Healing Arts: Use of Mustard for Pneumonia & Congestion

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HEALING ARTS

Use of Mustard for Pneumonia & Congestion

 

by Daniel E. Andrews, III, M.D.

http://www.danzan.com/HTML/INST/he0002.html

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The Chinese believe food is our medicine and our medicine is our food.

Of course, they are not speaking of modern medicine, but of herbs.

 

One such " herb " is mustard. It is our food and our medicine. Mustard

can be used internally (on food) and externally as a treatment for

muscular aches and respiratory congestion.

 

" Mustard " is a common name to describe several types of this plant.

Sinapsis Alba is white mustard that tends to be a shade of yellow.

Brassica nigra is black mustard and is sometime known as " brown

mustard " . When the mustard seeds are harvested, crushed and mixed with

water, the characteristic smell and flavor are released.

This " mixing "

also generates heat and releases volatile compounds. It is the heat and

the volatile compounds released in the " reaction " that are responsible

for the healing properties of mustard.

 

It is interesting to me that mustard plants grow between the grape

vines near our home in the Napa Valley. Some locals are said to use the

seed to make their own home grown mustard.

 

www.pinewoodkarate.com/about.htm

 

My paternal grandmother, Granny Andrews used mustard to treat our

family with mustard plasters.

 

This old remedy is made by combining powdered mustard and flour with

water. One tablespoon of powdered mustard is mixed with four

tablespoons of flour to make a small mustard plaster. Warm water is

then slowly added to the dry mustard and flour mixture. Only enough

tepid water is added to make a paste. The paste is then spread on a

wash cloth in a thin layer. This step is similar to icing a cake. A

second wash cloth is then added on top to cover the mustard and flour

paste. This sandwich of " wash cloth-mustard paste-wash cloth " is now an

official mustard plaster. This heating plaster is immediately applied

to the injured or congested area.

 

In a chest cold or pneumonia, apply the plaster to the posterior (back) of

the chest.

 

The " heat " of the mustard plaster can be reduced by adding more flour

or less mustard.

Some people have very sensitive skin and need a protective coat of olive oil

applied to the skin before the mustard plaster.

 

 

In India and China, mustard is used directly on the skin. A paste is

made with mustard and water. This paste is applied directly

to the injured area. The paste is reapplied several times. The

mustard paste causes a local skin reaction.

This action of " bring the blood to the skin " is known as a rubefacient or

counter-irritant.

 

Powdered mustard is sometimes mixed in a bath tub of hot water. The

patient soaks his body in the mustard bath. It is important to shower

after the mustard bath to remove all the mustard.

When using mustard for healing, use caution. Don't make the

concentration too strong. Monitor the results carefully.

 

Don't put the mustard plaster on a family member or friend and walk away.

Never use near the face or eyes. Have soap and water nearby to wash off the

mustard if an unpleasant reaction develops. Don't use on any one who

is allergic to mustard or has broken or irritated skin. I recommend

you find a person who has had experience with the use of mustard for

healing. This person could be your sensei, a family member or licensed

herbalist.

 

As with any self healing measure, see your doctor if the symptoms

persist. Good luck on your studies of the healing arts.

 

Daniel E. Andrews III, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Kancho, Pinewood Karate

Founder, Napa Valley School of Massage

 

www.pinewoodkarate.com

 

 

Mustard Plasters

 

Plasters are oily or waxy mixtures blended with herbs and applied to

the back or chest to stimulate internal organs. In times past, the

mixture was spread onto a cloth and rolled tightly for storage. Then,

when needed, it was unrolled and applied.

 

Never fall asleep while using a plaster unless there is someone to

watch it. Do not leave on longer than ten or fifteen minutes.

 

 

Recipes

 

Mustard Plaster

1 tablespoon powdered Mustard

4 tablespoons flour

Moderately hot distilled water

Wheat germ oil

 

Place a large washcloth or handkerchief on a plate. Mix the mustard and

flour together to form a thin paste, spread on the washcloth or

handkerchief, and fold the corners together to form a flat pack. Apply to

the affected area and cover with plastic wrap to prevent staining clothing

or bedding.

 

Cover with a folded towel to retain the warmth. The mustard may warm up

slowly. If, after five minutes, greater warmth is desired, apply a hot water

bottle.

 

Be sure to check the skin every few minutes to make sure it is

not becoming too red. The total treatment time should be not more than

twenty minutes.

 

After the procedure,

wipe the skin with a soft cloth or cotton ball dipped in olive oil to

remove all remnants of the mustard.

Cover the area with a clean towel and leave on overnight.

 

This treatment should be performed in the evening so that the patient

can rest with its effects through the night. It stimulates the

circulation deep within the tissues and is particularly useful as a

treatment for irritated kidneys when placed on that area.

 

 

For those with sensitive skin, the water in the formula can be replaced

with an equal quantity of egg whites. This will prevent blistering.

Mustard is available in varying potencies, ranging from mild to very

hot. Thus, the condition of the skin must be watched carefully and the

poultice removed if the skin becomes too red or irritated.

