(Garden). Tropaeolum majus. German: Kapuziner-kresse. French: Capucine grande. Spanish: Nasturcia. Italian: Asturzia. Aerial parts used.
Constituents: mineral salts including iodine, iron, phosphates and a sulpho-nigrogenous oil.
Action: antibiotic, antitussive, diuretic, expectorant.
Uses: lung emphysema (fresh juice drunk in milk). Bronchitis, colds, influenza, dry cough. Cystitis, bladder disease. Alopecia – fresh juice rubbed into the scalp is said to stimulate hair growth. Wounds (external use).
Preparations: Thrice daily.
Tea: 2-3 bruised fresh leaves to cup boiling water. Infuse 15 minutes. Dose: one-third-1 cup.
Tincture: 1 part fresh leaves and flowers to 5 parts 45 per cent alcohol (Vodka, gin, etc). Macerate 8 days; shake daily. Filter. Bottle. Dose: 1-3 teaspoons in water.
Tromacaps. (Dr Madaus, West Germany) Antibiotic resistant pneumonia; monilial infections of the genito-urinary tract; acute pyelitis. Adults and children over 8 years: on the first day 2 capsules thrice daily; thereafter 1 capsule thrice daily.
Diet. Its pungent flavour adds a zestful stimulant to a salad. Eaten for general health and especially for skin infections.
R. Br.
Synonym: Rorippa nasturtium- aquaticum (Linn.) Hayek.
Family: Cruciferae; Brassicaceae.
Habitat: Cultivated in Bengal, Orissa and Punjab.
English: Watercress.
Folk: Piriyaa-Haalim (Punjab), Latputiyaa (Maharashtra).
Action: Leaves—antiscorbutic, expectorant (used in catarrh of the respiratory organs), diuretic (used in kidney and bladder disorders), detoxifying. A lotion of leaves is applied to blotches, spots and blemishes. Fresh herb is used as a blood purifier.
Key application: For catarrh of respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)Watercress contains vitamin A 4720 IU, ascorbic acid 77 mg/100 g, also thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and biotin; mineral matter 2.2%—calcium 290, phosphorus 140, iron 4.6 mg/100 g, also sulphur, iodine, manganese, zinc, arsenic and copper; proteins 2.9%, amino acid composition includes leucine, phenylalanine, valine, lysine, tyrosine, alanine, threonine, glutamic acid, serine, aspartic acid, cystine, methionine sulphoxide and proline.The glucosinolate phenethyl isothio- cyanate, which is released upon chewing the leaf, is a chemopreventive agent against lung cancer. (cited in Expanded Commission E Monographs.)Watercress is contraindicated in gastric and duodenal ulcers and inflammatory kidney diseases. (Francis Brinker.)... nasturtium officinale
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