Charlock – uses and health benefits

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Field mustard , a wild mustard plant, is used in the kitchen and is also used in traditional herbal medicine. The Bach flower mustard is obtained from field mustard. However, the plant is considered a nuisance weed on fields, its preferred growth spots.

Definition and Occurrence

Wild mustard belongs to the cruciferous family and is an annual plant. In the grain fields, it often causes a great deal of damage. Therefore, it is mostly unpopular with the farmers. It is also popularly known as wild mustard. The herbaceous plant can grow 20 to 60 centimeters tall, with the roots often being a meter deep. Like all cruciferous plants, the yellow flower has four petals.

Wild mustard can be easily distinguished from similar plants that also have yellow flowers by its rough and lobed hairs. The sepals stand out horizontally. The plant flowers from May to October and is actually not native to our districts. It was introduced through the seed trade. The plant now grows all over the world in temperate latitudes. It prefers nutrient-rich and alkaline soils, where it occurs in large numbers, especially along roadsides, in fields, meadows, in fallow land or in open fields.

The seeds often germinate for years. However, they only do this on the surface, for example when plowing up fields where the plants mix with the grain. The large, vigorous charlock can produce 25,000 seeds that can continue to grow for many years or even decades. If you want to collect and use the plant yourself, harvest the ripe pods of the fruit and shake out the mustard seeds to then store them in a jar.

Ingredients, effect and dosage

Wild mustard contains protein , lots of minerals , provitamin, mustard oil glycosides and vitamin C. The plant is therefore very popular in the kitchen. The seeds are either mixed with those of the white mustard or the finely chopped leaves are used as a spice. The flower buds of the herb can also be eaten. The herbaceous parts have to be cooked for a long time before they can be used as vegetables, for example.In particular, the young leaves of the field mustard can be used to prepare a tasty wild vegetable or to refine salads and quarks. It should be noted that the leaves are pungent and therefore not suitable as the main ingredient in a salad, but rather as a flavorful addition. Fine sprouts can be grown from the seeds to be eaten fresh.

In cosmetics, mustard oil serves as a good base for various soaps. Field mustard is also often used in naturopathy, because it stands for clarity and a finding of meaning. It sets positive and energetic impulses. As a Bach flower mustard, it is helpful in the right dosage for depression, listlessness, melancholy or chronic fatigue. The Bach flower essence can be used as a tea or bath additive, for example.

With a longer application, the field mustard contributes to the increase of well-being and the increase of the zest for life. Since it takes a few weeks for the effect to kick in, patience is required. Field mustard has other positive effects in horticulture: Thanks to the sulfur content, harmful bacteria and fungi can be killed in the soil. Wild mustard also loosens up heavy soils. For this it is not necessary to plow it under, it is enough to simply let it grow.

What does field mustard help against?

importance to health

Since wild mustard is milder than ordinary mustard, it is more suitable for blood circulation in somewhat more sensitive skin. The seeds are pounded to a pulp for this purpose, in order to put them on for a maximum of half an hour. To avoid skin irritation, it is advisable to apply a greasy cream before applying the mass. The blood circulation-promoting properties of the oil are also used in Ayurvedic medicine, for example for skin care and massages .

The pads can also be used for sore throats, bronchitis, joint pain and rheumatic complaints. Internally, the field mustard works for digestive problems and stimulates the metabolism. Therefore, it can also bring improvement with a loss of appetite. Field mustard is also known for its pain-relieving effect . Therefore, the seeds are often used in poultices to relieve tension, rheumatic pain, lumbago or other musculoskeletal problems. However, the oils irritate the skin and generate heat and should therefore not be used on open wounds or inflammation, but only on pain , for which the heat provides an improvement in symptoms.

Dorothy Farrar

Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.

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