The Ayurveda Experience May 31, 2019 3 Comments
Mustard is a condiment that has been used extensively for culinary, religious, and cultural purposes since time immemorial. Mustard oil has many uses in Ayurveda and is associated with a host of health benefits.
Mustard leaves, mustard seeds, and mustard oil have been common household items in Indian kitchens for ages.
Mustard has been an integral part of the Indian culture itself and its medicinal properties have been systematically evaluated and documented in classical Ayurvedic texts.
Mustard oil is still used for cooking, pain relief, massages, and various cultural rituals throughout India, especially in the Northeastern states like Assam.
During winter, many Indians use warm mustard oil to massage their feet after showering or bathing. Mustard oil is equally popular in Indian cuisines and is used in a wide variety of traditional preparations.
It has a pungent, hot, and nutty taste and is used to marinate and flavor food. It is also used as a frying oil. However, its popularity has started to decline over the years.
This is probably due to cheaper vegetable oils being readily available throughout India.
In the Indian state of Assam, mustard oil is used for a slew of preparations like fried fish, fish curry, tomato chutney, mashed potatoes, and mutton stew.
In my opinion, these preparations taste best when prepared with mustard oil. Being born in an Assamese household and seeing the extensive use of mustard oil while growing up, I can definitely vouch for its many health benefits.
Mustard oil has other cultural uses in India as well. Drops of mustard oil are poured around the house as a welcoming gesture. It is also used as a homemade cosmetic during wedding ceremonies.
Mustard oil can be very beneficial for the hair too. It conditions the hair deeply when massaged into the hair and scalp. One could even say that it is a hidden treasure in our kitchens.
Read More: Ayurvedic Hair Conditioners + Remedies
Given its warming qualities, it is mostly used during the winters rather than summers. One can choose to use mustard oil during the colder months of the year depending on where you live.
In the southern states of India, since the temperature doesn’t vary much throughout different seasons, coconut oil is usually preferred. Both mustard seeds and mustard oil are used in various Ayurvedic formulations.
In Ayurvedic texts, mustard seeds are mentioned under the group of herbs that cleanse the cranial cavity (Śīrṣavirecana Gaṇa). They are used for decoction enema (Āsthāpanopaga Gaṇa), have an anti-prurient activity (Kaṇḍūghna Gaṇa), induce emesis (Chardana Gaṇa), and have a pungent taste (Kaṭu rasa).
Mustard seeds are mentioned under the group of herbs that cleanse the cranial cavity.
The references for its topical use outnumber those for oral ingestion. Some common topical formulations include paste (pradeha), fumigant(dhūpana), diaphoretic (svedana), massage powder (udvartana), scraping agent (pragharṣaṇa), poultice (upanāha), and for gargling (gaṇḍūṣa).
The topical application is indicated for conditions like leucoderma, cracked skin, fever, leprosy, muscle wasting, insanity, epilepsy, swelling, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disorders, earache, wounds, and acne.1
Including mustard oil in your diet could be beneficial for heart health.
Read More: Ayurvedic Oils – Everything You Need To Know
How can we forget the amazing benefits of Mustard oil for nasya (nasal insufflation) and nabhi taila (oiling the naval cavity/ belly button)?
As mentioned in the classical Ayurvedic texts, mustard oil is shiro virechana. This means that it cleanses the cranial cavity.
Nasal spray or nasal insufflation (nasya) with mustard oil helps with thinning the mucus and clearing the nasal cavity and the respiratory tract.
It also helps in enhancing mental faculties since the nasa (nose) is considered to be the entrance to the brain and the nervous system in Ayurveda.
Using nasal drops of mustard oil every morning before showering and every night before bedtime helps in clearing brain fog, promotes restful sleep, and strengthens the nervous system.
Pouring mustard oil into the belly button is also an important Ayurvedic practice. Belly button/navel or nabhi is considered to be the root of the siras (the nourishing vessels of the body).
Read More: Why Yogis Snort Oil
Although anatomically one cannot see any veins or arteries originating from the navel/nabhi, its connectivity to the siras or nourishing vessels is explained in the context of fetal circulation.
In fetal circulation, the umbilicus of the child connects the child to the mother. The umbilicus is what carries the nutrients from the mother to the fetus so, in a way, the umbilicus /belly button is responsible for our existence.
This small part of our body also happens to be one of the most important ones. The belly button is mentioned as a dasha pranayatana in Ayurvedic medicine. Another clear benefit of using mustard oil!
Dasha pranayatana translates to the ten abodes of life which have a connection with the siras (or nutrient-carrying vessels) running through the body.
The belly button is connected to these blood vessels that reach different parts of the body. It is believed that most health problems result from dry siras.
The oil, when poured into the belly button, gets absorbed and nourishes the dry siras in the body. In fact, it detects the dry sira and nourishes it.
I have personally experienced the benefits of this practice and can vouch for it. Try it and see for yourself!
Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner before using mustard oil for therapeutic purposes.
References
November 26, 2020
Thank you for the information. I am a. Ayurvedic Practitioner and always looking for good info.
November 26, 2020
advise on nasal use of mustard oil daily basis
thanks
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Tradologie
June 09, 2021
Nice Article ! You Post Very well on this topic its very informative.