Mustard

Sarshapa (Mustard) is one of the most important oilseeds and condiments. Two main types: Rai (small brown/black mustard — Brassica juncea) and Sarson (yellow mustard — Brassica campestris). Mustard oil is the primary cooking medium in eastern and northern India. The seeds are used as spice (tempering/tadka). Mustard is hot, pungent, and light. It is excellent for pacifying Kapha and Vata. Mustard oil massage is widely used in winter for warmth and skin health. The seeds are also used as poultice for pain relief. The oil contains erucic acid which in excess may be harmful (cardiac effects noted in animal studies). Black mustard (Brassica nigra) also exists. Sarson leaves (Sarson ka Saag) are a popular vegetable in Punjab. The oil has natural preservative properties. Verses: 77-80.

• Kaphavataghna (pacifies Kapha and Vata)
• Deepana (appetizer)
• Krimighna (anthelmintic)
• Kushthahara (anti-skin disease)
• Vedanasthapana (analgesic)

Sarshapa Taila – (mustard oil benefits) : कटू णं साषपं ती णं कफशु ा नलापहम ् लघु प ता कृत ् कोठकु ठाश णज तुिजत ् ५९ Sarsapa Taila – (mustard oil) is pungent, hot in potency, penetrating deep, mitigates (reduces) Kapha, semen and Anila (Vata), easy to digest, causes bleeding diseases, rashes on the skin, skin diseases, haemorrhoids, ulcers, and worms (bacteria etc).

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Drava Vigyaniya Drinkables

गु णं साषपं ब व मू ं सवदोषकृत ् Sarsapa (mustard) is not easily digestible, hot in potency, binds the faeces and urine and causes increase of all the dosas.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

jivanti is the best and sarshapa (mustard) is the worst among the leafy vegetables.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Annaswaroopa Food

Honey along with seeds of Pushkara, Honey, along with wine of dates (Maireya) and sugar Milk drinks along with Mantha (solution of corn flour) Turmeric with mustard oil is incompatible.

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Anna Raksha Vidhi

(long pepper, Amla, White mustard and black salt) त वेगानाम वतनम ् विृ तः स वब धा वा केवल यौषध य वा अयोग तेन न ठ वक डूकोठ वरादयः Less bouts – Ayoga - Non – commencement of bouts, bouts coming on with hindrance or elimination of the medicine only- are the features of Ayoga- inadequate bouts;

— Astanga Hridaya Sutrasthan, Vamana Virechana Vidhi

Lists 32 medicinal ingredients including aragvadha, haridra, nimba mixed with ox-bile and mustard oil for treating difficult skin diseases, leucoderma, alopecia, ringworm, fistula, piles, and papular eruptions.

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 3: External Applications & Skin Treatments (Aragvadhiya Adhyaya / आरग्वधीय अध्याय)

Two primary lipid sources: vegetable (sesame, mustard, coconut) and animal (ghee, oil, muscle fat, bone marrow).

— Charaka Samhita, Sutra Sthana — Fundamental Principles, Chapter 13: Oleation Therapies (Snehadhyaya / स्नेहाध्याय)

Now the patient should be asked to bring the drugs- Mulaka (radish), sarshapa (mustard), lashuna (garlic), karanja (pongamia), shigru (drum stick), madhu shigru (a kind of drumstick), kharapushpa(katphala or vana tulasi), bhustruna, sumukha(a type of tulasi), surasa(type of tulasi), kutheraka(type of tulasi), gandira(Canthium parviflorum Lamk), kalamalaka(type of tulasi), parnasa(type of tulasi), kshavka(type of tulasi), phaninjaka(type of tulasi)- all or whichever are available, should be cut i

— Charaka Samhita, Vimana Sthana — Specific Medical Principles, Chapter 7: Signs of Morbidity (Vyadhita Rupiya Vimana / व्याधित रूपीय विमान)

Then those leaf-buds should be added to curd and blended with either two good grains of masha (Phaseolus radiatus Linn - black gram) or white mustard seeds, and then given to the expectant mother to drink.

— Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthana — Human Body & Embryology, Chapter 8: Guidelines for Lineage (Jatisutriya Sharira / जातिसूत्रीय शरीर)

Spontaneous appearance of various types of tila (black mole), piplu (port wine mark),vyanga (freckles), and raji (spots like mustard) on the face of the patient.

— Charaka Samhita, Indriya Sthana — Sensorial Prognosis, Chapter 1: Complexion and Voice Prognosis (Varnasvariyam Indriyam / वर्णस्वरीयम् इन्द्रियम्)

Three Rajikas make one Sarshapa (mustard seed), as stated by the wise.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 1: Paribhashakathana (Definitions)

One Yava (barley grain) equals twelve white mustard seeds (Gaura-sarshapa), as stated by the wise.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Purva Khanda, Chapter 1: Paribhashakathana (Definitions)

The method of purifying mercury (Parada Shodhana Vidhi): Place mercury in a mortar made of Rajika (mustard) and Lasuna (garlic — Allium sativum), bind it in cloth using the Dolika Yantra (swing apparatus), and heat it [with steam].

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

Then add Rajika (mustard), Lasuna (garlic), and Murva (Marsdenia tenacissima) with fresh acidic liquids.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

Along with curd, Sauvirakta (fermented gruel), sesame, and herbs like Kulattha (horse gram), Masha (black gram), Godhuma (wheat), Atasi (flaxseed), Tila (sesame), and Sarshapa (mustard).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Uttara Khanda, Chapter 2: Sveda Vidhi (Sudation Therapy)

Then, fumigate the wound area with powders of Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), Aguru (Aquilaria agallocha), Sarja-rasa (Vateria indica resin), Vacha (Acorus calamus), white mustard (Sinapis alba), mixed with salt and Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves, and anoint the vital points with ghee (18).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 5: Agropaharaniya Adhyaya - Surgical Instruments and Procedures

For Kapha wounds: hot, dry, with mustard.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 18: Vrana-alepa-bandha Vidhi Adhyaya - Wound Poultices and Dressings

Those kumbhika nodules that swell up when burst — they are discharging, itchy, heavy, resembling red mustard seeds, painful nodules — these are known as pothaki.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 3: Vartmagata Roga Vijnaniya Adhyaya (Chapter on Diseases of the Eyelids)

With musta, haridra (turmeric), madhuka (licorice), priyangu, white mustard, lodhra, utpala (blue lotus), and sariva — ashchyotana (eye drops) should be prepared, and the anjana should be clay-based.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 12: Raktabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Blood-type Conjunctivitis)

These combined with mustard oil as anjana — when applied, night-blindness and related conditions are destroyed.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 17: Drishtigata Roga Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Diseases of Vision / Drishti Roga)