Horseradish for cold days |
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You are visiting your friend and his family on a lunch.
A rich meal is served and the small bowl contains horseradish sauce you have never eaten before.
You tell to yourself: "I've tried many things, so let’s give it a taste”.
Suddenly, tears fill your eyes and mucus start coming from your nose. You start blushing and rush off to the toilet.
After you have washed and blown your nose, you will sneeze a couple of times during lunch.
Well, you have taken too much sauce, since you did not know it was so strong.
Hotness is one of the main features of horseradish. It is often used in cooking during the holidays; probably for easier body cleansing because of the food we consume during holidays.
Apart from having a strong taste, horseradish has many medicinal properties.
An old Greek proverb says: "Radish is worth its weight in lead, beetroot its weight in silver, and a horseradish its weight of gold."
Horseradish typically grows in wetter areas. Its ancient home are lands in eastern and southern Europe, where it is still found growing in its wild form. From these areas the plant has spread throughout the world.
Wasabi, Japanese horseradish, has a taste similar to European horseradish. The only difference is that a wasabi is green, while horseradish is white.
Today, horseradish is probably one of the least used medicinal plants, which is essentially a real shame, since it has numerous beneficial effects on human health.
Healing properties of horseradish
In ancient times, horseradish was one of many medicinal plants mentioned in the writings of the famous natural scientist of the Roman Empire - Pliny the Elder called Armoracia.
Apart from the Romans, it was also used in the ancient Greece for solving problems related to back pain and for treating lack of sexual desire.
During the period of colonial America, it was considered as very effective and natural toothpaste.
Horseradish is rich in minerals and vitamins; it is great for body cleansing and anti-cancer effect in malignant diseases of the liver, colon and small intestine, esophagus and bladder.
It inhibits disease development because of its ingredients. These ingredients are glycoside sinigrin and allyl isothiocyanate, which are interesting to modern science for their antibiotic and anti-cancer effects.
Allyl isothiocyanate has positive effects on the spread of bacteria in food, which makes it a natural preservative.
Horseradish is rich in vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, iron and calcium, while magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin B2 are found in slightly smaller amounts.
In the winter, it will protect us from the cold, and clean up our respiratory pathways. Horseradish stimulates digestion, heartbeat and blood circulation, helps with rheumatism and raises our natural immunity.
Versatile application
When treating diseases or preparing meals using horseradish, we mostly use its root.
The root is always cut into rings or grated, and is never cooked, because essential oils it contains are destroyed in the process.
In order to get fresh and especially hot flavor, horseradish root should be put into water for 24 hours.
After that, grate it into the cream, soup or any dish of your choice. Hot and strong taste of horseradish will clear your sinuses and airways, regardless of heavy food you consume.
But if you have a sensitive digestion, and experience difficulties when eating spicy food, add some apples into the mixture to mitigate severe hot flavor of horseradish.
Use horseradish leaves for alleviating headaches by pressing it on afflicted areas.
Furthermore, grated horseradish root put into wraps will help against frostbites, wounds, stiff muscles, rheumatic joints and sciatica.
But do not use too much of it – it can cause skin blisters. If you have a problem with the thyroid gland and kidneys, it is recommended that you avoid using this herb.
About the author:
Goran Mizdrak is a teacher within the Divine Energy Park, spiritual organization for the development of awareness, health, nature and peace.
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