Abstract

Cough is very common to all of us, and there are a lot of remedies to relieve cough. We

want to find out if onion can be a suitable remedy for cough. The onion medicine can either work

or not work. A fellow group mate, who recently has cough, will be our patient. The onion

medicine is made up of red onion and sugar and mixed up in any container. After the first day of

taking the medicine, our group mate, he begins to expel more phlegm in the lungs. And after the

second day, he reports that his cough has finally stopped. Therefore, the onion medicine worked,

because he has no cough anymore.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the following people for helping us in our study:

Ma’am Mae and Ma’am Rachel; for guiding us on what we should do and helping us in

things we can’t or need to understand.

Our Parents; for supporting us in this investigatory project and helping us in new ideas or

suggestions.

Our Group mates; for cooperating and giving their best effort to make this project a

success.

The Science department; for giving us the opportunity to make this investigatory project

for us to learn more and to develop a scientific mind.

And especially to God; for enriching our minds and for leading us to this topic that we

have decided, and also for his support and blessings.

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Chapter One

Introduction

A. Background of the Study:

Cough is an action your body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating to your air

passages. The cause of a cough is dependent upon how long the symptom has been present. The

onion (Allium cepa), which is also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is

the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. In this relation, we want to find out if

onions can relieve a person’s cough. In this study, we will use onions, because they are often

used in other countries as a remedy for colds, and also sugar to enhance the taste of the medicine.

B. Statement of the Problem:

We want to know if onion can relieve a person’s cough. We will find a person who

currently has cough and give him/her our homemade onion syrup. And after, we will monitor

his/her health, particularly his/her cough, for two days.

C. Hypotheses:

Null Hypothesis – The onion syrup may not work and the patient’s coughing will continue.

Alternative Hypothesis – The onion syrup may work and the patient’s coughing will stop.

D. Objectives:

This study intends to determine the curative potential of onion (Allium cepa) mixed with

sugar, given to a person who has cough, for two days.

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Specifically, we will mix red onions and sugar in a jar, and keep in a refrigerator until

juice begins to appear. Then give to the person and monitor their cough for a day.

E. Significance of the Study:

This study will help us to know if an onion can actually relieve coughing. If this study

will turn out in a good way, there will be no need to buy expensive medicines or have a hard

time finding other medicinal plants; all is already in your kitchen shelf.

F. Scope and Limitations:

This study is limited only to the treatment of dry cough due to changing temperatures.

The only onion that will be used is Red Onion. The time of taking the medicine will vary as long

as patient will follow the 6 hour rule.

G. Definition of Terms:

1. Onion - a plant, Allium cepa, of the amaryllis family

2. Relieve – to ease or alleviate

3. Cough - to expel air from the lungs suddenly with a harsh noise

4. Homemade - prepared at home

5. Monitor – to observe or record

6. Enhance - to raise to a higher degree; intensify; magnify

7. Constructed - to build or form by putting together parts

8. Trigger – to become active; activate

9. Tearing - violent or hasty

10. Phlegm - the thick mucus secreted in the respiratory passages and discharged through

the mouth, especially that occurring in the lungs and throat passages, as during a cold

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Chapter Two

Review of Related Literature

A cough is an action your body takes to get rid of substances that are irritating to your air

passages, which carry the air you breathe in from the nose and mouth to the lungs. A cough

occurs when special cells along the air passages get irritated and trigger a chain of events. The

result? Air in your lungs is forced out under high pressure.

(www.emedicinehealth.com, 2012)

A dry cough refers to a cough that does not produce mucus (also known as phlegm or

sputum). A cough is your body’s defensive reflex that functions to keep your airways clear of

irritating or obstructing substances so you can breathe effectively. Over time, a dry cough can

often become a productive cough as the lungs produce more sputum.

(www.bettermedicine.com/article/dry-cough, 2012)

Onion juice mixed with sugar helps to break down mucus, thus helping against coughs

and colds, and respiratory problems. Also useful in fighting infection, reduce fever, and other flu

symptoms. This mixture is particularly helpful with asthma, taken three or four times a day will

help to stave off attacks. (dianew.hubpages.com/hub/onionhowhealthy, 2010)

Onion will relieve coughs that cause a ripping or tearing pain in the throat or a cough that

is merely an irritating dry tickle. (Wilson, 2010)

Wide-ranging claims have been made for the effectiveness of onions against conditions

ranging from the common cold to heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other diseases. They

contain chemical compounds believed to have anti-inflammatory, anticholesterol, anticancer, and

antioxidant properties, such as quercetin. Preliminary studies have shown increased consumption

of onions reduces the risk of head and neck cancers. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion, 2009)

Quercetin is a type of plant-based chemical, or phytochemical, known as a flavonoid.

Good sources include apples, onions, teas, red wines, and many other foods. Quercetin is also

available as a dietary supplement. It appears to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant

properties. It has been promoted as being effective against a wide variety of diseases.

(www.cancer.org, 2012)

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Chapter Three

Methodology

Materials:

-10 grms. of red onions (2 small red onions)

-4 tbps of brown sugar

-Any Container

Procedure:

1. We washed and peeled two red onions. Then we sliced them in half, and then cut each half

into 4 pieces.

2. After that we arranged some pieces of onion into the bottom of the container and cover

with an equal layer of sugar. We did this step over and over until the entire onion was

constructed in a bowl with layers of sugar.

3. Then we allowed the sweetened onion to rest in the container overnight, because we did

this at night. On the following day, we had about a cup or more of sweetened syrup in our

container.

Dosage:

The person will take this onion medicine every six hours.

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Chapter Four

Data and Results

The patient, aka Pete, started coughing on February 15, 2012. He had a dry cough and

had difficulty releasing phlegm. On February 22, 2012, he started to take the onion medicine.

This medicine was taken every 6 hours, starting from 8 am to 8 pm (3 doses). Immediately after

the 1st day, his difficulty of releasing the phlegm has lessened, but he started to have a runny

nose. After the second day, he reported that his coughing has stopped, yet he still has a runny

nose.

His Condition During the Taking of Medicine.

DATE CONDITION

February 15, 2012 Has a dry cough and has difficulty releasing

phlegm.

February 22, 2012 Started to take the onion medicine.

February 23, 2012 Reported that difficulty of releasing phlegm

has lessened. Started to have runny nose.

Stopped taking the onion medicine

February 24, 2012 Reported that his cough has stopped, yet still

has runny nose.

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Chapter Five

Conclusions and Recommendations

Conclusions:

We therefore conclude that onion can relieve a person coughing, because the patient’s

coughing stop.

Recommendations:

We strongly recommend that, the future investigators who have the same topic as ours,

give more doses to their patient. And also, that they find ways to eliminate the smell of the onion

so that it would be attractive to people.

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Bibliography:

(http://dianew.hubpages.com/hub/onionhowhealthy, 2010)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion, 2009)

(http://www.livestrong.com/article/178999-household-remedies-for-cough, 2010)

(http://vintagesavoirfaire.com/2011/10/onion-cough-syrup/, 2011)

(http://www.herballegacy.com/Wilson_Chemical.html, 2010)

(http://www.emedicinehealth.com/coughs/article_em.htm, 2012)

(http://www.bettermedicine.com/article/dry-cough, 2012)

(http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMe

dicine/DietandNutrition/quercetin, 2012)

(http://allergies.about.com/od/lungallergies/a/cough.htm, 2012)

(http://dictionary.reference.com/, 2012)

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