Nasturtium: Effect, application and cultivation of the medicinal plant

Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Pezibear

The nasturtium with its tendrils and bright flowers makes a lot of things in the garden and has several positive active ingredients. Find out everything about the effects, application and cultivation of nasturtiums here.

Full of vitamin C, promotes blood circulation and is also able to curb the multiplication of viruses, bacteria and fungi: these are the characteristics of the Great Nasturtium 2013 AwardArnica plant of the year“Help. But not only this species, nasturtiums in general have remarkable medical and pharmaceutical efficacy. This is mainly due to the mustard oil glycosides contained in the plants.

Nasturtium: Mustard oils have an antibacterial effect

Nasturtiums produce mustard oil gycosides as protection against predators and parasites. If the cells of the plants are injured, the hot-tasting ones result Mustard oils. It’s them too, for example radish and give horseradish their spiciness. The name of the nasturtium is also derived from its spiciness: “cress” is derived from the old German word “cresso” for spicy.

Mustard oils can be harmful to certain organisms such as fungi, viruses and bacteria and can curb their growth or even destroy them. That is why the nasturtiums antibacterial properties attributed to that can work against mild infections, such as the urinary or respiratory tract.

Studies have confirmed the antibacterial effect of the nasturtium and even came to the conclusion that the combination of nasturtium and horseradish root same healing effect as a light antibiotic can achieve. The active ingredients can be found in all parts of the plant: stems, leaves, flowers and seeds.

Internal and external application

Brings color and healthy mustard oils to the bread: the flowers of the nasturtium.

The use of nasturtium has proven particularly useful internally, especially for colds and urinary tract infections, and externally for muscle tension.

Internal application

The health-promoting and antibacterial mustard oils are only released by crushing the nasturtium, i.e. by chewing or cutting it up. They are completely absorbed by the body in the intestine. They are not intestinal damage, as is often the case with conventional antibiotics. Studies have shown that especially in combination with the active ingredients of horseradish effectiveness against bacteria, viruses and fungi:

  • Inflammation of the respiratory tract: The active ingredients have been found to be particularly effective against several bacteria that cause colds, bronchitis and sinus infections.
  • Urinary tract infections: It could also be shown that the mustard oils contained in the nasturtium in combination with the active ingredients of the meerretticsh against various for Urinary tract infections responsible bacteria can take action and destroy them.
  • Strengthening the immune system: Thanks to the high vitamin C content and mustard oils, eating nasturtium can strengthen the immune system and thus reduce the risk of infections.
  • digestion: Nasturtiums also affect sluggish digestion and can help with constipation.

External use

Thanks to the irritants it contains, mustard oils work on the skin when used externally tissue irritating and promotes blood circulation. This can be a desired effect with light muscle pain how aching and mild rheumatic complaints. Because the affected muscles are better supplied with blood, which can relieve pain. A juice squeezed from nasturtium or crushed fresh plant parts are applied to the corresponding skin areas and act there.

Eating nasturtium: recipe ideas

Insects such as bumblebees and bees are also happy about nasturtiums in the garden.
  • You can leaves and blossoms just pick from the plant in between and eat as a snack. Or you can garnish salads, soups and desserts with the flowers. The leaves taste a little spicier and herbaceous and can be cut into salads, herb curd, with potatoes or on bread. You can also put them in green smoothies or Pestos to process.
  • The immature, still closed Buds can you like Capers insert. To do this, rinse the buds, briefly bring to a boil with salt, vinegar and water and then pour everything together into a glass jar and close tightly while it is still warm.
  • Usually the plant parts raw or consumed pickled. Heating can lead to the mustard oils being destroyed and therefore not being able to develop their healing properties.
  • dose: Lower concentrations prevent the growth of bacteria, viruses and fungi, higher ones can even destroy these organisms completely. Although excessive consumption of nasturtium does not result in resistance to these pathogens, as can be the case with antibiotics, you should not overdo it with nasturtium. After all, mustard oils are irritants, which in very high doses are not necessarily good for the stomach and intestines. A dose of approximately is recommended 20-40 grams a day.

Cultivate, maintain and harvest nasturtiums

Nasturtium seeds.

Nasturtium is a medicine straight from the garden. You can plant, care for and harvest them yourself. This is how your “medicine” lands on your plate straight from the earth. The plant is usually one year old, as it is very sensitive to frost and not winter-resistant.

sowing

  • Planting time: It’s best to plant the seeds from middle of May directly into the field.
  • Location: The nasturtium is an undemanding plant. She likes a sunny to partially shaded location humus rich, loose and slightly damp soil. It doesn’t need to be too nutritious. It spreads as a carpet in the field or can climb trees, gates, fences and walls.
  • Action: Press the seeds about 2 cm either in rows or over a large area, the distance between the seeds should be 10 cm. They need between 10 and 20 days to germinate, in which time you should keep the soil well moist.

maintenance

At high temperatures in summer, the nasturtium needs water every day. If the flowers wither, you can remove them and thereby promote the growth of new flowers until the first frost occurs. You can then collect the seeds and keep them until next spring. compost is good for the nasturtium now and then.

harvest

Because the nasturtium grows very quickly, could The first leaves at the end of May already grown big enough that you can harvest them. From June at the earliest then the first show up blossoms. Immediately afterwards, you could also reach for the flower buds to insert them (see above). You will be able to harvest over the course of the summer as the nasturtium spreads happily.

Read more on Techzle.com:

  • Collecting, determining, eating wild herbs: 11 tips
  • 10 weeds to eat
  • These 7 medicinal plants are natural pain relievers and antibiotics

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