Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Brassica nigra (L.) K.Koch

Family

Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Black Mustard

Arabic Name(s)

khardal خردل

Hebrew Name(s)

khardal
kruv shakhor

חַרְדָּל
כְּרוּב שָׁחֹר

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Other Uses

Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Brassica nigra (L.) K.Koch

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cardiovascular	Chest pain	Analgesic	1. Grind seeds, mix + vinegar, prepare plaster/ poultice & apply to chest. 2. Mix powdered seeds into foot bath.	Seed	Z
Cardiovascular	Weak heart	Cardiac	Mix powdered seeds into bath water & take a whole body bath.	Seed	Z
Child Health	Sudden coldness in infants causing body to turn blue	Rubefacient	Add powdered seeds to hot bath & immerse infant in water for 2 min. (See NOTES 1)	Seed	Z
Dermatological	Chapped hands & feet	Emollient	Mix powdered seeds + soap suds & massage.	Seed	Z
Dermatological	Cold limbs & peripheries	Rubefacient	Mix powdered seeds into foot bath.	Seed	Z
Dermatological	Eczema	Anti-inflammatory	Extract oil (also known as "zeit el-tartar" or tartar oil) from Brassica seeds, (See NOTES 2) mix + olive oil & apply ointment externally.	Seed	Z
Dermatological	Open/ burst pimples & purulent skin lesions	Anti-Infective, Vulnerary	1. Mix 1 teaspoon of powdered seeds + little honey (can also add lard) to make ointment & apply to pimple for few hours. 2. Add warm water to 200 gm of powdered seeds to form a suspension. After 30 min add to hot bath & stay in the bath for 10 min.	Seed	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Ear inflammation	Anti-Infective	Extract oil from seeds ("zeit el-tartar" or tartar oil) (See NOTES 2) & cook + scorpions & apply externally as ear drops. (See NOTES 3)	Seed	Z
Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT)	Tonsilitis/ sore throat/ hoarseness & other oral cavity disturbances	Anti-Infective, Demulcent	1. Mixed powdered seeds into a footbath. 2. Apply powdered seeds as plaster/poultice over neck & throat. 3. Gargle using x3 teaspoons of powdered seeds mixed with hot water.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain	Carminative	Make compress with powdered seeds, add + na'na (mint) & apply to umbilical area. (See NOTES 1.)	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Gastric acidity	Antacid	Apply compress of powdered seeds to abdomen especially stomach area. (See NOTES 1.)	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Gastric ulcer	Anti-ulcer	Apply compress of powdered seeds to abdomen especially stomach area. (See NOTES 1.)	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Improve appetite/ digestion & relieve gas/ distension	Carminative, Digestive, Stomachic	Eat powdered seeds.	Seed	Z
Gastrointestinal	Inflammation of digestive tract	Anti-inflammatory, Demulcent	For internal use add 1 tablespoon of powdered seeds to 1 cup warm water. (Admin. not specified.)	Seed	Z
General	Fever	Anti-pyretic	Soak towel in hot water containing x2-3 teaspoons of powdered seeds & wrap towel around body.	Seed	Z
General	Swollen glands (lymph nodes)	Anti-Infective	1. Mix x1 teaspoon of powdered seeds + little honey (can also add lard) to make ointment & apply to affected area for few hours. 2. Add warm water to 200 gm of powdered seeds to form a suspension. After 30 min add to hot bath & stay in bath for 10 min.	Seed	Z
Helminth infections	Worms; exterminates them	Anthelmintic, Vermifuge	Add 1 tablespoon of powdered seeds to 1 cup warm water & drink.	Seed	Z
Infectious Diseases	Measles	Anti-Infective	Soak towel in hot water containining x 2-3 teaspoons of powdered seeds & wrap around body.	Seed	Z
Medical Preparations	Prepare plaster/ poultice (See also other Complaints/Uses for Brassica nigra.)	Poultice	1. Mix powdered seeds in warm water & apply to wet cloth spread with flour dough/ paste (so that the powdered mixture sticks to cloth). Warm cloth & apply it to skin. Remove after 5-30 min according to patient`s tolerance. 2. Can also add powdered linum (flax) seeds to above & apply poultice to the affected area.	Seed	Z
Medical Preparations	Preparing hand/foot bath. (See also other Complaints/Uses for Brassica nigra.)	Hand/foot bath	Make suspension of x2 teaspoons of powdered seeds in warm water, add to hot water & immerse hands or feet for 10 min. CARE: If severe irritation & reddening of skin with blisters develops, stop bath immediately & rinse skin with hot water. (See also CAUTIONS)	Seed	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Back pain	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	1. Grind seeds, moisten + water, spread on cloth & apply as a compress to back for about 15 min. (See NOTES 1.) 2. Apply seed oil to painful area.	Seed	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Rheumatism	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	1. Add powdered seeds to foot bath & immerse x1/day over a prolonged period. 2. Prepare compress of crushed seeds & apply to painful area for 15 min until area is stimulated (irritated). 3. Extract oil from seeds ("zeit el- tartar" or tartar oil) (See NOTES 2) & apply as ointment to painful area. Can also mix + olive oil.	Seed	Z
Nervous System	High blood pressure from cerebral haemorrhage	Hypotensive	Eat x2 seeds every morning for few days.	Seed	Z
Nervous System	Migraine, dizziness & headaches	Analgesic	1. Mix powdered seed into footbath. 2. Apply powdered seeds as bandage to back of head or forehead.	Seed	Z
Nervous System	Sciatica (ischias)	Analgesic	Apply compress to painful area for 15 min until area is stimulated (irritated).	Seed	Z
Nervous System	Tremor	Nervine	Apply seed oil to hands.	Seed	Z
Pain relief	Body ache & headache	Analgesic	Grind seeds, mix + vinegar, prepare plaster/poultice & apply to aching parts of body & forehead. (See NOTES 1.)	Seed	Z
Poisoning	Poisoning; induce vomiting	Emetic	Add 1 tablespoon of powdered seeds to 1 cup of warm water & drink.	Seed	Z
Respiratory	Asthma	Anti-asthmatic	1. Add powdered seeds mixed in water to bath & immerse. 2. Add powdered seeds to foot bath. 3. Grind seeds & eat x1 teaspoon/day.	Seed	Z
Respiratory	Cold/ runny nose/ fever	Anti-Infective, Anti-catarrhal, Anti-pyretic	Prepare poultice/hot compress of powdered seeds & apply to back & back of neck. (See NOTES 1.)	Seed	Z
Respiratory	Cough	Anti-tussive	Cook seeds slowly for several hours + Myrtus seeds + dry almond peels + dried figs + nabat sugar (see NOTES 2) + brown sugar + carob fruit to obtain jam-like substance; eat mornings x1 teaspoon/day.	Seed	Z
Respiratory	Pertussis (whooping cough) & Bronchitis	Anti-Infective	Prepare poultice/ hot compress of powdered seeds & apply to chest. (See NOTES 1.)	Seed	Z
Respiratory	Pneumonia	Anti-Infective	1. Add powdered seeds mixed in water to bath & immerse. 2. Prepare poultice/hot compress of powdered seeds & apply to back & chest.	Seed	Z
Venoms, Bites & Stings	Snake bites & stings; induces vomiting	Emetic	Add 1 tablespoonful powdered seeds to 1 cup of warm water & drink.	Seed	Z
Womens Health	Induce abortion	Abortifacient	Immerse in hot mustard bath (using seeds) mornings for x3 days while drinking mixture of 5-6 onions cooked in brown outer peel + "henna" (Lawsonia inermis) +? teaspoon cinnamon.	Seed	Z
Womens Health	Promote menstruation	Emmenagogue	Add powdered seed to full bath or sitzbath. (Admin. further details not specified).	Seed	Z
Wound Healing	Skin lesions & wounds	Vulnerary	Make compress of crushed seeds & apply to affected area. (See NOTES 1.)	Seed

