30-3-2012   "MEDISCHE" MIERIKS WORTEL [HORSE RADISH]

Medische eigenschappen van mieriks wortel

"Medical" Horseradish : Chazeret according to Ashkenazi tradition, used on leil ha-seder [pesach evening]

 


Horseradish = Armoracia rusticana= Cochlearia rusticana= Dutch: Mierik [s] wortel]
This plant is a member of the brassica/cabbage family[see below] and It  really has nothing to do with horses.
In old English horse meant: coarse, that is inedible and we all may all understand now why................when used as maror [ashkenazi minhag] during the pesach seder .
We will discuss here more the medical virtues of horseradish which has been used as a medicine for centuries.
Let's sum up here some of the uses and expand on these further in the article :
Sinusitis,  Common cold, Coughs,  Whooping cough,  Asthma, Bronchitis, Allergies,  Hay fever,  Bacterial infections, Sore throat  Cancer,,Urinary tract infections  Arthritis   Rheumatoid arthritis, Gout,  Digestive problems, Gallbladder problems, Circulatory problems.
Used as a food in traditional amounts horse radish is in general safe even  for long-term use.
Don't use horseradish for small children [under 4, as advised in the literature] and be careful with it if you suffer from a ulcer or chronic kidney disease.[can be irritating]
Avoid it also if pregnant or breastfeeding or use then only very little bits.
In the 17th century one find the following statement in a book: ....... "the root, sliced thin and mixed with vinegar is eaten as a sauce with meat, as among the Germans." 
As a medicine [tincture etc] you may want to ask for medical advise.
For the various "prescriptions" [way of preparing and using it]: see below
As it contains  a compound called sulforaphane ,it is a highly protective food against cancer  [ like other foods rich in sulporaphane such as sprouts,broccoli,watercress]  especially when eaten together with fish or poultry or other compounds rich in selenium  [ like eggs nuts,mushrooms,sunflower seeds etc]
Belonging to the brassica  family ,which includes cabbage and mustard, one might have thought that it may suppress thyroid function but this has not been shown to be the case in general.
Maybe with a real under function [hypothyroidy] of the thyroid one should not frequently use it.
Horseradish is a very reliable remedy for sinus infections. it promotes expulsion of mucus from the upper respiratory passages. .
If you are prone to developing sinus infections, try taking horseradish the moment you feel a catching cold  to prevent mucus from accumulating in the sinuses
Horse radish is highly protective against food born illness [E.coli, listeria,  staphylococcus aurea etc] preventing one from getting a gastrointestinal infection. 
It helps the digestion by increasing stomach acid.
By stimulating bile production from the gallbladder, horseradish assists  in digesting fatty foods and relieving gastrointestinal problems and helps in cases such as indigestion, colitis, poor appetite and flatulence.
It helps as a diuretic  [stimulates urine production] in some cases of edema and in urinary tract infections where it also has an antibiotic effect.
As it is a very strong diuretic it was employed by old herbalists against stone forming [kidneys,gallbladder]
Externally it can be used for inflamed joints and muscle pains in general and also may help to heal infected wounds.
If you wish you can buy the tincture [mother tincture of horse radish and dab a wound with it or make a infusion and uses a piece of cloth soaked in the infusion on the wound.
Against [chronic] inflamed gums ,  one can chew grained horseradish. It can be mixed with carrots to modify the sharp taste.  
For ingrowing toenails and inflamed skin around the nails [paronychia] local applied horse radish is of great help .
Horseradish seems also to stimulate circulation whether used internally or externally. Taken internally, it helps against poor circulation which can cause cold hands and feet
 and also may improve general weakness.
Side effects: May cause vomiting, upset stomach or excessive sweating if consumed in large amounts.
Even a tiny taste of this potent food seems to penetrate straight  your nose and your brain........
Now we will discuss some ways in which the horseradish can be used  in some of the above mentioned [or not yet mentioned ] conditions 
Horseradish or "prepared horseradish" generally refers to the grated root of the horseradish root mixed with vinegar. 
Grate the horseradish in a food processor or blender. (You can use a grater, but tearing eyes and stinging nose may make you bless your blender........]
Add honey or sugar and vinegar : about 2 tablespoons honey or sugar and 1 tablespoon vinegar per cup of horseradish.
Tincture: Buy in a pharmacy
Herbal Tea:[infusion] Steep 1 teaspoon fresh grated horseradish in hot water and sip for congestion. Add honey, lemon, to improve the taste.
For respiratory problems related to allergies, such as hay fever or  for persistent coughs.
use this tea.
In stead of a tea one can also make a Maceration [hashra-a]:  leave 20-30 gram of the fresh root in 1 litre of wine for 10-15 days and drink2-3 wineglasses per day
Horseradish syrup : grained horseradish root is mixed with 4 spoons of honey and let stand for several minutes. Strain the mixture through a gauze and express the gauze. The raw syrup is obtained. The remains from the gauze are are boiled in a small quantity of water and then strained and then left to cool off, after which this is mixed with the raw syrup.Take 3 spoons of the mixture a day.
Soak a cloth in horseradish tea and apply the cloth to a wound. Discontinue if the skin gets irritated .
Use : 20-30 gram of fresh root to 1 liter of water.
You can also use a tea as a foot bath or hand bath to relieve chilblains
For bladder infections, mix 3-4 tablespoons of the fresh grated root with apple cider vinegar and honey to taste. Take the whole amount throughout the day.
For sinus infections: If you can "stand it" hold  1/4 teaspoon of the freshly grated root in your mouth until all the taste is gone.One will feel a immediate relieve from the pressure in the  sinuses and the infection will start  clearing up.
Or: Take 1/4 of a teaspoon of horseradish tincture , straight or in warm water. Repeat the dosage every hour or so to clear head congestion.
And for the biologists: horseradish peroxidase, found in the plant, is used extensively in molecular biology for antibody detection, among other things
An happy and healthy Pesach for all the jewish readers.