Allium

spp.

Garlic (E); Onion (E); Agu (Cu); Aguakalat (Cu); Ajo Cebolla (S); Dawawat (Cu); Palu ; Pida (Ch) . Presently unknown in the wild, onion has been used more than 4000 years. Garlic, A. sativum L., is regarded as antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, cordiment, diaphoretic, emmenagogic, expectorant, rubefacient, stimulant, stomachic, and vermifugal; it is used in home remedies for bronchitis, colds, earaches, hysteria, nervous conditions and toothache. The juice can be used to mend china. Oil from the seeds is applied externally to rheumatics. Garlic oil, mixed with cebo de Cuba, is used like a mustard plaster in Panama. Onions are eaten raw or cooked and used for seasoning pickles, curries, stews, "sancochos", etc.(!). They are used as a home remedy for bronchitis, catarrh, colic, dropsy, fever, flatulence, hangover, and scurvy. They are regarded as aphrodisiac, carminative, emmenagogic, and soporific when used internally. They are used externally to treat earaches and insect bites. Maje Choco women, having difficulty delivering, receive a stomach massage with cooking oil mixed with oniion, garlic, oregano, and hierba poleo (perhaps Kallstroemia). Some Indians believe they also repel snakes; the odor repels some humans, so it might actually repel snakes. My Cuna guide from Nargana rubbed his legs with sliced onion to "prevent snakebite" (!). In Western Panama, onions are placed in the eaves of bohiuos as a bat repellent (!); a bat and snake repellent would be useful morale builders for the newcomer in Panama.