Natural Herb Library

Welsh Onion Bulb

Chinese
葱白
Pinyin
Cong Bai
Latin
Bulbus Allii Fistulosi
Botanical illustration of Welsh Onion Bulb, Allium fistulosum, showing bulb base, hollow leaves, inflorescence, flower, seed capsule, roots, and diagnostic plant details.
Botanical plate by Kodi . View print →

Known in TCM as Cong Bai (葱白), this pungent, warm herb enters the Lung and Stomach. Traditionally, it releases exterior and dispels Wind-Cold, most often applied for common cold, abdominal pain, and carbuncle. Modern research has identified Allicin among its active constituents.

Part used: Bulb

Also Known As

Allium

Latin: Bulbus Allii Fistulosi | Pinyin: Cong Bai | Chinese: 葱白

TCM Properties

Taste
pungent
Temperature
warm
Channels
Lung, Stomach

Traditional Use

Primary Actions

  • Releases exterior and dispels Wind-Cold … mild exterior-releasing herb for early-stage wind-cold colds with chills, fever, headache, and nasal congestion; especially appropriate when there is no sweating
  • Invigorates Yang and disperses Cold … abdominal pain, cold limbs, and nausea from Cold accumulation in the Stomach and lower abdomen; Yi Yang Jiu Ni (revolve Yang to rescue counterflow)
  • Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling … mastitis, carbuncles, and abscesses; applied fresh topically

Secondary Actions

  • Promotes urination … dysuria from Cold obstruction; classical use with salt as an umbilical compress for retention of urine
  • Edible medicinal food … the white lower portion of Allium fistulosum (Welsh onion / bunching onion) consumed daily as a vegetable; recognised as a kitchen medicine across all of Chinese culinary tradition

Classic Formulas

  • Cong Chi Tang (葱豉汤) … classical two-herb formula for mild Wind-Cold exterior pattern; Cong Bai combined with Dan Dou Chi (fermented black soybeans); induces mild sweating to release Wind-Cold; from Zhou Hou Bei Ji Fang (Ge Hong); first-line folk remedy for early cold with runny nose and chills
  • Bai Tong Tang (白通汤) … classical formula for severe Yang deficiency with cold counterflow; Cong Bai combined with Fu Zi (processed aconite) and Gan Jiang (dry ginger); used in serious cold-collapse patterns requiring urgent Yang restoration

Classical References

  • Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing: lists Cong Shi (葱实, onion seeds) in the middle grade, with the stalk and white base noted for 'making the eyes bright, tonifying deficiency, and killing pestilential Qi' … Cong Bai (the white bulb base) is specifically valued for exterior-releasing properties in all subsequent materia medica
  • Ben Cao Gang Mu (Li Shizhen): 'Cong Bai (white green onion) releases the exterior, disperses wind-cold, opens the pores, and invigorates Yang … it is warm but gentle, appropriate for the weak patient who cannot tolerate stronger dispersing herbs; used fresh externally for swollen sores and mastitis'

Modern Research

Active Compounds

  • Allicin and diallyl disulfide (organosulfur compounds; antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective)
  • Quercetin and quercetin-3,4'-diglucoside (flavonoids; anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardioprotective)
  • Fructo-oligosaccharides (prebiotic polysaccharides; gut microbiome support)
  • Kaempferol glycosides (flavonoids; anti-inflammatory)
  • Vitamin C and folate (micronutrients; antioxidant, immune support)
  • Cycloalliin (organosulfur; mild antithrombotic)

Studied Effects

  • Antimicrobial: allicin from Allium fistulosum demonstrates broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli; mechanism involves thiol-alkylation of bacterial enzymes … validates the exterior-releasing, anti-infective folk application for early upper respiratory infection
  • Cardiovascular: quercetin and organosulfur compounds from A. fistulosum reduce platelet aggregation, inhibit LDL oxidation, and demonstrate mild ACE-inhibitory antihypertensive activity in in vitro and animal studies … consistent with daily culinary use as a cardiovascular protective food in Chinese dietary medicine
  • Anti-inflammatory: quercetin and kaempferol glycosides inhibit NF-κB and COX-2 in macrophage models; the anti-inflammatory activity is modest but meaningful at daily dietary doses, supporting the classification as a food-medicine for mild inflammatory and infectious conditions

Safety & Interactions

Contraindications

  • Wind-Heat exterior patterns (fever with sweating, sore throat, yellow phlegm) … pungent-warm nature inappropriate for Heat-type exterior conditions
  • Excess sweating patterns … further pore-opening would deplete fluids

Cautions

  • Standard dose: 3–5 stalks (white part, 6–9 cm) in decoction; external use: roasted bulb applied to skin for mastitis and carbuncle
  • Anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel): cycloalliin and quercetin have mild antiplatelet effects; significant only at pharmacological doses far above culinary use; monitor in high-dose prolonged use
  • Raw Cong Bai may cause gastric irritation in patients with gastric ulcer or sensitive stomach; cooking reduces this effect
  • Considered safe at culinary and traditional therapeutic doses; classified as a food herb (shi yao 食药) with negligible systemic risk

Conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Welsh Onion Bulb used for?

Welsh Onion Bulb is traditionally used to Releases exterior and dispels Wind-Cold … mild exterior-releasing herb for early-stage wind-cold colds with chills, fever, headache, and nasal congestion; especially appropriate when there is no sweating, Invigorates Yang and disperses Cold … abdominal pain, cold limbs, and nausea from Cold accumulation in the Stomach and lower abdomen; Yi Yang Jiu Ni (revolve Yang to rescue counterflow), Resolves toxicity and reduces swelling … mastitis, carbuncles, and abscesses; applied fresh topically. Research has investigated its effects on: Antimicrobial: allicin from Allium fistulosum demonstrates broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli; mechanism involves thiol-alkylation of bacterial enzymes … validates the exterior-releasing, anti-infective folk application for early upper respiratory infection; Cardiovascular: quercetin and organosulfur compounds from A. fistulosum reduce platelet aggregation, inhibit LDL oxidation, and demonstrate mild ACE-inhibitory antihypertensive activity in in vitro and animal studies … consistent with daily culinary use as a cardiovascular protective food in Chinese dietary medicine.

What are other names for Welsh Onion Bulb?

Welsh Onion Bulb is also known as Allium. In TCM: 葱白 (Cong Bai); Bulbus Allii Fistulosi.

Is Welsh Onion Bulb safe during pregnancy?

Welsh Onion Bulb is generally considered safe during pregnancy in normal amounts. Therapeutic or concentrated doses should be discussed with a qualified practitioner before use.

What are the contraindications for Welsh Onion Bulb?

Welsh Onion Bulb should not be used in: Wind-Heat exterior patterns (fever with sweating, sore throat, yellow phlegm) … pungent-warm nature inappropriate for Heat-type exterior conditions; Excess sweating patterns … further pore-opening would deplete fluids. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.