Horseradish
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Botanical Name |
Armoracia rusticana |
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Family |
Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) |
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Other Names |
A lapathifolia, Cochlearia armoracia, common horseradish, garden horseradish, raifort, red cole |
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Habitat |
Roadsides, waste ground, near water |
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Description |
Hardy perennial.50cm/2-3ft. Stems: erect, hollow, branching Leaves dark green, grow directly from ground large, slightly toothed crinkly. White flowers May - September. White tapering root |
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Native to |
Europe, Asia |
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Cultivated in |
North America |
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Parts Uses |
Leaf, root |
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Cultivation |
Well drained rich soil, sun or partial shade |
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Harvesting |
Root: winter |
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Preserving |
Store in sand |
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Actions |
Antibiotic, antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic, carminative, expectorant, laxative, rubefacient, stimulant |
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Extraction |
Water steam distillation of broken roots |
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Constituents |
75% Allyl isothiocyanate, phenylethyl isothiocyanate Glucosinolates –sinigrin, gluconasturtiin, glucoberteroin, glutocapparin, glucocheirolin, glucocochlearin, glucobrassicin Coumarins –scopoletin, aesuletin Caffeic and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives Vitamins, asparagines, resin, sugars |
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Culinary Uses |
Beef, coleslaw, chutney, horseradish sauce |
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Circulatory muscle joint |
Chilblains, rheumatism, aching muscles |
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Digestive |
Digestion, kidney stones, scurvy |
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Other Notes |
Said to protect potatoes from Colorado beetle The botanical name is possibly derived from the Latin wood meaning “spoon” in reference to the shape of the leaves |
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Caution |
Do not use in large amounts if pregnant or suffer from kidney problems Do not use essential oil |