Fact Check: Can placing onion on feet and wearing socks cure Pneumonia?

A video on Instagram claiming that placing chopped onions on feet and covering it with socks can cure Pneumonia.

Claim An Instagram video claims that onions can cure pneumonia. The video mentions “ how to use onions to cure pneumonia and bronchitis at home. Two medium-sized onions are chopped, placed under the feet, and covered by socks. Flavonoids, absorbed through the pores of the feet, help to remove phlegm from the lungs and treat pneumonia due to their properties.”

The link to the claim is here.

Fact Check:

The Claim is False.

What is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that may be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The infection causes the lungs' air sacs (alveoli) to become inflamed and fill with fluid or pus. That can make it hard for the oxygen you breathe to enter your bloodstream. The symptoms of pneumonia can range from mild to severe and include cough, fever, chills, and trouble breathing. (1)

Causes of Pneumonia:

Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Bacterial pneumonia, common in adults, is often due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, while atypical forms like "walking pneumonia" are caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Viral pneumonia can result from influenza or cold viruses, with Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) being a frequent cause in children. COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, also leads to pneumonia. Fungal pneumonia is more common in individuals with weakened immune systems. (2)

Incidence of Pneumonia:

The estimated worldwide incidence of community-acquired pneumonia varies between 1.5 to 14 cases per 1000 person-years. (3) India accounts for 23 per cent of the global pneumonia burden, with case fatality rates between 14 and 30 per cent. (4)

Risk Factors :

Speaking to the Medical Dialogues team, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli, Chest Specialist, explained, " Pneumonia risk factors can be categorised into medical conditions, health behaviours, and environmental factors. Medical conditions that increase vulnerability include chronic lung diseases like COPD, serious illnesses such as diabetes, and weakened immune systems from conditions like HIV/AIDS. Health behaviours contributing to higher risk include cigarette smoking and substance abuse. Environmental factors involve exposure to chemicals, pollutants, and toxic fumes, including secondhand smoke, which can compromise lung health and increase the likelihood of developing pneumonia."

Onion and its health  benefits:

Onions are a very common and rich source of dietary flavonoids. They contain three diverse and highly valuable phytochemicals in perfect proportion: flavonoids, fructans, and organosulfur compounds. Onion has many properties that can help with numerous health issues. It is anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, vasodilatory, anti-carcinogenic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal. Quercetin is the main element that gives onion these properties. (5)

Phytochemicals can potentially promote human health benefits and offer protection from various diseases. Apart from the main sulfur and flavonoid constituents, several other constituents of intact onion, such as lectins (the most abundant proteins in onion), prostaglandins, fructan, pectin, adenosine, vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and E, biotin, nicotinic acid, fatty acids, glycolipids, phospholipids, and essential amino acids, have been studied for their biological effects over several decades. (6)

Can placing onion on feet and wearing socks cure Pneumonia?

Some studies show that onions have antimicrobial and possible bronchodilatory effects. However, no scientific evidence supports the claim that placing onion on feet and wearing socks can cure Pneumonia.

A study by Jorge García-García et. al. indicates possible bronchodilatory and preventive effects of onion and quercetin (Qt) (derivatives of onion) on asthma and symptoms of virus-infected flu, including cough, headache, and sputum production. The effect of onion on the lung infected with P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and S. pneumonia was also demonstrated. (7)

Garlic and the variety of onions used in all dilutions were seen to possess antimicrobial properties against various microorganisms causing pneumonia. (8)

Also, the study by Beigoli et al., which the video refers to, Suggests that compounds in onions may help reduce inflammation and improve immune responses, which could be beneficial in managing symptoms associated with respiratory infections like pneumonia. The study emphasises the potential of these extracts in preventative care rather than as a cure for existing conditions. (9) Nowhere does the study that onions can cure pneumonia or the fact that the treatment modality includes placing the onion on feet and wearing socks. 

Despite the studies showing antimicrobial and possible bronchodilatory, the claim lacks scientific and consensus evidence in the medical fraternity to support its effectiveness in treating pneumonia, a serious respiratory infection.

Responding to the claim, Dr Mrigakshi Agarwal, Pulmonologist at Sanjeevan Hospital, New Delhi, clarified, "Placing onions under the feet and covering them with socks does not cure pneumonia. This practice is a folk remedy without any scientific basis or clinical evidence supporting its effectiveness against pneumonia, which is a serious respiratory infection. Onions contain some antioxidants and other compounds that have anti-inflammatory and possibly expectorant properties, which may help alleviate symptoms associated with respiratory conditions that, too, when consumed. Placing onion on feet and covering with socks does not help and lacks scientific evidence. It is essential to consult healthcare professionals for proper diagnosis and treatment rather than relying on unproven home remedies."

Medical Dialogues Final Take:

Placing onions on the feet and wearing socks does not cure pneumonia. Although it has some antimicrobial and bronchodilatory properties when consumed, no scientific evidence or research in the medical fraternity supports the claim. Hence, the claim that " placing onion on feet and wearing socks cure Pneumonia" is False.

References:

1. https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/learn-about-pneumonia.

2. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/pneumonia/causes

3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430749/#:~:text=The%20estimated%20worldwide%20incidence%20of,%2C%20season%2C%20and%20population%20characteristics.

4. Eshwara VK, Mukhopadhyay C, Rello J. Community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in adults: An update. Indian J Med Res. 2020 Apr;151(4):287-302. doi: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_1678_19. PMID: 32461392; PMCID: PMC7371062.

5. Shafiq, S., Shakir, M., & Ali, Q. (2017). Medicinal uses of onion (Allium cepa L.): An overview. Life Science Journal, 14(6).

6. Yahia, Elhadi M (2017). Fruit and Vegetable Phytochemicals (Chemistry and Human Health, 2nd Edition) || Onion ( Allium cepa L.). , 10.1002/9781119158042(), 1145–1162. doi:10.1002/9781119158042.ch58

7. García-García J, Gracián C, Baños A, Guillamón E, Gálvez J, Rodriguez-Nogales A, Fonollá J. Beneficial Effects of Daily Consumption of Garlic and Onion Extract Concentrate on Infectious Respiratory Diseases in Elderly Resident Volunteers. Nutrients. 2023 May 15;15(10):2308. doi: 10.3390/nu15102308. PMID: 37242191; PMCID: PMC10221607.

8. Bryan-Thomas, J., Bazuaye-Alonge, P., & Wright, V. (2016). The Response of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae to Plant Derived Nutraceuticals. American Journal of Public Health, 4(6), 202-206.

9. Beigoli, S., Behrouz, S., Memarzia, A., Ghasemi, S. Z., Boskabady, M., Marefati, N., Kianian, F., Khazdair, M. R., El-Seedi, H., & Boskabady, M. H. (2021). Effects of Allium cepa and its constituents on respiratory and allergic disorders: A comprehensive review of experimental and clinical evidence. Volume 2021, Article ID 5554259. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5554259