Mustard: Benefits, Uses & Dosage

The small black or brown seeds that pop in hot oil at the start of so many Indian dishes are also one of Ayurveda's most practical home remedies. Mustard (Sarshapa) has a warming, stimulating effect on digestion and the lungs, and it is a traditional way of nipping the onset of a cold in the bud.

Botanically, the seeds come from Brassica nigra and Brassica juncea. Sanskrit texts know mustard by several names, including Sarshapa, Siddharthaka and Rajika. Yellow mustard seeds have similar properties but are milder.

Mustard shows up across the classical texts, sometimes as medicine and sometimes as a unit of measure: the Sharangadhara Samhita notes that three Rajikas make one Sarshapa. Mustard oil is strongly aromatic and heating, and it is best used in cold climates.

Mustard is pungent and bitter in taste, heating in potency (Ushna Virya), and light, dry and penetrating in quality. It calms Vata and Kapha but can provoke Pitta in excess. Those properties explain where it helps.

Lungs and Breathing

The most powerful action of mustard seeds is said to be helping heal the bronchial system. It is traditionally used for asthma, persistent cough and lung congestion, where its heat and penetrating quality cut through heavy Kapha. Its modern description as an expectorant fits this use.

Digestion

Mustard is an appetiser (Dipana) and digestive (Pachana) that increases appetite and redirects Vata downward (Anulomana). That is why it is used for indigestion, gas and abdominal distension.

Muscles, Joints and Swelling

Used externally, mustard is a classic for sprains and strains, muscle pain, arthritic joints and edema, through soaks, poultices and oil rubs.

Intestinal Worms

Mustard is a vermicide (Krimighna) and is used to help get rid of intestinal worms.

Skin, Ear and Spleen

Mustard oil is applied for skin itching, a mustard poultice is used to reduce the pain and size of an enlarged spleen, and the Sushruta Samhita describes mustard oil (Sarshapa Taila) for filling the ear with warm oil, a practice used in hearing loss.

Mustard is used as dried seed internally, and as oil, soaks and poultices externally. The general dose for the dried herb is 1 to 6 g per day, or 1 to 6 ml per day of a 1:3 tincture at 25% alcohol.

Helpful Combinations

• With dry ginger, guduchi, pippali and black pepper for low digestive fire.
• With pippali, pushkaramoola and anthrapachaka for lung congestion and high Kapha.
• With guggulu, myrrh and frankincense for arthritis with toxin build-up (Amavata).

For muscle pain, spread mustard seed pulp on thick cotton as a poultice. Do not put the seeds directly on skin.

Mustard is a common kitchen spice and is well tolerated in culinary amounts. Its main limitation comes from its heat.

Who Should Avoid It

Mustard is contraindicated when there are signs of heat or inflammation, or high Pitta. Because it is heating and can provoke Pitta in excess, people prone to acidity, burning sensations or inflammatory skin should use it sparingly.

Drug Interactions

No drug and herb interactions are known for mustard. If you take prescription medicine, it is still sensible to mention any regular herbal use to your doctor.

External Use

• Do not put mustard seeds or pulp directly on the skin; wrap the poultice in thick cotton.
• Do not apply mustard oil to very sensitive tissue.
• Never use mustard essential oil in place of cold-pressed mustard oil; it is far too concentrated and caustic.
• Never put oil in the ear if there is a perforated eardrum, discharge, infection or recent ear surgery.

Mustard is often weighed against its own variants and against the warming spices it is combined with. Here is how they compare, based on our sources.

Mustard is also paired with pippali or black pepper in a honey tea for bronchial asthma, again as a combination rather than a substitute.

Our sources give only limited population-specific guidance for mustard, so this section errs on the side of caution.

Pregnancy & Nursing

Our sources do not give guidance on medicinal doses of mustard during pregnancy or nursing. Culinary amounts in food are a normal part of many diets, but ask your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using concentrated remedies, capsules or tinctures. Because mustard is heating, avoid it if you have signs of heat or high Pitta.

Children

Medicinal use in children should be supervised by a qualified practitioner, and oil in the ear should only be used under supervision. Never put seeds directly on a child's skin.

Elderly

Mustard's warming, Vata-calming nature can suit cold, stiff joints, but ear oil use in older adults should also be supervised. Check skin sensitivity before poultices or oil rubs.

Athletes

Mustard's external uses fit sports recovery well: hot-water soaks with a mustard seed tea bag for ankle sprains and muscle pain, and a cotton-wrapped poultice applied to the site of pain.

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.