Mustard seeds (Rajika), used every day in dal, vegetables, and pickles, are not something everyone likes the taste of, yet no kitchen can do without them. As an integral part of the traditional Indian diet, Rajika holds its own distinct place as a medicinal substance as well.
The mustard plant, about one and a half to two feet tall, looks very beautiful when in flower. Known in Sanskrit as “Rajika” or “Raji”, it is also called “Tikshnagandha” because of the sharp aroma it releases when tempered in hot oil. Since it stimulates appetite and taste, it is also called “Kshudhajanika”, and because of its anti-parasitic property it is known as “Krimihat”. There are three types of mustard — red, black, and white — of which black mustard is the most commonly used.
Because mustard is so pungent, mustard (rai) oil is sometimes adulterated into regular mustard-seed oil.
In taste, Rajika is bitter and pungent. In its qualities it is hot, dry, and heavy. Although it aids digestion, it is itself heavy to digest, which is why it is generally used only after being tempered in hot oil. Because of its heating nature, it is less suitable for people of Pitta constitution, those living in hot regions, and those prone to acidity-related problems. People who anger easily or have an irritable temperament should keep their use of mustard to a minimum.
Mustard-leaf greens are pungent, hot, tasty, appetizing, and Pitta-provoking. They help relieve throat ailments caused by Vata, worms, and Kapha. In winter, and in very cold regions, mustard-leaf greens make an especially suitable food.
Rajika reduces swelling, relieves pain, has anti-parasitic action, aids digestion, and destroys Vata-related colic pain; in larger doses it also induces vomiting. It is also considered beneficial in disorders involving enlargement of the liver and spleen. Various classical Ayurvedic texts describe the following medicinal uses of Rajika:
- To induce vomiting in poisoning – When vomiting needs to be induced after poisoning, drinking one teaspoon of mustard powder with water brings on vomiting, which helps expel the poison from the body.
- Pain – For pain anywhere in the body, grind mustard finely and apply it as a slightly warm paste; this also helps if the body feels stiff.
- Aamvata (Rheumatoid Arthritis) – Applying a paste of mustard alone, or mustard combined with guggulu, reduces swelling and brings relief from pain.
- Swelling – A paste of mustard is beneficial in the Kapha-type and Vata-type swellings described in Ayurveda.
- Cough – For a Kapha-type cough with excess phlegm, taking equal parts rock salt and sugar along with about 1 gram of honey helps loosen the phlegm and relieves the cough.
- Common cold – Take a pinch of mustard powder with honey repeatedly through the day.
- Stomach pain – For abdominal pain, drink mustard ground in sesame oil, optionally with a little rock salt mixed in.
- Coldness of the body – When the body turns cold for any reason, a gentle massage over the whole body — especially the soles of the feet and the palms — with mustard powder generates warmth and restores sensation.
- Stye – Mix mustard powder with ghee and apply it around a stye, taking care that none enters the eye.
- A splinter or piece of glass in the skin – Applying mustard powder mixed with ghee and honey helps draw out a splinter or piece of glass lodged in the skin.
- Hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body) – An oil prepared using a paste of mustard powder is used for therapeutic massage in such conditions.
- Underarm swelling/lump – Applying a paste of jaggery, guggulu, and ground mustard together helps in resolving an underarm swelling or lump.
- Epilepsy – Administering fine mustard powder as a Pradhamana Nasya (medicated nasal insufflation), done properly under expert guidance, gives quick relief during a fainting episode of epilepsy.
- Skin diseases – For Kapha-type skin conditions such as scabies, eczema, itching, and ringworm, mixing mustard powder into eight times its quantity of washed cow’s ghee and applying it as a paste brings relief.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the main medicinal properties of Rajika (Black Mustard Seed)?
Rajika reduces swelling, relieves pain, has anti-parasitic properties, aids digestion, and destroys Vata-related colic pain.
How is mustard used in cases of poisoning?
Drinking one teaspoon of mustard powder with water induces vomiting, which helps expel the poison — however, in a serious case of poisoning, going to a hospital immediately is the most important step.
How is mustard used for skin diseases?
For skin conditions like scabies, eczema, itching, and ringworm, mixing mustard powder into eight times its quantity of washed cow’s ghee and applying it as a paste provides relief.
Dr. Nikul Patel (B.A.M.S.)
307, 3rd Floor, Shalin Complex, Above Farki Lassi, Krishnabaug Char Rasta, Maninagar, Ahmedabad – 380008
Timings: 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM | Saturday–Sunday: Closed
📍 Clinic Location — Google Maps