Herbs and plantsBlack mustard — grandmother’s home remedy for cough and pain?
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- Mustard seed (Sinapis Alba Linn) attenuates imiquimod-induced psoriasiform inflammation of BALB/c mice. · J Dermatol 2013
- [Expression of NLRP3 inflammasome in BALB/c mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation and therapeutic effect of mustard seed (Sinapis Alba Linn)]. · Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao 2013
- Antimalarial activity of 80 % methanolic extract of Brassica nigra (L.) Koch. (Brassicaceae) seeds against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. · BMC Complement Altern Med 2015
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Ground seeds can be mixed with water, oil, or alcohol and applied as a paste that warms the skin and stimulates local circulation.
- Henryk Różański also describes taking small doses by mouth; he says they stimulate digestion and bile secretion and have an expectorant effect.
What the authors write
Ground seeds can be made into a paste and applied to the skin near sore muscles, nerves, and joints.
Mustard seed paste and other mustard preparations applied to the skin are said to bring relief from neuralgia and muscle and joint pain.
Ground seeds taken by mouth are said to stimulate the secretion of bile and digestive juices; Henryk Różański recommends caution and small doses.
Henryk Różański also attributes an expectorant effect to mustard when taken by mouth and mentions its use for infections of the bronchi, throat, nose, and sinuses.
Black mustard seeds irritate the skin and increase blood flow to it; Henryk Różański links this group of remedies with faster healing of inflammation in the tissues beneath the skin and relief from referred pain.
Ground seeds were also used in mustard plasters applied to the skin.
Research from PubMed · Europe PMC
We selected 3 studies with the best, positive results. This is a selection, not a full review of all research.
Total number of studies on this topic in PubMed: 11.
In mice, a diet containing mustard seeds reduced the symptoms of psoriasis-like skin inflammation, but did not eliminate them completely.
Aim of the study: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with undefined etiology. All present treatments are symptomatic.
Results: Mustard seed, consumed largely as a spice and a medicine in China, has recently been found to possess the bioactivities of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anticancer. Therefore, it was supposed that mustard seed may have effects on psoriasis, and it was preliminarily validated using a BALB/c mouse model of psoriasiform inflammation induced by the topical application of imiquimod cream (Aldara) for 6 days consecutively.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In mice, mustard seeds reduced markers of psoriasis-like skin inflammation, suggesting a possible anti-inflammatory effect.
Aim of the study: To investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation in mice and the therapeutic effects of mustard seed (Sinapis Alba Linn).
Results: Compared with the blank control group, the mice with imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation showed significantly increased NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and caspase-11 mRNA expressions, ASC and caspase-1 protein expressions , and serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 (P<0.05). These changes were obviously attenuated by feeding the mice with mustard seed. NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like inflammation in mice, and mustard seed may suppress the inflammation induced by IL-1β and IL-18 through down-regulating the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
In mice, black mustard seed extract showed antimalarial activity in models of infection suppression and prevention.
Aim of the study: Resistances to currently available drugs and insecticides, significant drug toxicities and costs and lack of vaccines currently complicated the treatment of malaria. A continued search for safe, effective and affordable plant-based antimalarial agents thus becomes crucial and vital in the face of these difficulties.
Results: Chemosuppressive activities produced by the extract of the seeds of Brassica nigra were 21.88, 50.00 (P < 0.01) and 53.13 % (P < 0.01), while the chemoprophylactic activities were 17.42, 21.21 and 53.79 % (P < 0.05) at 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract, respectively as compared to the negative control. Mice treated with 200 and 400 mg/kg extract were significantly (P < 0.05) lived longer and gained weight as compared to negative control in 4-day suppressive test. From this study, it can be concluded that the seed extract of Brassica nigra showed good chemosuppressive and moderate chemoprophylactic activities and the plant may contain biologically active principles which are relevant in the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria, thus supporting further studies of the plant for its active components.
“Not stated” does not mean nobody paid — the database does not always record it.
Perspectives and opinion materials
The content below presents the authors’ opinions, interpretations and hypotheses. It is not treated as equal to scientific studies and systematic reviews.
Pisaczek does not judge who is right. It shows what was written and where to read it. Every sentence above has its source.