Mustard seeds are small, round seeds of three different types of Mustard plants, Black Mustard seeds come from Brasscica nigara, Brown mustard seeds come from Brassica juncea and white mustard seeds come from Sinapis alba  plant. 

Mustard seeds contain  some minerals, including iron, magnesium, Zinc, Calcium and phosphorus. In Sri Lankan culture, mustard seeds have been considered as a symbol of prosperity. 

Since mustard seeds, leaves, roots and mustard oil have medicinal properties, it is used in indigenous medicine greatly. 

Mustard oil is used in cooking in India and other Asian countries like China & Japan. Those foods are not only delicious but also healthy because mustard oil can reduce body weight by removing excessive fat in the body. In addition to that, according to Ayurveda medicine mustard is used to treat skin conditions and head related ailments. The medicines that are produced by using mustard have some common properties, like ability to improve appetite, to improve digestion and ease pains. Furthermore, mustard is used to treat respiratory diseases and to treat skin rashes and related conditions. White mustard is used to treat internal ailments in the body, whereas black mustard is used to treat external ailments. 

When consuming mustard as a food ingredient it doesn’t generate adverse effects, but when using mustard to make medicine, medical advice must be followed, since mustard has a heaty property, if consumed in excess amounts it can generate burning sensation within the body,   Especially in the  stomach  and during peeing. It also can cause vomiting. Due to these reasons mustard medicines are not suitable for people with gastritis and kidney problems. Similarly, mustard plasters which are used in treatments for rheumatism, arthritis, chest congestion, back pain and muscle pain should not be used for prolonged periods because it can result in burns to the skin and nerve damage. 

In traditional medicine, it has been believed that mustard has the ability to destroy germs. Now it has been proved by scientific research that mustard has antibacterial properties. It is due to a compound called isothiocyanate, which is inhibitory to fungi, yeast and bacteria. With or without awareness about the antibacterial property of mustard, people use the mustard smoke to clean the air within their dwellings. 

As you have learned now, mustard is not merely a spice in the kitchen, but it is also a revolutionary medicine in indigenous medicine as well.