus—can make breathing feel easier.
Sinus stimulation: The sulfur in onions can trigger tear ducts and gently open nasal passages.
Comfort: Perhaps most important, this ritual provides emotional reassurance. A familiar scent or a family tradition can soothe anxiety, signaling that you’re being cared for.
The psychological comfort aspect shouldn’t be underestimated. When someone places a clove-studded onion by your bed, it’s a gesture of care. Feeling safe and comforted genuinely helps your body relax, which supports healing.
If You Want to Try It Safely
You can absolutely use this remedy—as long as you understand its limits.
Use a fresh onion and whole cloves.
Place it in a bedroom, not near food.
Leave it out for no more than 24 hours.
Throw it away afterward and wash the dish.
Treat it as aromatherapy, not medicine.
A More Effective Alternative
If you want something with more proven benefits, try steam inhalation:
Simmer onion, garlic, cloves, ginger, or a combination of them in a pot of water. Then carefully inhale the warm steam for a few minutes. Unlike a stationary onion on a plate, steam actually helps loosen mucus, reduce swelling in the sinuses, and provide temporary relief.
Cultures from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America all use versions of this method because it works on a simple physiological level: moisture + warmth = easier breathing.
Why This Tradition Still Matters
The onion-and-cloves trick survives because it represents something deeper than chemistry. It’s a piece of generational memory—something our parents or grandparents did for us when we were too young to understand illness. It’s a ritual of care, a way of saying, “You’re not alone,” without using words.
A remedy doesn’t need to be scientifically perfect to bring comfort. It just needs to be harmless, familiar, and wrapped in intention.
Use it if you enjoy it. Trust real medical advice alongside it. The best healing often comes from combining old wisdom with modern knowledge—one brings comfort to the heart, the other to the body.
