Mustard (Yellow)

Other names: white mustard seed, yellow mustard, kedlock

Scientific name: Sinapis alba

Common names:

Ayurvedic names: Asuri, Bimbata 

Chinese name: Ta-chiech

Bangladesh names:  Sada sorse

Arabic names:  الخردل (al khardal)

Rain Forest names:

Family: Fabaceae

Approximate number of species known:

Common parts used: Seeds

Collection:

Annual/Perennial: Annual

Height: 30–60 cm

Actions: condiment, Digestive, emetic, irritant, laxative, pungent, stimulant,

Known Constituents:

Constituents Explained:

Description: 

Traditional Use:

A very common food condiment.  At high doses it is used as an emetic.  For this purposes a teaspoon has been put into boiling water.  The water is then allowed to cool, and it is drunk.

Commonly mustard is used in foot baths to draw blood away from the upper body and to the feet.  In cases of kidney irriation it is used as an external poultice on the kidneys, sometimes under glad wrap.  A plaster is sometimes made with one part mustard to four parts whole wheat flour. If it burns too much the plaster must be removed.  Sometimes to avoid blistering the mustard instead of being mixed with whole wheat, it is mixed with egg whites.

Clinical Studies:

A study determined if a therapeutic regimen of twice-weekly applications of mechlorethamine (nitrogen mustard) hydrochloride and betamethasone dipropionate cream is effective in the treatment of early-stage mycosis fungoides while increasing cutaneous tolerance.

Sixty-four consecutive patients with newly diagnosed early-stage mycosis fungoides were studied. Patients were treated with twice-weekly applications of a 0.02% aqueous solution of mechlorethamine followed by an application of betamethasone cream during a 6-month period.

The primary end point was the rate of complete response during the treatment. Secondary end points were mean delay to achieve complete response, rate of severe cutaneous reactions of intolerance, and rate of relapse after achieving complete response.

Thirty-seven patients (58%) had a complete response. A regimen of twice-weekly applications of mechlorethamine and betamethasone cream is an effective treatment for early-stage mycosis fungoides. The decreased frequency of applications provides an advantage to the patient by being easy to use with limited adverse effects.

Reference:

de Quatrebarbes J, Esteve E, Bagot M, Bernard P, Beylot-Barry M, Delaunay M, D’Incan M, Souteyrand P, Waillant L, Cordel N, Courville P, Joly P. “Treatment Of Early-Stage Mycosis Fungoides With Twice-Weekly Applications Of Mechlorethamine And Tpical Corticosteroids: A Prospective Study.” 2005 September http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16172308