Mustard Seeds, Black (Brassica Nigra)

Description ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail Black Mustard Seeds (Brassica Nigra) 1 Ounce HERB COMMON NAME :  Black Mustard HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Brassica Nigra OTHER NAMES :  Eye of Newt FAMILY :  Cruciferae ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES : Element: Fire Planet: Mars Day: Saturday Direction: South Zodiac Sign: Aries Chakra: Root Chakra (Muladhara) Energy: Yang Gender: Masculine Rune: Fehu Tarot: the Chariot, the Hierophant, Seven of Wands Number: 1, 7 Animal: Dove Sabbat or Holiday: Lughnasadh / Lammas (Aug 1st), Full Sturgeon Moon (August) Deity or God / Goddess Association: Aesculapius, Lugh, Danu, Cernunnos, Ceres, Demeter   Parts Used:  Seeds Description:  Mustard is grown and harvested for its seeds, which range in color and flavor sharpness depending on variety. Like peppercorns, mustard seed has a long history of use globally and remains one of the most widely traded spices in the world today. In ancient Rome, people would grind mustard seeds with wine and use the resulting paste as a condiment, just like we use it today. Mustard seeds on their own don’t taste like much. They need to be crushed and mixed with a liquid to express their full flavor. Using water creates a very hot mustard. Using acids, like wine or vinegar, tempers the heat. In addition to culinary use, mustard seeds have been used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) for respiratory problems, and to make heat-producing poultices to help skin conditions and pain in the joints or muscles. Mustard is a counterirritant that encourages blood flow to an area, similar to the way we presently use capsaicin cream or menthol. In early Western medicine, mustard seeds were crushed, placed in a protective dressing (like flannel), and applied to the body to warm it. It is still sometimes used as a home remedy for aches, pains, and colds. Grown in the garden, mustard’s heat and flavor help repel insects and sensitive herbivores. Consider scattering mustard plants throughout the garden along with mints, which also repel insects due to their strong scents that are a natural irritant to many insects and rodents. Historical Uses:  joint pain, muscle pain, warming, repelling insects, repelling rodents Mystical / Magical / Spiritual Attributes:  In folk magic, “eye of newt” is actually mustard seed. Black (or brown) mustard seed is frequently used in voodoo charms and hoodoo rituals for confusing enemies, and for distracting them from causing harm and exerting negative influences. Sprinkle the seeds at the enemy’s front door while walking backward. And sprinkle around the outside of your home and in front of your doorway to protect from negative energies. In Denmark and India, scattering mustard seeds around the property is believed to keep evil away. And due to their use repelling negativity, which as a result makes room for good fortune and healing to come in, they can also be useful when combined with other luck-drawing to attract blessings. Black mustard seeds are carried to increase chances of winning court cases by distracting the opposition and preventing them from having an adverse impact. Carry a few grains in a small bag to guard against injury. Sprinkle around the house to ward off burglars. In German folklore, mustard seeds were sewn into the hems of wedding gowns to protect brides from being dominated in their marriage. Because of the natural warming properties of mustard seeds, some use them in potions to provide a sense of warmth. Because of their reference in biblical parables, mustard seeds are symbolically associated with faith and represent how great things can come from small beginnings. Mystical / Magical / Spiritual Intentions:  protection from enemies and evil, confusing enemies, protection from injury, protection from theft, home protection, feelings of warmth, security, luck in court, justice, faith, spiritual strength, endurance, accepting something difficult, overcoming obstacles, control, enmity, mental power, revenge, purification Other Uses :  When cooked whole in oil, black mustard seeds release their flavor and aroma, adding depth and spice. They can be crushed and combined with water, vinegar or wine to make a fiery potent paste that can be added to dishes. Taste & Smell:  Black mustard seeds are the most intense and hottest of the three main types of mustard seeds (black, brown, yellow). Raw black mustard seeds possess a sharp, pungent, and spicy, with a wasabi-like or sinus-clearing heat. It also has an earthy and slightly bitter flavor. When cooked, toasted, or fried in oil, the flavor becomes milder, nuttier, and slightly sweeter. Black mustard has a pungent, sharp, and spicy taste. Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Brassica nigra is believed to be native to the southern Mediterranean region of Europe and possibly South Asia where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. A member of the Brassicaceae family, the plant itself can grow from two to eight feet tall, with racemes of small yellow flowers. These flowers are usually up to 1/3″ across, with four petals each. The leaves are covered in small hairs. They can wilt on hot days but recover at night. Brassica nigra is often grown in the temperate zone though it is mainly suited to tropical areas and grown chiefly as a rainfed crop in areas of low or moderate rainfall. Mustard plants require high nutrient soils with a high level of nitrogen but may be grown on a wide range of soils from light to heavy, growing best on relatively heavy sandy loamy soils, not suited to very wet soils. Sow seeds directly in the garden from early spring to late summer. Germination takes place in less than a week. Mustard seeds are harvested just prior to the pods becoming ripe and bursting. Store dried seeds (whole or powdered) in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Contraindications & Toxicity: When used topically, mustard seed applications if left on too long or over sensitive skin will cause vesication that can cause skin ulceration, necrosis and permanent scaring.  Mustard seed applications are contraindicated when there is severe circulatory damage and with varicose veins. Mustard seed is not to be used internally in amounts greater than those for culinary purposes. Constituents: Glucosinolates (primarily Sinigrin) Volatile organic compounds (Allyl isothiocyanate, allylsulfide, diallyl disulfide, allyl trisulfide) Phenolic compounds (Sinapic acid) Phytosterols Carotenoids (Lutein, β-carotene)     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product. PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. It is not a supplement or vitamin, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or any type of physical dysfunction or mental/emotional concern. Descriptions include HISTORICAL uses only, and do not imply fitness or safety for current use, or effectiveness in any way.  CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. 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