Horseradish

Botanical Name: Amoracia rusticana Family: Cruciferae

Common name(s): Horseradish

GROWING

  • Perennial; herbaceous | Zone 4-9 | 2-3 feet tall | White flowers when it blooms, which is infrequent
  • Full sun/dappled shade | Adaptable to different soil types | Likes moisture | Propagate via root divisions (it does not produce seeds)

HARVESTING

Harvest the roots anytime. They are large and deep.

PREPARATION / DOSAGE

Infusion: Steep 1 tsp of powdered or chopped root in 1 cup boiled water for 5 minutes. Drink 3x/day or more often when treating the flu.

Food: Horseradish is a key component of fire cider and is used in other culinary ways. It will clear your sinuses when ingested!

External: Can be used as a poultice.

MEDICAL

Constituents: Essential oil, sinigrin, flavonoids, asparagine, resin, vitamin C.

Actions: Antioxidant, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant. Also mildly antibiotic.

Uses: Stimulating digestion, colds & flus, bronchitis (poultice), rheumatism (poultice), classically used as a diuretic.

SOURCES 


I use horseradish in the fire cider (I call it “Flu Shot”) I make. So I’ve added it to my garden, to have an available supply of organic horseradish. I grate the whole root and store the extra in the freezer.