Nasturtium

Scientific Names

Tropaeolum majus L.
Tropaeolaceae
Nasturtium family

Common Names

Chin-lien-hua (Chinese name)
Indian cress
Large indian cress
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Description of Plant(s) and Culture

Nasturtium is an annual plant 1 foot tall, 2 feet wide; sometimes a variety has a trailing or climbing stem grows 5-10 feet long; bears small, almost round, radially veined leaves. Red, orange, or yellow flowers, larger than the leaves, bloom from June to October. There are single and double flower varieties.
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Where Found

Native to South America but cultivated in gardens all over the world. Sometimes used to keep insects from cucumbers in the garden.
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Medicinal Properties

Antiseptic, expectorant
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Legends, Myths and Stories

Fresh leaves and flowers, with their peppery flavor similar to watercress, are good in salads or chopped and combined with cream cheese or butter in canapés and sandwiches. The unripe seed pods can be pickled and used as a substitute for capers.

According to the daughter of Linnaeus, the blossoms of Nasturtium have been observed to emit electric sparks towards evening. It is seen most distinctly with the eye partly closed.

In Alsace the nasturtium flowers are added to fermenting wine to impart a particular pungency.

Nasturtium is planted as a companion to radishes, cabbage, and cucumbers; plant under fruit trees. Deters aphids, squash bugs, white flies, striped pumpkin beetles and improves growth and flavor.

The common name of T. majus should not be confused with Nasturtium officinalis, commonly known as watercress.

The name tropaeolum is derived from the latin tropaeum, for trophy, and was an allusion to the shield-like leaves and helmet-like flowers.
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Uses

Useful in breaking up congestion in the respiratory passages and relieves congestion of colds. The juice or tea can be used as an internal or external disinfectant and aids digestion. Nasturtium is said to promote the formation of blood cells and is given as a blood purifier.
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Formulas or Dosages

Juice: take 1/2 tsp. of the fresh juice, 3 times per day.
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Nutrient Content

Leaves have vitamin C.
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How Sold

Seeds can be obtained from any nursery
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Bibliography

Chinese Medicinal Herbs, compiled by Shih-Chen Li, Georgetown Press, San Francisco, California, 1973.

Herbal Gardening, compiled by The Robison York State Herb Garden, Cornell Plantations, Matthaei Botanical Gardens of the University of Michigan, University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley., Pantheon Books, Knopf Publishing Group, New York, 1994, first edition

The Magic of Herbs, by David Conway, published by Jonathan Cape, Thirty Bedford Square, London, England. (Out of print)

The Nature Doctor, by Dr. H.C.A. Vogel; Keats Publishing, Inc., 27 Pine Street (Box 876) New Canaan, CT. 06840-0876. Copyright Verlag A. Vogel, Teufen (AR) Switzerland 1952, 1991

Old Ways Rediscovered, by Clarence Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, published from 1954, print 1988

Webster's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition, Victoria Neufeldt, Editor in Chief, New World Dictionaries: A Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc., 15 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023, 1984

The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974