 

http://www.innvista.com/health/herbs/modeuse/mustardp.htm

 

Good Old Mustard Plaster

by Traute Klein, AKA biogardener

 

Mustard plaster is a tried and proven first aid solution for pneumonia and

respiratory complaints.

 

 

Origin of the Mustard Plaster

 

I keep getting email requests for mustard plaster. It has been a

Canadian folk remedy, but I do not know where it originates. It is not

a remedy which I remember from my European childhood, and I hope that one of

my readers will be able to tell me where the practice originates.

I do suspect northern Europe, because mustard is a common weed in that part

of the world and mustard condiments are prevalent in

every northern European country.

 

Mustard Plaster to the Rescue

 

January 1962. I was teaching in a small southern Alberta town and

boarding with a family who treated me like a daughter. Here I was, sick

as a dog with the flu, barely able to breathe.

 

My landlady, of Swedish origin, knew what would help me. She made a

concoction which I had

never heard of before and it worked. Here is the recipe, as I have used

it many times:

 

Put a tight-fitting T-shirt on the patient and tuck her into bed.

Tear a peace of old flanelette off an old pair of pyjamas, nighty, or

diaper, about 12 " x 6 " .

Mix 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seed powder with 1 tablespoon of flour.

 

Use either bought mustard seed powder or grind your own seeds.

 

Add cool water to the mixture gradually till it turns into a paste.

Spread the paste on half of the flanelette.

Fold over the flanelette.

Place on a plate and warm in an oven or microwave to take the chill

off.

 

**Only warm slightly. Excess heat will turn the plaster into a brick.

Place the pack on the patient's chest and secure with the T-shirt.

Tuck patient back into bed.

Check occasionally to make sure the skin does not turn raw.

 

If you are alone and have no one to monitor the skin color while you

are asleep, be sure to set an alarm clock to wake you,

because you don't want to turn into a boiled lobster.

 

You can vary the mustard/flour ratio depending on the patient's skin

sensitivity and on the length of time you intend to leave the plaster

on. I like to make it very mild and leave it on all night. That way, I

won't have an accident if everyone should fall asleep and we all forgot

about the mustard.

 

Another Emergency Decongestant

Garlic, Wonder Drug

A decongestant which produces results within 10 minutes even in severe

asthma attacks.

http://www.geocities.com/allergylifeline/005.html

 

Mustard packs aid breathing

 

BY ROSE POST

SALISBURY POST

 

 

I had called Horizons Unlimited with a question, but as soon as Pat

Smith heard my voice, she hit me with her own question.

" I read that column about Ruth Miller, " she said, " but I don't know

what a mustard pack is. "

 

" A mustard plaster, " I said. " It's a, well, it's ... "

 

What is a mustard plaster?

 

" I thought I knew what it was when I wrote that, " I told her, " but now

- sort of a predecessor to a heating pad, maybe? "

That sounded pretty weak to me. And to her, too.

 

" I bet you 85 percent of the people read that whole article to find out

what it was, " Pat said. " I remember my grandmother used to use Vicks

when I was little. On the jar it said not to put it under your nose,

but we did. It's a wonder we're not all dead. But what is a mustard

plaster? "

 

" I'll let you know, " I said, and called Ruth, retired guidance

counselor at East Rowan High School. She'd told a wondrous tale of

survival during the devastating flu epidemic of 1918. She's 82 now, but

then she was a baby so sick with the flu that her doctor sat beside her

bed till midnight and finally gave up.

 

She would die by morning , he said. Other sick people needed him, so he

filled in her death certificate and signed it and told her father to

fill in the time. And he left.

 

As soon as he was gone, her parents began applying mustard plasters

feverishly, and by morning her fever had broken. The crisis was over.

 

She would live.

 

And a mustard plaster is ... ?

 

" It's just regular yellow mustard that's dry, " she explained. " You wet

it and put it on flannel. White flannel is what my mother and father

used.

 

INFORMATION FOR RAW MUSTARD PATCHES 10 UNITS.

 

 

http://www.herbhealer.com/store/productdetail.asp?ProductID=1 & ParentI

 

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The mustard plaster alleviates discomfort in the irritated local nerve

ending of the skin. Mustard plaster are effective against acute

respiratory diseases, pneumonia,

muscle aches and soreness, strains in

the lumbar and hip areas, joint pains, strained ligaments, bone loss

caused by medical treatment, angina, and gout, contusions of soft

tissues. Mustard plasters are for external use only.

 

Recommended usage: Dip the plaster of the required size into water

heated to a temperature of 37C / 98F for 15 to 20 seconds, then apply

it to the skin. To increase the effect, cover with a plastic film and

tightly press the plaster against the body by using an elastic bandage

or another dressing. Maintain the plaster for 5 to 20 minutes or until

a stable red coloration of the skin appears. For children the duration

can range from 2, 3, 5 or 10 minutes, depending upon the age of the

child.

