Mustard: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

• These little black or brown seeds have a warming and stimulating effect on the digestion and lungs. A wonderful home remedy for nipping the onset of a cold in the bud.

• Dı-pana: Appetiser
• Pa-ka: Digestive
• Kr.: mina-śaka Vermicide
• Agnivardhana: Increases the appetite
• Anuloma: Redirects the flow of vata downwards
• Biomedical: Carminative, vermicide, expectorant, analgesic, rheumatic

Contraindications: Signs of heat, inflammation and; high pitta

Safety: No drug–herb interactions known.

Dosage: 1–6g per day dry or 1–6ml per day of a 1:3 @ 25% tincture.

Combinations:

• Dry ginger, guduchi, pippali, black pepper for low digestive fire.
• Pippali, pushkaramoola, anthrapachaka for lung congestion and high kapha.
• Guggulu, myrrh, frankincense for arthritis with amavata.

Rasa (Taste): Pungent

Virya (Energy): Heating

Vipak (Post-digestive effect): Pungent

Dosha effect: Calms Vata and Kapha; provokes Pitta in excess

The most powerful action of mustard seeds is to assist in healing the bronchial system. They are very helpful with sprains and pains or to help get rid of intestinal worms. Mustard is also a digestive. Mustard oil is strongly aromatic and heating, best used in cold climates. Yellow mustard seeds have similar properties but are milder.

• For bronchial asthma: Take 1 teaspoon of brown mustard oil mixed with 1 teaspoon of natural sugar, 2 or 3 times a day on an empty stomach. Or try a tea made from 1/4 teaspoon each of ground mustard seeds and pippali or black pepper with 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey. Rubbing mustard oil on the chest can also give relief.
• For persistent cough: Mix 1/2 teaspoon each of ground mustard seeds and ginger powder with 1 teaspoon of honey, eat slowly 2 to 3 times a day.
• For skin itching: Apply mustard oil to the area an hour before bathing. Do not use on very sensitive tissue.
• For ankle sprain, muscular or arthritic pain, or edema: Soak feet or hands in hot water with a mustard seed tea bag (2 teaspoons of seeds tied in cloth). Rub mustard oil on sore arthritic joints to dissolve friction-causing crystals.
• For muscle pain: Apply a poultice made from mustard seed pulp spread on thick cotton to the site of pain. Do not put seeds directly on skin.
• For enlarged spleen: The mustard poultice also helps reduce pain and size of an enlarged spleen.
• For intestinal worms: Make a mixture of 1 teaspoon ground mustard seed, 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne and a very small pinch of hing. Put in "OO" size capsules, take 1 after each meal for 15 days. Take 1 tablespoon of aloe vera juice with each capsule to calm pitta.