Despite its use as a condiment, horseradish also has various medicinal uses for relieving congestion due to common colds and sinusitis. You can consume horseradish or use it topically to ease your stuffy nose and congestion. Before using horseradish for any health purpose, talk with your doctor about the possible risks and side effects.
History
Historically, horseradish root has been used as a condiment and for medicinal purposes to treat bladder infections, kidney ailments, respiratory infections, wounds, muscle strains and joint pain, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Horseradish has been used as an oral remedy and a main ingredient in poultices to treat these types of health problems. People applied poultices to ease nerve irritations and arthritis pain, while it was taken orally to produce diuretic effects for easing edema and kidney stones, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Benefits
Today, horseradish has many of the same types of medicinal uses as it has throughout the past few hundred years. Horseradish root is sometimes used to treat bronchitis, sore throats, colds, sinusitis and urinary tract infections, says the University of Michigan Health System. No widely accepted medical evidence supports the use of horseradish for treating any health condition, however.
Function
Horseradish contains the substances sinigrin, glucosinolate and gluconasturtiin, all of which are also constituents contained in nasturtium plants, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. These ingredients are also found in mustard. Horseradish's volatile oils containing these substances appear to have antibiotic actions in the body, which may account for the remedy's use in treating urinary tract and upper respiratory infections, notes the University of Michigan Health System.
Dosage
You can eat the grated, fresh horseradish root or take the tincture to relieve a stuffy nose and other symptoms of respiratory infections. The typical dosage is four teaspoons of fresh root daily or ½ to ¾ teaspoon of tincture three times daily, says the University of Michigan Health System. These dosages are equivalent to two to three milliliters of tincture or nine to 15 grams of grated horseradish root daily, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You can also use the fresh horseradish root grated onto a gauze cloth twice daily, applying the remedy to the affected area of your body. Don't use horseradish remedies medicinally before first talking with your doctor to establish the right dosage for you.
Warning
Ingesting horseradish medicinal remedies can cause side effects like stomach upset, sweating and burning in your mouth, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Applying horseradish remedies to your skin for long time periods can cause irritation as well. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, or have peptic ulcers, hypothyroidism, kidney problems or gastritis, don't take horseradish root remedies, cautions the University of Michigan Health System.
