Green Onions, Fresh / Scallions (Allium fistulosum)

Medicinal Profile of

Green Onions (Allium fistulosum)

Green onions, also called scallions or spring onions, are a traditional food-medicine across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. In Chinese medicine, they are known as Cong Bai and valued for dispersing external “wind-cold,” stimulating circulation, and gently moving stagnation. Compared to garlic, they are milder, lighter, and easier to digest, making them a more versatile food for daily use. Their fresh pungency, sulfur compounds, and flavonoids support both immune and circulatory health, while their green tops provide additional antioxidants.

• Taste

  👉 Tastes describe the initial impression a food leaves on the tongue, and they reveal its deeper actions in the body, shaping digestion, circulation, and tissue response.

  Pungent – Stimulating, disperses stagnation, awakens circulation.

  Sweet (mild) – Gentle nourishment and harmonizing action.

• Qualities

  👉 Qualities describe the felt nature of a substance or practice, and how it acts in the body beyond nutrients or chemistry.

  Stimulating (Circulating) – Promotes warmth and blood flow.

  Light – Easy to digest, disperses stagnation.

  Moistening-mild – Less drying than garlic; provides gentle hydration through its fresh, watery tissue.

  Penetrating (but soft) – Moves into tissues without the harsh intensity of stronger alliums.

• Affinities & Indications

  👉 Terrain patterns describe the body’s functional state, showing when a food is most helpful or aggravating, while affinities identify the organ systems or tissues where its actions are most directly felt.
  👉 To learn more about these patterns in depth, read this blog.

  Hypofunction (Primary Indicated Terrain Pattern) – When metabolism or circulation is sluggish and underactive.

  Circulatory System (Affinity) – Gently stimulates blood flow, warms the body.

  Digestive System (Affinity) – Awakens digestive fire without overwhelming heat.
  Warranted: Freshly chopped raw in food, soups, or broths.
  Dose: Daily as a culinary herb; 2–3 stalks in food for functional support.

  Fluid Congestion and Stagnation (Secondary Indicated Terrain Pattern) – When mucus or fluids accumulate, causing heaviness or obstruction.

  Respiratory System (Affinity) – Opens sinuses, clears mild mucus buildup.

  Immune System (Affinity) – Supports defense at early stages of cold/flu.
  Warranted: Lightly cooked in soups or congee for colds and congestion.
  Dose: 2–3 stalks in therapeutic meals during acute onset of symptoms.

• Practical Methods

  Raw – Adds pungent, stimulating freshness; best for circulation and digestion.

  Lightly cooked – Gentler on digestion, retains pungency for colds/congestion.

  Broths/congee – Classic preparation for onset of cold/flu (often combined with ginger).

  Topical poultice (traditional) – Crushed scallions applied externally for swelling or earaches.

• Nutritional Value

  👉 Nutritional values give the measurable nutrients that a food contributes to the diet.

  Nutritional Value (per 100 g, raw)

  Calories: ~32 kcal

  Carbohydrates: ~7.3 g

  Fiber: ~2.6 g

  Sugars: ~2.3 g

  Protein: ~1.8 g

  Fat: ~0.2 g

  Micronutrients

  Vitamin K: ~207 µg (173% DV)

  Vitamin C: ~18.8 mg (21% DV)

  Folate (B9): ~64 µg (16% DV)

  Vitamin A (RAE): ~50 µg (6% DV)

  Calcium: ~72 mg (6% DV)

  Potassium: ~276 mg (6% DV)

  Manganese: ~0.16 mg (7% DV)

• Medicinal Actions

  👉 Medicinal actions describe the specific ways a food influences organ systems and body functions.

  Immune System

  Immune stimulant (mild) – Activates defenses at the onset of colds/flu.

  Antimicrobial – Sulfur compounds inhibit bacterial and viral activity.

  Circulatory System

  Circulatory stimulant – Promotes gentle warmth and blood flow.

  Vasodilator (mild) – Relaxes peripheral vessels and eases tension.

  Digestive System

  Carminative – Relieves mild gas and bloating.

  Digestive stimulant – Awakens appetite and metabolism without overwhelming heat.

  Respiratory System

  Decongestant (mild) – Opens nasal passages and helps clear early mucus buildup.

  Diaphoretic (mild) – Encourages light sweating, supporting resolution of early colds and fevers.

  Integumentary System (Topical)

  Rubefacient – Fresh crushed scallion stimulates local circulation, creating gentle warmth.

  Antimicrobial – Traditionally applied to minor infections, earaches, or swellings

• Chemical Constituents

  Sulfur compounds (allyl sulfides, thiosulfinates) – Antimicrobial, circulatory stimulant.

  Flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol) – Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory.

  Saponins – Immune supportive, antimicrobial.

  Chlorophyll – Found in green tops, supports antioxidant and blood-nourishing actions.

  Vitamins & Minerals – Vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, calcium, potassium, manganese.

• Medicinal Strength Level

  First Degree – Gentle, food-level effects; safe for regular consumption with mild functional support.

• Herbal / Drug Interactions

  Anticoagulants – High intakes may have mild additive effects with blood-thinning drugs.

  Antihypertensives – Small additive effect possible due to mild vasodilation.

• Safety and Contraindications

  Children – Safe in food amounts.

  Pregnancy / breastfeeding – Safe in culinary use.

  Hyperreactivity terrain – Excess raw intake may irritate inflamed digestion or sensitive tissues.

• References

  Traditional Sources

  Chinese Medicine (Cong Bai) – Used for early colds, fever, and nasal congestion.

  Ayurveda – Classified as pungent, warming, and circulation-supporting.

  European folk medicine – Commonly used in broths and soups for winter illness prevention.

  Modern Sources

  USDA FoodData Central (2024) – Nutrient data for raw green onions.

  Griffiths, G., et al. (2002). “Onions—a global benefit to health.” Phytotherapy Research, 16(7), 603–615.

  Augusti, K. T. (1996). “Therapeutic values of onion (Allium cepa L.) and garlic (Allium sativum L.).” Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 34, 634–640.