Remedy Reference Guide

Allium Cepa

Allium cepa (red onion)

Allium Cepa uses in homeopathy: a well-known remedy for streaming colds and hay fever with a burning nasal discharge and bland watery eyes, its key picture, common potencies and FAQs — informational, consult a.

Quick answer

What is Allium Cepa used for in homeopathy?

Allium Cepa, prepared from the red onion, produces in provings exactly what a cut onion does in life - streaming eyes and a running nose. It is a leading homeopathic remedy for colds and hay fever with a burning nasal discharge and bland, watery eyes.

Reviewed & updated: June 2026

This is general information about a homeopathic remedy, not a prescription or dosing advice. In homeopathy the correct remedy and potency are chosen for the whole individual symptom picture by a qualified homeopath — the same remedy is not right for everyone. Do not self-medicate, and consult a qualified homeopathic doctor (and your physician for serious or persistent conditions) before taking any remedy.

What Allium Cepa is used for

Colds with a streaming, watery nasal discharge
Hay fever with sneezing and burning nose
Bland, non-irritating watering of the eyes
A raw feeling under the nose from the acrid discharge
Symptoms worse in a warm room and better in open air

Characteristic symptom picture

Homeopaths look for these guiding features when considering Allium Cepa.

Burning, acrid nasal discharge that irritates the upper lip
Bland, profuse watering of the eyes
Violent sneezing, especially entering a warm room
Better in the open air, worse indoors and in the evening
A tickling cough that makes the person grasp the throat

Potency

Allium Cepa is available in several potencies such as 6C, 30C and 200C, as well as lower and mother-tincture forms in some cases. The right potency and repetition depend entirely on the individual case and are decided by a qualified homeopath - this page gives no dosing instructions.

The Allium Cepa picture and modalities

Allium Cepa mirrors the effect of a cut onion: a burning, acrid nasal discharge that makes the upper lip raw, together with bland, profuse tears. Sneezing is violent, often on entering a warm room, and the symptoms ease in open air and worsen indoors and towards evening. A tickling laryngeal cough can make the person clutch the throat. A homeopath weighs the acrid-nose, bland-eye contrast and the open-air amelioration within the whole picture.

Before you consider Allium Cepa

This is background information, not advice to self-treat. Persistent or severe hay fever and colds that will not settle deserve medical assessment, and asthma or breathing difficulty always needs conventional care. In homeopathy the right remedy and potency are chosen for the whole individual by a qualified practitioner, and the same remedy does not suit everyone. Homeopathy should complement, not replace, conventional care.

Conditions where Allium Cepa is considered

Homeopathy for Common Cold Homeopathy for Allergic Rhinitis Homeopathy for Dust Allergy

Frequently asked questions

What is Allium Cepa used for in homeopathy?

It is an informational materia-medica remedy classically associated with streaming colds and hay fever - a burning nasal discharge with bland, watery eyes. A homeopath matches it to the whole picture rather than prescribing it by name alone.

How does Allium Cepa differ from Euphrasia?

The two are often compared: Allium Cepa typically has an acrid nasal discharge with bland tears, while Euphrasia has bland nasal discharge with burning tears. A homeopath distinguishes them on the whole individual picture.

Should I take this remedy myself?

Self-medication is discouraged. The correct remedy and potency depend on your whole individual symptom picture and should be chosen by a qualified homeopath.

Is it safe alongside other treatment?

Many people use homeopathy alongside conventional care, but you should inform both your doctor and your homeopath about everything you take so your care stays coordinated.