Health Benefits of Nasturtium & Its Side Effects

Nasturtium is a plant and the parts that grow above the ground, are used in making medicines. Nasturtium has also other common names like Indian crea, garden nasturtium, climbing nasturtium, common nasturtium, etc. These are native to South America, especially in Peru and Bolivia. However, in today’s time Nasturtium is cultivated all across the globe as an ornamental plant. The leaves are more or less circular with distinct veins, flowers are large and helmet-shaped and of yellow, red or orange color.

Generally the fresh or dried leaves, the seed pods and flowers are used. There are people who take nasturtium along with other herbs for urinary tract infections, cough, bronchitis, and swollen airways. Nasturtiums are at times directly applied to the skin in combination with several other herbs for mild muscular pain. Now, what actually makes it so beneficial for health? Well! The vitamin C, content present in the plant helps in fighting bacteria, viruses, fungi and tumors.

Read below to know some of the health benefits of Nasturtium:

Nasturtium can act, both as a disinfectant and a healing agent. All the parts of nasturtium plant seem to have strong antibiotic as well as antimicrobial properties. It works great against various fungal infections, yeast infections when applied externally.

1. Benefits Of Nasturtium In Treating Urinary Tract Infections And Infections Of Respiratory Tract

   The herb is known to be primarily used as an herbal remedy for urinary tract infections and infections of the respiratory tract.

2. Respiratory Health Benefits of Nasturtium

   Nasturtium leaves are naturally antibiotic and if one leaf is eaten per hour, at the onset of a sore throat, can reduce the severity of the infection in a drastic way. In South America, the leaves of nasturtium are still used for treating cold, coughs, flu, bronchitis, sore throat etc.

3. Relieves Muscle Pain

   There is also another health benefit of nasturtium. It was traditionally used for treating muscular pain. You can use it directly on the skin to treat mild muscle pain.

4. Hair Health Benefits Of Nasturtium:

   Nasturtium has been widely used as a remedy for hair loss and also for stimulating growth of hair.

   A wonderful hair treatment can be made by mixing one cup each of nasturtium, nettle and rosemary in two litres of water and heat for 15 minutes. Then cool and strain and massage the mixture in to scalp and rinse the hair then after. You can keep the left over in the refrigerator.

5. Immunity Booster:

   Nasturtium is a great source of immunity-boosting vitamin C and thus may be used for enhancing immunity, also used as a natural remedy for helping the body overcome and prevent influenza and common cold.

6. Benefits of Nasturtium in Treating Cuts:

   It is also used for reducing external and internal bacterial infections and also for treating minor cuts and scrapes.

7. Promotes RBCs Formation:

   It is known that Nasturtium is beneficial in promoting the formation of the RBCs or the red blood cells and it has been used in folk medicine as an herbal remedy against scurvy.

• Nasturtium might be safe for adults when directly applied to the skin along with other natural remedies. However, it causes side effects of skin irritation if used for long time.
• There is not much information to know if nasturtium is safe when taken by mouth, it may cause stomach upset, kidney damage and several other side effects.
• There are no evidences about the safety of using nasturtium during pregnancy or breastfeeding phase. So avoid using it if you are pregnant or lactating mother.
• It is unsafe for children to use nasturtium by mouth. There is also not enough information about the safety in children when applied on skin directly.
• Avoid taking nasturtium if you have stomach or intestinal ulcers. It is unsafe for you. Also avoid nasturtium if you have kidney disease.

As the appropriate dose of nasturtium may depend on several factors such as the age, health and ailment, consult a trained herbalist with knowledge of the herb’s uses in herbal medicine prior to use.