Mustard seed (Brassica nigra / Brassica alba / Sinapis alba)
Synopsis of mustard seed
Mustard seed refers to the small round seeds produced by several plants in the Brassicaceae family, most notably Brassica nigra (black mustard), Brassica juncea (brown/Indian mustard), and Sinapis alba (white/yellow mustard). These seeds are commonly used as a culinary spice, but they also have a long-standing role in traditional medicine and herbalism.
Medicinally, mustard seeds are valued for their stimulant, rubefacient (skin-reddening), diaphoretic (sweat-inducing), and expectorant properties. The seeds contain glucosinolates, most notably sinigrin, which are enzymatically converted to isothiocyanates—bioactive compounds known for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and potentially anticancer effects. Allyl isothiocyanate, in particular, contributes to mustard’s pungent odor and its physiological effects.
Topically, mustard seed poultices and plasters have historically been used to draw blood to the surface of the skin and relieve deep muscular pain, congestion in the chest, and inflammation. Internally, mustard seed has been used in small doses to stimulate digestion, increase appetite, and promote circulation. In higher doses, it acts as an emetic or purgative and is generally avoided for prolonged internal use due to gastrointestinal irritation risks.
Mustard oil, pressed from the seeds, also has a role in traditional medicine and massage therapy, particularly in South Asia, where it is used for rheumatism, skin infections, and hair health. The seeds’ warming properties make them common in formulations for cold-related ailments and sluggish circulation.
Historical Use
Mustard seeds have been used for thousands of years in both food and medicine. Records show mustard’s medicinal application in ancient Greek and Roman medicine—Hippocrates reportedly used it in poultices, and Pliny the Elder noted its use for scorpion stings and snake bites. Dioscorides, a Greek physician and herbalist, recommended mustard seed for increasing circulation and as a remedy for bronchitis and toothaches.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), mustard seed is classified as warming and acrid, used to treat cold phlegm in the lungs, asthma, and arthritis. Similarly, in Ayurveda, mustard is considered a heating spice, believed to stimulate agni (digestive fire), promote sweating, and relieve kapha-type disorders such as congestion and sluggish metabolism.
In European folk medicine, mustard plasters were common household remedies for chest colds, rheumatism, and lumbago. These external applications persisted well into the 19th and early 20th centuries, where mustard was part of standard home nursing kits for stimulating blood flow and relieving pain.
Mustard seed is used for these health conditions
Abdominal Pain (Traditional)
Arthritis (Traditional)
Asthma (Traditional)
Backache (Traditional)
Bites and Stings (Traditional)
Bronchitis (Traditional)
Bruises (healing) (Traditional)
Burns and Scalds (Traditional)
Cancer (natural therapy for) (Traditional)
Cancer (prevention) (Scientific)
Canker Sores (Traditional)
Carbuncles (Traditional)
Cardiovascular Disease (Scientific)
Chills (Traditional)
Cholesterol (high) (Traditional)
Circulation (poor) (Traditional)
Colds (decongestant) (Traditional)
Colds (general) (Traditional)
Colds (prevention) (Traditional)
Congestion (bronchial) (Traditional)
Congestion (lungs) (Traditional)
Congestion (sinus) (Traditional)
Dandruff (Traditional)
Diarrhea (Traditional)
Digestion (poor) (Traditional)
Dyspepsia (Traditional)
Ear Infection or Earache (Traditional)
Edema (Traditional)
Fever (Traditional)
Foot Odor (Traditional)
Gall Bladder (sluggish or removed) (Traditional)
Gingivitis (Traditional)
Gout (Traditional)
Hair Care (general) (Traditional)
Halitosis (Traditional)
Headache (general) (Traditional)
Headache (sinus) (Traditional)
mustard seed is used to support these body systems
Arteries (Traditional)
Blood (Traditional)
Circulatory System (Traditional)
Digestive System (Traditional)
Gastrointestinal Tract (Traditional)
Heart (Traditional)
Immune System (Traditional)
Intestinal System (Traditional)
Joints (Traditional)
Liver (Traditional)
Lungs (Traditional)
Respiratory System (Traditional)
Skin (Traditional)
Stomach (Traditional)