 

Note:

For adults the length of treatment depends on the patient's sensitivity. If

a strong burning sensation develops, decrease

the pressure of the plaster on the body or remove it.

 

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity, not-intact skin pigments,

festering sores, skin rashes, broken skin, moist eczema, and psoriasis.

 

Black Mustard

 

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Latin name: Brassica nigra

Other names: Brown Mustard, Red Mustard

 

Applied externally, Black Mustard is used in the treatment of bronchial

pneumonia and pleurisy. Homeopathic practitioners use it for runny

nose, hay fever, and sore throat.

 

What It Is; Why It Works

Black Mustard's medicinal effects stem from a potent oil released when

the powdered seeds are mixed with warm water. Dubbed

allylisothiocyanate, this oil is very strong.

 

Mustard has been in use for well over 2,000 years. The ancient

Greeks attributed its discovery to Aesculapius, the father of

medicine--an indication of the high esteem in which it was held. The

Romans ate mustard pounded and steeped in new wine. Later, the Saxons

are believed to have used it as a condiment.

 

Avoid If...

Do not use Black Mustard if you have ulcers, vein problems, or kidney

disease. Also, do not administer to children under the age of 6.

 

Good Old Mustard Plaster

Author: Traute Klein, AKA biogardener

Published on: January 15, 2004

 

Related Subject(s): Mustard -- Seeds -- Therapeutic use , Mustard --

 

Therapeutic use

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/natural_health/28308

 

The Origin of Mustard

 

I keep getting email requests for mustard plaster. It has been a North

American folk remedy, but I am not sure where it originates. It is not

a remedy which I remember from my German childhood, but my readers are

telling me that their European ancestors from various parts of Europe

knew about it.

 

 

Good Old Mustard Plaster to the Rescue

 

And now the story of how I got to learn about mustard plaster.

January 1962. Here I was, sick as a dog with the flu, barely able to

breathe. My landlady, of Swedish origin, knew what would help me. She

made a concoction which I had never heard of before and it worked. Here

is the recipe:

 

 

Put a tight-fitting T-shirt on the patient and tuck her into bed.

Tear a piece of old flannelette off an old pair of pyjamas, nighty, or

diaper, about 12 " x 6 " .

Mix 1/2 teaspoon of mustard seed powder with 1 tablespoon of flour.

 

Use either bought mustard seed powder or grind fresh seeds.

Add cool water to the mixture gradually till it turns into a paste.

Spread the paste on half of the flannelette.

Fold over the flannelette.

Place on a plate and warm in an oven or microwave to take the chill

off. (Only for comfort and can be skipped if not convenient.)

 

Only warm slightly. Don't cook or else the flour will get hard.

Place the pack on the patient's chest and secure with the T-shirt.

Tuck patient back into bed.

Check occasionally to make sure the skin does not turn raw.

If you are alone and have no one to monitor the skin color while you

are asleep, be sure to set an alarm clock to wake you in a few hours,

 

because you don't want to turn into a boiled lobster.

You can vary the mustard/flour ratio depending on the patient's skin

sensitivity and on the length of time you intend to leave the plaster

on. I like to make it very mild and leave it on all night.

That way, I

won't have an accident if everyone should fall asleep and we all forgot

about the mustard.

 

 

Healing Properties of Mustard and Its Relatives

 

Mustard is a member of the crucifer family. Most members of that plant

family have common health benefits which have been known for centuries.

Here are a few I know:

raw cabbage is a rich source of vitamins sauerkraut has been used to

preserve the benefits into the winter

months and has prevented scurvy in sailors

sauerkraut juice is rich in enzymes and is used as one of the basic

ingredients of holistic anti-cancer therapies in Germany

radish juice is used as a respiratory decongestant in Chinese medicine

mustard greens are cultivated in the Southern US like spinach in the

north

the greens of rutabaga and turnips are richer in valuable nutrients than

other greens of the season

turnips and especially rutabaga keep well and extend their goodness

into the winter. I hope that my readers will be able to share some of their

own experiences with this wonder plant family.

 

 

Musterole

 

In response to the dozens of email requests for Musterole, I finally

dug up an old tube of a Canadian product which has the same effect as

Musterole. It relieves pain by heating the skin. It is called

Antiphlogistine or RUB A-535. My tube is over 20 years old, but I

checked at the pharmacy on December 2, 2002 and found about half a

dozen products by the name of RUB A-535. They had labels like HEAT,

ARTHRITIS, ICE, or CAPSAISIN which is cayenne pepper. It comes from

Carter Products Division of Carter-Wallace N. S. Inc., Missisauga, ON,

L5N 1L9.

If someone could find out if it is available in the US, please

email me or post a message in the discussion which follows this article

so I can inform my American readers who keep asking me about musterole.

 

Homemade Horseradish Remedy

 

My mother used to make the equivalent of Musterole from another member

of the mustard family. She cut horseradish root into a bottle and

filled the bottle with hard liquor. Makes a good rub for arthritis, but

I bet it would work like musterole, too. I have smelled and felt it

myself.

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