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Black Mustard
Black Mustard:
Black mustard (Brassica negra) is also known as brown mustard, California rape, Chinese mustard, Indian mustard, white mustard, and wild mustard. This plant is found in the wild throughout North America, although it is native to Europe. It is also cultivated in many other parts of the world.
Black mustard has been used since ancient times as a medicine by the Greeks, who attributed its discovery to Asclepius, the demigod of medicine and healing.
What’s in black mustard?
Components in the black mustard seed include glycoside (sinigrin) and an enzyme (myrosin); on contact with water, these two components interact and create mustard seed oil. The seeds also contain up to 37 percent fixed oils as well as proteins and mucilage.
Recognizing black mustard
The black mustard plant is an annual that grows up to six feet tall. The leaves that are pinnately divided at the base and toothed on the edges, which gives them a unique appearance. Upper leaves tend to be much smaller and narrower, while lower leaves are broader and wider. The black mustard plant produces bright yellow flowers May through July, which create pods between June and October. Each pod contains the tiny brown to black seeds that are the black mustard seeds. During late summer, the ripened seeds of black mustard pods are collected and stored when the plants are harvested for food purposes. The pods are tapped or beaten to release the seeds, which can be dried in a thin layer in the sun.
Black mustard as a food
The stalk and leaves of black mustard are a nutritious food that can be eaten raw in salads or cooked.
Black mustard for fevers
Black mustard can be used in the same way as ginger or cayenne pepper to stimulate the skin and promote emesis (sweating). Black mustard seeds ground up and steeped into a tea can be added to bath water to help dilate blood vessels in the skin, which may reduce fever.
Black mustard for digestion
Black mustard is a warming food that actually improves the digestion of foods with which it is served, in addition to providing a spicy flavor.
Black mustard for respiratory problems
Inhaling mustard eases breathing and helps opens the lungs. Because black mustard is antibacterial and antifungal, it is especially good for lung infections such as pneumonia and fungal infections. Black mustard mixes may be inhaled to clear sinuses.
Black mustard for joint aches
Black mustard remedies have been recommended for use in cases of rheumatoid arthritis because of their ability to improve circulation and reduce inflammation.
Black mustard for skin irritation
Black mustard seed oil is a counter irritant. When it is applied externally to inflamed skin, it dilates the blood vessels and improves circulation. Black mustard may help speed the healing of an inflamed area by allowing the body to carry off toxins more effectively. It has been recommended as an herbal remedy for chilblains, skin irritation caused by excessive cold temperatures.
How black mustard is applied
Black mustard seeds can be crushed and used to create a poultice that is applied to the chest (a mustard plaster) or to the feet.
To create a mustard plaster: Mix together four ounces of freshly ground mustard seeds and a half cup of warm water; beat into a thick paste. Add wheat flour if needed to make the mix thick. Spread on dampened gauze or flannel and apply to the chest, back, or feet for ONE MINUTE. Remove the mustard plaster and check for reddened skin. Continue to check every minute for the first five minutes. Don’t leave the mustard plaster in place if skin begins to redden; remove after no more than twenty minutes, and only if patient is conscious and comfortable. After removal, smooth olive oil on the skin to reduce irritation.
To make a black mustard foot bath: Add one full tablespoon of crushed Black mustard seeds to two pints of boiling water and let steep and cool before adding to the foot basin.
Other uses of black mustard:
Black mustard seeds are a diuretic.
Black mustard is sometimes used in homeopathic treatments for upper respiratory and gastro-intestinal conditions.
In India, black mustard tea is served to improve bronchitis, fever, or cold misery, as well as muscular and skeletal pain.
To make black mustard tea, mix one teaspoon of Black mustard flour in one cup of coiling water and let steep for five minutes. Drink a cup of the tea three times daily.
Black mustard is also used in India to treat hemorrhoids. Powdered black mustard seeds are mixed with goat milk or fresh yogurt and applied to the affected area.
Warnings and cautions about black mustard:
Black mustard’s seeds, if ingested, can cause kidney and gastro-intestinal distress. This herbal remedy should be used only under the guidance of an experienced healthcare professional. Black mustard oil is one of the most powerful herbal caustic agents known to man. Even getting a tiny drop of this oil on the skin can cause a burning sensation and skin blisters, so it must be handled with caution.
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