Хрін

Armoracia rusticana (Lam.) Gaertn.

Cabbage family — Brassicaceae, or Cruciferae — Cruciferae

 

What does it look like? Perennial herb 50-120 cm tall. Horseradish leaves are large, basal, long-petioled, oblong-oval, somewhat heart-shaped, serrated at the edges. The flowers are small, white, four-petalled. Fruits are pods, which rarely mature in our country. Propagated by roots. Blooms in June – July.

Where does it grow? In the cities. In the wild, it is common in wet meadows, near streams. A valuable bactericide.

What and when are collected? Roots are dug up in autumn (September-October), washed and stored like other root crops.

When is it used? Grated horseradish is used as a seasoning for dishes, especially meat. The roots contain carbohydrates, alkaline, nitrogenous substances, fats, they contain a lot of vitamin C, phytoncides, glycoside sinigrin, which gives horseradish its spicy taste, and volatile allyl mustard oil, which irritates the skin.

Horseradish is used as a medicine for scurvy, anemia, and because of that, it acts as a diuretic, for dropsy, urinary retention, and bladder stones, as well as for chronic rheumatism, gout, and jaundice. Horseradish stimulates the appetite, increases the secretion of gastric juice. It also acts as an expectorant for cough with sputum. Alcohol tincture of the roots is used for malaria. Juice squeezed from grated horseradish with sugar, bread or honey is consumed no more than 1 teaspoon per day, because in larger doses it can cause irritation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines (severe symptoms of gastroenteritis) and excite the nervous system. Therefore, it is not recommended to use it as a seasoning for dishes with gastritis, enterocolitis and nephritis.

 

For scurvy, a tendency to bleeding, as well as for exhausting mental and physical work, tincture is used in wine or beer (1 teaspoon of grated horseradish per 1 glass of wine or beer) — 1 teaspoon three times a day for a long time. Horseradish in the form of porridge in a bag or tincture on vinegar or vodka is used for compresses, it increases blood circulation in various diseases, similar to mustard. It is used to treat sciatica, lower back pain (hold the compress for less than an hour). Horseradishhas a strong antimicrobial effect, and therefore the aqueous infusion of its roots is used for washing, rinsing and compresses for inflammatory processes—it accelerates the healing of old purulent wounds and ulcers. In case of toothache, sore throat, rinse the mouth and throat with juice squeezed from grated horseradish diluted with water. In case of purulent discharge from the ear, undiluted juice is instilled into the ear.

In cosmetics, a water infusion of horseradish roots removes freckles (swallows), spots and tan on the face.

And also pay attention to the article Horseradish ordinary

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