Monday, September 7, 2009

Mustard Seeds





Botanical Name : Brassica alba
Indian name : Mustard

Mustard is one of the oldest spices and one of the most widely used. The Chinese were using mustard thousands of years ago and the ancient Greeks considered it an everyday spice. All mustards, and they are legion, derive from three members of the cabbage family, two of them closely related. The close relatives are nigra, or black mustard, which can grow as tall as 7 ft, and juncea, or brown mustard. Both plants bear small round seeds, although brown mustard has largely replaced the black type because its smaller size makes it easier to harvest. These mustards have the strongest flavor; black mustard in particular is prized for the distinctive taste it lends to the cuisines of India.

Usage
Black mus­tard is more im­portant as a spice and oil plant, espe­cially in India (see also sesame about veg­etable oils in general). Indian mustard oil is really essen­tial for the authentic flavours of several Indian regional cuisines; it is widely used in Kashmir, Maharashtra and neighbouring Goa.

Attributed Medical Properties
This well known spice has its use in medicine as a stimulating external application. The rubefacient action causes a mild irritation to the skin, stimulating the circulation in that area and relieving muscular and skeletal pain. Its stimulating, diaphoretic action can be utilized in the way that Cayenne and Ginger are. For feverishness, colds, and influenza, Mustard may be taken as a tea or ground and sprinkled into a bath. The stimulation of circulation will aid chilblains as well as the conditions already mentioned. An infusion or poultice of Mustard will aid in cases of bronchitis

1 comment:

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