Onions Absorbed “Bad” Air
During the outbreak of the bubonic plague in the 14th century, onions were thought to have healing properties. People of the era believed that the strong smell of onions would purify the air and prevent the spread of the disease. Onions were often placed in bowls around the house to absorb the “bad” air. Some also believed that eating onions could help cure the disease. While onions do have some medicinal properties, there is no current evidence to support the idea that they can cure the plague. Nonetheless, the use of onions as a remedy for the plague is still a popular folk remedy in some cultures.