Mustard: a spiritual and historical overview

Mustard is one of the oldest spices used by humans. According to an allegorical story by Gautama Buddha (c. 563-480 BC), the Buddha asked a grieving mother who lost her only son to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a family that had never lost a son, husband, father or mother. friend. When the mother could not find such a family, she realized that death is common to all and therefore she should not be selfish in her pain.

Also in the Qur’an, God declares that the scales of justice on Judgment Day will even measure the amount of a mustard seed, because God is the most efficient calculator. Jewish texts compare the knowable universe to the size of a seed. An intimate connection between the little mustard seed and faith occurs in the Bible, Qur’anic hadiths, and Hindu literature.

Brassica seeds have been discovered in tombs of pharaohs. They were thought to bring good luck. With the expansion of the Roman Empire, the seeds traveled to Gaul, Spain, and England. King Charlemagne introduced them to the gardens surrounding the monasteries of Paris, establishing the now famous industry in France. A 1634 law gave exclusive mustard production rights to Dijon, now famous for its mustard. In German folklore, brides sewed mustard seeds into their dresses to give them strength in their new home, perhaps because women were treated as subordinate to men and mustard brought good luck. In Northern Europe, mustard seed was said to ward off evil spirits.

Brassica seed is often used in herbal medicine. Hippocrates used mustard in many medicines and poultices. Pythagoras mentions mustard as a remedy for scorpion stings. Mustard was said to increase blood circulation. Mustard plaster helped increase blood flow to inflamed areas and thus accelerated healing. By bringing blood to the surface of the skin, mustard relieves headache, neuralgia, and spasms. Brassica was thought to be an aphrodisiac in Europe and China.

These condiments are not a frequently allergenic food, however, when ingested in large enough doses, they warm the body. Not just the taste, mustard was believed to have significant health benefits as well. Mustard was used to relieve toothaches, muscle cramps, blocked sinuses, and indigestion. French monks used mustard to treat wounds. A rubefacient poultice provided relief from rheumatic pain. The hot water that is poured over the bruised seeds is a stimulating bath that is good for sore feet, colds, and headaches. Mustard has been used to treat alopecia, epilepsy, snake bite, and toothache. The seed is also used internally as a digestive, diuretic, emetic, and tonic. Mustard oil is said to stimulate hair growth and is a popular hair oil in rural India. However, direct application of the oil is known to cause severe irritation.

There are three types of mustard popular in human consumption. The mildest are white mustard (Brassica alba), yellow mustard (Brassica juncea), and black mustard (Brassica nigra). Scientific studies aimed at validating traditional medicinal use have largely been conducted on Brassica nigra.