Uterus doesn’t require “cleansing”; onion tea can’t cure gynecological conditions like fibroids, cysts, or irregular periods

Social media posts shared on Facebook and Instagram in December 2024 claimed that an herbal tea made by boiling red onions in water could “cleanse” the uterus and cure conditions including cysts, fibroids, and menstrual cycle irregularities (examples here, here, and here). The posts collectively received more than one million interactions.

Some posts used AI-generated content of Barbara O’Neill, a naturopath who in 2019 was permanently banned by the New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission from providing health services in Australia. Science Feedback reported on O’Neill in numerous previous reviews, including her false claims that oral contraceptive pills cause polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and uterine fibroids and that mammograms contribute to breast cancer.

As we will explain below, the uterus doesn’t need to be “cleansed” and there is no clinical evidence that a natural remedy of onion tea can eliminate cysts, fibroids, or menstrual cycle irregularities.

The uterus doesn’t need to be “cleansed”

The idea that parts of the female reproductive system, like the uterus or vagina, must be “cleansed” has circulated for some time.

In an article debunking this claim published by National Geographic in 2023, gynecologist Cheruba Prabakar said that “[t]here is no such thing as detoxing the uterus”. The article further shared that the “uterus is not toxic and does not need to be ‘cleaned’”.

To elaborate, the uterus has natural processes that help maintain its health and thus doesn’t need to be “cleansed”. During the menstrual cycle, for example, the inner lining (endometrium) thickens in preparation for pregnancy and, if no pregnancy occurs, it’s shed through menstruation. The cervix also produces mucus that helps flush out bacteria and foreign materials, while the uterine lining regenerates regularly to keep the organ ready for pregnancy.

Similarly, there’s a common myth that the vagina needs to be “cleansed” with douches, special soaps, or other products, but the vagina is a self-cleaning organ. It maintains its health through the natural production of discharge, which helps remove dead cells, bacteria, and other debris. The vagina is also regulated by healthy bacteria that maintain its pH balance and protect against infections. Using harsh cleaning products or douching can disrupt this balance and lead to irritation, infections, and other health complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease^[1].

In brief, the uterus and varinga are self-cleaning and don’t require the use of detoxes or cleaning products.

No evidence that onions or onion tea can cure fibroids, cysts, or irregular periods in humans

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that develop in the muscle tissue of the uterus. They form when abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue occurs. Because they often don’t cause symptoms, some people with uterine fibroids may never know that they’ve had them. They’re typically caused by hormonal changes and genetics.

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on or inside the ovaries, often as part of the normal menstrual cycle. Most ovarian cysts are benign and resolve on their own, but some can cause pain or complications if they grow large or rupture.

Nabothian cysts, one type of cervical cyst, develop on the cervix when mucus-producing glands become blocked, leading to fluid accumulation. These cysts are usually harmless, often asymptomatic, and don’t require treatment unless they cause discomfort.

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, commonly on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic lining. This can lead to the formation of ovarian endometrioma (chocolate cysts), which are filled with old blood and may cause symptoms like pelvic pain, painful periods, and infertility.

Each of these conditions can require different treatments, ranging from monitoring to medication or surgery, depending on their severity and impact on health.

Irregular periods refer to inconsistencies in the menstrual cycle considered outside of the “norm”, such as length, the number of days between menstrual cycles, or severity of period symptoms. A wide range of medical and lifestyle factors can cause irregular periods, ranging from elevated stress levels and viruses to conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid disorders. Irregular periods are typically managed with hormonal birth control.

We conducted searches on PubMed#, a repository of biomedical publications hosted by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, to determine whether there is evidence to support the claim that onions or onion tea can eliminate fibroids, cysts, or irregular periods. We found no relevant scientific evidence supporting the use of onions to cure these gynecological conditions in humans.

However, one animal study conducted in rats treated with the drug letrozole to simulate PCOS showed that rats who received Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum) extract had a healthier hormonal balance, higher estrogen levels, and better ovarian function compared to those who didn’t receive the Welsh onion extract^[2].

In short, these findings suggest that Welsh onion extract may help restore the balance of hormones and improve ovarian health in those with PCOS. However, it’s important to keep in mind that findings from animal studies can’t be extrapolated to humans. Rodents’ menstrual cycles, for example, don’t mirror those of humans. Thus, a larger-scale clinical trial in humans would be necessary to reinforce or refute these preliminary findings.

Conclusion

Despite the widespread claims on social media that onion tea can “cleanse” the uterus and cure conditions like cysts, fibroids, and irregular periods, no scientific evidence exists to support these assertions. The uterus and vagina are self-cleaning organs that maintain their health through natural processes, and while onions may offer general health benefits, they’re not a proven remedy for these gynecological issues.

 

# PubMed search queries:

((allium cepa[Title/Abstract]) OR (onion[Title/Abstract])) AND (uterine fibroids[Title/Abstract])

((allium cepa[Title/Abstract]) OR (onion[Title/Abstract])) AND (fibroids[Title/Abstract])

((allium cepa[Title/Abstract]) OR (onion[Title/Abstract])) AND (ovarian cysts[Title/Abstract])

((allium cepa[Title/Abstract]) OR (onion[Title/Abstract])) AND (endometriosis[Title/Abstract])

((allium cepa[Title/Abstract]) OR (onion[Title/Abstract])) AND (polycystic ovary syndrome[Title/Abstract])

((allium cepa[Title/Abstract]) OR (onion[Title/Abstract])) AND (menstruation[Title/Abstract])

 

REFERENCES

• 1 – Martino and Vermund. (2002) Vaginal Douching: Evidence for Risks or Benefits to Women’s Health. Epidemiologic Reviews.
• 2 – Lee at al. (2018) Welsh Onion Root (Allium fistulosum) Restores Ovarian Functions from Letrozole Induced-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Nutrients.