Mustard: composition and properties

Mustard: composition and properties
 Mustard is an annual herb with small yellow flowers. Known since ancient times. There are different kinds of mustard. In Russia grows mainly "mustard".

Mustard seeds are rich, especially fatty oil - where it contains about 40% by weight. Furthermore, there essential oils, vitamin PP, trace elements, unsaturated fatty acids, enzymes, and various glycosides.

As a culinary and therapeutic use of mustard goes back thousands of years. The ancient physicians used mustard as a diuretic and to improve digestion. In addition, based on it did ointment for wound healing, ingested in certain diseases of the respiratory tract, in case of poisoning. Modern medicine also uses mustard. And as the "official" medicine, and folk, where there are many recipes treatment with it.

Famous mustard, familiar to many millions of people are powder - floured cake remaining after extraction of fatty oil from mustard seeds, and applied to the paper. They are used to this day for the treatment of diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as well as asthma, hypertension, rheumatism, angina ... oil, in an alcoholic solution, has been successfully used in the treatment of various inflammations, rheumatism and radiculitis. Mustard powder can also be used in the treatment of colds, particularly in its initial phase. Very effective hot foot bath with mustard powder. Ointments and solutions on the basis of mustard powder and, thanks to its disinfecting effect, can be successfully used in the treatment of certain skin diseases such as psoriasis, neurodermatitis, mycosis.

Of course, mustard has its contraindications. For example, to use it in food should be careful in very small quantities, otherwise there may be serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract. The same people who suffer from gastritis, gastric ulcer, diseases of the oral cavity (eg, stomatitis), it is better to abandon the use of food seasonings.

Tags: properties, composition, use, contraindications