Botanical Index No. 1103

White Mustard

sinapis alba

Medicinal Actions

Colic, Allergenic, Antibacterial, Antidote, narcotic, Counterirritant, Decongestant, Digestive, Diuretic, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Fungicide, Gastrotonic, Goitrogenic, Pancreatonic, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic, Vesicant

Primary Conditions Treated

Acid Indigestion Ague Amenorrhea Angina Anorexia Apoplexy Arthrosis Asthma Backache Bacteria Bronchosis Cancer abdomen colon spleen stomach throat uterus Carcinoma Cardiopathy Catarrh Chlorosis Cholera Cold Coma Congestion Constipation Cough Cramp Croup Debility Dropsy Dyspepsia Endothelioma Enterosis Epigastrosis Epithelioma Escherichia Fever Flu Foot Ache Fungus Gastrosis Head Cold Infection Inflammation Lumbago Meningosis Myalgia Mycosis Nephrosis Neuropathy Neurosis Pain Palsy Paralysis Phthisis Pleurisy Pneumonia Pulmonosis Respirosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Sarcoma Sinusosis Sore Sore Throat Splenosis Staphylococcus Streptococcus Swelling Tuberculosis Typhoid Typhus Uterosis Voice Vomiting Water Retention Aperitif Canifuge Felifuge Rubefacient

General Dosage

4 tbsp seed flour in water for compress or poultice; 20–30 g powdered seed flour/liter water for foot bath; 150 g seed flour in a pouch with bath water for mustard bath; 60 to 240 g powdered seed “to brighten and clear the voice”.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2d. Ingestion of large quantities can cause irritant poisoning. Commission E reports seed permitted for external use only. Contraindications: children younger than 6 years and those with renal disease. Even an external poultice should be limited to 5–10 minutes pediatrically, 10–15 minutes for adults, less for sensitive patients. Plaster for 15–30 minutes can cause severe burns. Adverse effects: skin and nervous damage. Should not be used for more than 2 weeks. Contraindicated in GI ulcers and nephrosis. Overdoses cause GI distress. Long-term dosing may cause nerve damage. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages”. Hyperthyroidism with goiter traced “to the use of the isothiocyanates in mustard”. Delaneyite nitpickologists will doubtless clamber to put the same goitrogenic warning on all members of the mustard family, as well as papaya, caper, and nasturtium.

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