W
leaf decoctions. LD50 (50% ethanolic extract pl) = >1000 mg/kg ipr mus (MPI). I like FAY’s term
here for “migrating arthralgia,” that’s what I called my Lyme Disease arthrosis, in the spring of 2000.
Here today, there tomorrow, but always unbearable pain in unsuspecting places, unusually placed for
me. Doxicylin or serendipity took it away. This spring, it was the bad apple syndrome.
WHITE MUSTARD (Sinapis alba L. ssp. alba) ++Synonyms: Brassica alba (L.) Rabenh., B. hirta Moench, Sinapis alba cv. melanosperma Alef.
Activities (White Mustard) — Allergenic (1; APA); Antibacterial (1; APA; PH2); Antidote,
narcotic (f; FEL); Aperitif (f; DEM); Canifuge (1; APA); Counterirritant (1; APA; PNC); Decon-
gestant (1; APA); Backache (1; APA); Digestive (f; APA); Diuretic (f; FEL; PNC); Emetic (f; PNC);
Emmenagogue (f; CEB); Felifuge (1; APA); Fungicide (1; APA); Gastrotonic (f; CEB); Goitrogenic
(1; APA); Pancreatonic (f; CEB); Rubefacient (1; APA; PNC); Stimulant (f; PNC); Stomachic (f;
WOI); Tonic (f; DEM); Vesicant (1; APA).
Indications (White Mustard) — Acid Indigestion (1; APA); Ague (f; DEM); Amenorrhea (f; CEB;
FEL); Angina (f; FEL); Anorexia (f; DEM); Apoplexy (f; FEL); Arthrosis (2; APA; KOM; PH2);
Asthma (f; DEM); Backache (1; APA); Bacteria (1; APA; HH2; PH2); Bronchosis (f; DEP; PH2;
PNC); Cancer (f; JLH); Cancer, abdomen (f; JLH); Cancer, colon (f; JLH); Cancer, spleen (f; JLH);
Cancer, stomach (f; JLH); Cancer, throat (f; JLH); Cancer, uterus (f; JLH); Carcinoma (f; JLH);
Cardiopathy (f; FEL); Catarrh (2; KOM); Chlorosis (f; CEB); Cholera (f; FEL); Cold (2 PH2);
Colic (f; FEL); Coma (f; FEL); Congestion (1; APA; FEL; PH2); Constipation (1; APA; FEL);
Cough (f; PH2); Cramp (f; FEL); Croup (f; DEM); Debility (f; CEB); Dropsy (f; DEM); Dyspepsia
(1; APA; DEP; FEL); Endothelioma (f; JLH); Enterosis (f; PH2); Epigastrosis (f; FEL); Epithelioma
(f; JLH); Escherichia (1; HH2); Fever (f; CEB); Flu (f; DEP); Foot Ache (1; APA); Fungus (1;
APA); Gastrosis (f; FEL; PH2); Head Cold (f; DEP); Infection (1; APA); Inflammation (f; PH2);
Lumbago (1; APA); Meningosis (f; FEL); Myalgia (f; DEP); Mycosis (1; APA); Nephrosis (f;
DEM); Neuropathy (f; DEP; WOI); Neurosis (f; WOI); Pain (f; FEL; PH2); Palsy (f; DEM);
Paralysis (f; PHR; PH2); Phthisis (f; DEM); Pleurisy (f; FEL; WOI); Pneumonia (f; WOI); Pul-
monosis (f; HH2); Respirosis (1; APA; PH2); Rheumatism (2; DEP; KOM; PH2); Rhinosis (f;
DEP); Sarcoma (f; JLH); Sinusosis (1; ABS); Sore (f; PH2); Sore Throat (f; JLH); Splenosis (f;
JLH); Staphylococcus (1; HH2); Streptococcus (1; HH2); Swelling (f; PH2); Tuberculosis (f; HH2);
Typhoid (f; CEB); Typhus (f; FEL); Uterosis (f; JLH); Voice (f; PH2); Vomiting (f; PH2); Water
Retention (f; FEL; PNC).
Dosages (White Mustard) — 4 tbsp seed flour in water for compress or poultice (KOM); 20–30
g powdered seed flour/liter water for foot bath; 150 g seed flour in a pouch with bath water for
mustard bath (PHR); 60 to 240 g powdered seed “to brighten and clear the voice” (PH2).
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (White Mustard) — Class 2d (AHP). Inges-
tion of large quantities can cause irritant poisoning. Commission E reports seed permitted for
external use only. Contraindications: children younger than 6 years and those with renal disease
(mustard oil is absorbed through the skin). Even an external poultice should be limited to 5–10
minutes pediatrically, 10–15 minutes for adults, less for sensitive patients (KOM). Plaster for 15–30
minutes can cause severe burns (AHP). Adverse effects: skin and nervous damage (prolonged use).
Should not be used for more than 2 weeks (AEH). Contraindicated in GI ulcers and nephrosis
(PHR). Overdoses cause GI distress (PHR). Long-term dosing may cause nerve damage (PH2).
“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) (and PH2 suggests
as much as 240 g dry seed to clear the voice (PH2). Hyperthyroidism with goiter traced “to the
use of the isothiocyanates in mustard” (APA). Delaneyite nitpickologists will doubtless clamber to
put the same goitrogenic warning on all members of the mustard family, as well as papaya, caper,
and nasturtium.