Other Uses

Brassica nigra (L.) K.Koch

System/State	Complaint / Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/Administration	Parts Used	Source
Culinary	Seasoning	Seasoning	Eat powdered seeds.	Seed	Z

System/State

Complaint / Use

Activity / Interpretation

Traditional
Preparation/Administration

Parts Used

Source

Culinary

Seasoning

Eat powdered seeds.

Seed

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.

Notes

1. Brassica nigra seeds are used in making plaster/poultice & compresses for a number of complaints. Their preparations are described separately (See Glossary: Medical Preparations) Z notes that in preparing a hand or foot bath with Brassica nigra seeds, the patient may develop severe skin irritation, inflammation & blisters. In this case the bath should be stopped & skin rinsed with hot water. (See also CAUTIONS.)
2. Z identifies oil from Brassica nigra seeds as tartar oil or “zeit el tartar”. However tartar oil is concentrated potassium carbonate K2CO3 solution.
3. The use of animals parts (scorpions) in the recipe for ear drops is dangerous & not recommended
4. Nabat sugar used in some recipes is crystalline sugar formed by dissolving sugar granules in water & slowly vaporizing it.

Cautions

Oral ingestion of large amounts of Brassica nigra can be irritating & cause bowel impaction & severe inflammation. External use (>15 minutes) can cause severe burns & should not be applied to children less than 6 yrs old or patients with renal disease as oil is absorbed through the skin. Contraindicated in gastrointestinal tract ulcers & nephrosis. Hyperthyroidism is linked to isothiocyanates in Brassica nigra