WATERCRESS NASTURTIUM OFFICINALE

WATERCRESS (Nasturtium officinale R. Brown) ++

Synonyms :
N. nasturtium-aquaticum (L.) H. Karst., Radicula nasturtium Cav., R. nasturtiumaquaticum (L.) Rendle & Britten, Rorippa nasturtium Beck, Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (L.) Hayek, Sisymbrium nasturtium Thunb., S. nasturtium-aquaticum L.

Activities (Watercress) :
Antibacterial (1; BGB; WOI); Anticancer (1; BGB; JAD); Antidote, nicotine (f; BIB); Antiimplantation (f; BIB); Antimitotic (1; HH2); Antisarcomic (1; HH2); Antiseptic (1; HH2; PHR; PH2); Antitumor (1; BGB; PH2); Aperitif (1; APA; DEP; EFS; PHR; PH2); Bitter (1; PHR); Cholagogue (1; APA; BGB); Contraceptive (f; BIB); Decongestant (1; APA); Depurative (f; APA; BGB; FAD; JFM; MAD); Detoxicant (1; JNU); Digestive (1; APA; PH2); Diuretic (1; APA; FAD; MAD; PH2); Emmenagogue (f; MAD); Expectorant (f; BGB; EFS; MAD); Goitrogenic (1; WO2); Stimulant (f; EFS); Tonic (1; APA); Vermifuge (f; EFS; MAD); Vulnerary (f; MAD).

Indications (Watercress) :
Acne (f; BIB; MAD); Adenopathy (f; JLH); Alopecia (f; JNU); Anemia (f; JFM); Anorexia (1; APA; DEP; EFS; PHR; PH2); Anthrax (f; BIB); Arthrosis (f; HH2; PHR; PH2); Ascites (f; MAD); Asthenia (f; BGB); Asthma (f; BIB; WOI); Bacteria (1; BGB; WOI); Blemish (f; BGB); Boil (f; JLH); Bronchosis (2; FAD; PHR); Cancer (1; APA; BGB; JAD; JLH; PH2); Cancer, breast (1; APA; JLH); Cancer, esophagus (1; JNU); Cancer, face (1; APA; JLH); Cancer, gland (1; APA; JLH); Cancer, lung (1; APA; JNU); Cancer, nose (1; APA; JLH); Cardiopathy (f; FAD); Catarrh (2; BGB; KOM; PH2); Cold (1; BIB; FNF); Congestion (2; APA; KOM); Cough (2; APA; MAD; PHR); Cystosis (f; MAD); Dermatosis (f; BIB; JFM; JNU); Diabetes (f; MAD); Dropsy (f; MAD); Dyscrasia (f; MAD); Dysmenorrhea (f; BIB); Dyspepsia (f; APA; MAD); Earache (f; MAD); Eczema (f; MAD); Exanthema (f; MAD); Fever (f; MAD); Freckle (f; BIB); Gingivosis (f; MAD); Glossosis (f; MAD); Goiter (f; BIB; FAD; WOI); Gout (f; MAD); Gravel (f; MAD); Head Cold (f; MAD); Hepatosis (f; JFM; MAD); Herpes (f; MAD); Infection (f; MAD); Inflammation (2; APA); Insomnia (f; BIB; MAD); Ischiosis (f; MAD); Jaundice (f; MAD); Kidney Stone (f; MAD); Lethargy (f; FAD); Liver Fluke (f; BGB); Liver Spot (f; BIB); Mucososis (KOM); Nephrosis (f; BIB); Nervousness (f; APA); Polyp (f; BIB; JLH; WOI); Pulmonosis (f; BIB; MAD); Respirosis (2; APA; BGB; KOM; PH2); Rheumatism (f; FAD; MAD; PHR); Rhinosis (f; BIB; JLH; WOI); Scrofula (f; MAD); Scurvy (3; FAD); Sore (f; MAD); Sore Throat (f; WOI); Splenosis (f; MAD); Staphylococcus (1; HH2); Stomatosis (f; MAD); Stone (f; MAD); Strangury (f; WOI); Swelling (f; HH2); Toothache (f; JNU; MAD); Tuberculosis (f; BIB; JFM; MAD); Tumor (1; BGB; PH2); UTI (1; BGB; BIB; PH2); Wart (f; JLH); Water Retention (1; APA; FAD; MAD; PH2); Wen (f; JLH); Worm (f; EFS; MAD).

Dosages (Watercress) :
Food farmacy, eat some almost every day but don’t overdo it. 4–6 g dry herb/day (KOM); 2 g fresh herb/cup tea (APA); 20–30 g fresh herb/day (APA; KOM); 20–30 g fresh herb up to 3 ×/day (HH2); 60–150 g freshly pressed plant juice (APA; KOM); 4 tbsp fresh plant juice with cold Guazuma bark tea (like slippery elm bark) with 4 tbsp red wine 2–3 ×/day (JFM); 2–3 cups preprandial herb tea, 2 g (1–2 tsp) steeped 10–15 minutes in 150 ml boiled water (PH2).

Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Watercress) :
Class 2b, 2d (AHP).“Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2). KOM and PH2 report contraindications: peptic ulcer, and nephrosis; not to be used by children younger than 4 years; adverse effects: GI complaints (rarely). Since it is viewed as an emmenagogue and uterocontractant, it is contraindicated in pregnancy. Irritation of gastric mucosa may develop following chronic ingestion of large quantities (AEH). I suspect that much of what is said here could be said about horseradish, wasabi, and even the milder crucifers, such as the wholesome broccoli, etc. (JAD). Plants become bitter in flowering, better for medicine, worse for food (JFM). Watercress is the richest source of phenethylisothiocyanate (PEITC), which also occurs in bok choy, turnips, and turnip greens (JNU).