Raphani hortensis et sylvestris, Radish, Garden & Horse-radish

Radish:
–Turb (Unani)
Radish Seed
–Lai Fu Zi 莱菔子 (TCM)
–Tukhm e Turb (Unani)
Picture Gart der Gesundheit, Cuba, 1485

Picture New Kreuterbuch, Matthiolus, 1563

Picture Horseradish
Cochlearia armoracia
Flora von Deutschland (14), Kohler, 1883

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Botanical name:


Raphanus sativa: Garden Radish
Cochlearia armoracia: Wild or Horseradish

Parts used:


Seed of Garden Radish; Root of Horseradish

Temperature & Taste:


Warm, dry (wild is hotter). Pungent

Classifications:


2B ATTENUATER.    2D ATTENUATERS OF CONGEALED BLOOD.    2G. CLEANSING.    2K. RESOLVENT.   
3E. DIURETIC.    3F. LITHONTRIPTIC     3H. LACTAGOGUE.    3O. EMETIC
4e. STOMACHIC.    4f. SPLENETIC.    4k. ARTHRITIC
TCM:
O. Promote Digestion (Seed)
P. Clears Cold Phlegm (Seed)

Uses:


1. Clears Cold Phlegm (Root, Seed; TCM, West):
-clears various types of Cold Phlegm obstructions within the body
-Phlegm in the Lungs, Stomach, Intestines, Joints.
-cold Phlegm from the Lungs, help old Coughs, Bronchitis, Wheezing, Asthma (Seed, Root, Juice)

2. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine, Breaks Stones (Root, Seed; TCM, West):
-Gravel, Stones, stoppage of Urine, Edema
-cold Joint pain, especially Sciatica

3. Clears Damp, Opens the Liver:
-open obstructions and treats hardness of the Liver and Spleen
-Liver disease including congestion, sluggishness, Liver swelling, Fatty degeneration, Jaundice and Cholecystitis (Juice; Root)

4. Warms the Stomach, Promotes Digestion, Relieves Food Stagnation:
-food stagnation of the digestive tract; mucus accumulations, focal distention, belching
-indigestion, abdominal swelling
-Seed is best for Food Stagnation, but Horseradish root also shares this effect

5. Moves the Blood, Promote Menstruation, expels the Afterbirth (West, since Dioscorides)
-Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea
-expels Afterbirth
-also for Trauma, Bruising

6. Promotes Milk:
-promotes Breast Milk, especially in Cold and Phlegmatic women (Seed)

7. Emetic:
-Promotes Vomiting (juice of Horseradish taken with Vinegar and Honey)
-a strong decoction of the seed also promotes emesis.
-“Its seeds, when used with vinegar, prove to be emetic” (Avicenna)

8. Kills Worms (Root, Seed; TCM, West)
-Kills Worms
-mostly used to help clear Food Stagnation associated with Worms.

9. Resists Poison:
-sometimes used in Antidotes against Cold-Phlegm-Damp poisons
-“useful in cases of suffocation caused by the fatal Fungi” (Avicenna)
-“Radish is useful in Viper’s and Horned Snakes bite”. (Avicenna)
-“Its precautionary intake protects one against the harmful effects of Scorpion bite” (Avicenna)

10. Externally:
-externally laid to the Feet in Fevers and the neck in Headache from Malignant Fevers.
-juice boiled in oil is used for Earache and Tinnitus (Unani)
-Seeds resolve brown skin spots and brown spots on the face
-“Its seeds are useful in all kinds of external reddish or other coloured Spots on the body, Scars and Freckles”. (Avicenna)
-“Application of its seed with vinegar removes gangrenous Ulcers and Ringworrns”. (Avicenna)
-“Its instillation into the eye, cleanses it and removes the spots under the canthus”. (Avicenna)


Dose:


Root and Seed can be taken in similar doses.
Powder: 1–3 grams
Decoction: 4–12 grams

Comment:


The roots of Radish and Horseradish have similar effects, as do the seeds of Radish, used in the West and TCM. All parts of Radish warm to clear Cold Phlegm and resolve Damp. This is related to their other effects including Cough and Wheezing, clearing Food Stagnation and clearing Stones. The Chinese use Radish seed specifically for Food Stagnation and Cold Phlegm type Cough and Wheezing.

Correctives:


… available in PRO version

Substitutes:


… available in PRO version
Picture

Main Combinations:


Radish seed & Mustard seed

1. To promote Urine and clear Stones:
i. Radish seed with … available in PRO version
ii. Juice of Horseradish … available in PRO version
iii. Garden and Horseradish root, … available in PRO version
iv. Radish seed with … available in PRO version
v. Radish seed, … available in PRO version
2. Wind-Cold sinus congestion:
i. Horseradish, … available in PRO version
ii. Horseradish, … available in PRO version
iii. Horseradish, … available in PRO version
3. Cough with Cold Phlegm:
i. Radish seed with … available in PRO version
ii. Radish seed with … available in PRO version
iii. Radish seed with … available in PRO version
4. Asthma:
i. Radish seed with … available in PRO version
5. To increase Milk supply, Radish seed with … available in PRO version
6. Against Poison, Radish seed … available in PRO version
7. To expel Small Pox, Radish Seed, … available in PRO version
8. Lupus, wash the part with Radish water. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
9. Food Stagnation with abdominal distention, belching, diarrhea, Radish seed with … available in PRO version
10. Dimness of sight: cut fresh Radish roots … available in PRO version
11. As an emetic:
i. Radish root … available in PRO version
ii. decoct Radish seed in … available in PRO version

Major Formulas:


Powder Proven for Lung Defects and All Coughs (Galen)
Powder to Increase Milk Supply
Electuary for Asthma (2) (De morbis internis curandis, 1551)

Bao He Wan
San Zi Yang Qin Tang

Cautions:


Not used for Heat and dryness, or Yin deficiency

Main Preparations used:


Essence, Wine Infusion and Distilled Water of Radish or Horseradish.