This episode is an invitation to be peeled. We begin with a poem about shedding the false skins we wear for the world — the polished, acceptable versions of ourselves — and descending into the dark long enough to let only what is true remain. From there we turn to the plant that knows this process better than almost any other: the onion. Humble, pungent, layered, and ancient, the onion has lived in human hands and human healing traditions for five thousand years.
We also explore the onion as an herbal ally, diving into the traditional and contemporary understanding of what this extraordinary plant supports in the body — from the lungs and the immune system to the heart and the gut. We talk about quercetin, mast cells, histamine, and why you should never throw away your red onion skins. Journal questions are offered at the end to help you take the episode inward.
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📩 Want to share a poem?
I’d love to include voices from the community! If you have a nature-inspired or herbal poem you’d like to share in a future episode, send it my way at: kim@joyfulroots.com. For more information and a list of plants, click here.
🌀 Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and inspirational purposes only. I am not a medical doctor or licensed health professional, and nothing shared here is intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. The information provided has not been evaluated by the FDA. Always check with a qualified healthcare provider about any potential herb-drug interactions or health concerns. If you experience an allergic reaction to any herb, discontinue use and consult a professional. You are the steward of your own body—listen with curiosity, and honor your intuition.
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🌿 Sources & Further Reading
Herbal History & Traditional Use
- Allium cepa: Organosulfur Compounds — From Traditional Use to Modern Pharmacological Insights (PMC, 2026) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12876048/ nih
- An Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical & Pharmacological Overview of Onion — PubMed (2024) — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38262524/ PubMed
- Henriette’s Herbal Homepage (Onion Juice) — https://www.henriettes-herb.com/preparations/onion-juice.html
- Traditional and Modern Uses of Onion Bulb: A Systematic Review — Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30040448/
- Book: Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide
- Book: The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook by James Green
Quercetin & Mast Cell Stabilization
- Quercetin Is More Effective than Cromolyn in Blocking Human Mast Cell Cytokine Release — PMC (peer-reviewed) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3314669/ PubMed Central
- Quercetin & Allergic Disease — Inhibition of Mast Cell Degranulation, Histamine & Pro-inflammatory Cytokines (PMC, 2025) — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12073759/
Quercetin & Cardiovascular Support
- Therapeutic Potential of Quercetin to Decrease Blood Pressure — PubMed — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22332099/ PubMed
- Effects of Quercetin on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials — PMC — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5015358/
Onion as Prebiotic & Gut Support
- The Prebiotic Potential of Dietary Onion Extracts: Shaping Gut Microbial Structures & Promoting Beneficial Metabolites — PMC (2025) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11748487/ nih
- Inulin-Fructooligosaccharides from Red Onion as a Prebiotic — PMC — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8624415/
Rumi & the Persian Sufi Poetic Tradition
- Rumi — Britannica Biography — https://www.britannica.com/biography/RumiEncyclopedia Britannica
- Rumi: The Mystical Poet — World History Encyclopedia — https://www.worldhistory.org/Rumi/
