The radish is one of the richest sources of iron, calcium and sodium of all the common vegetables.
The roots, rather than the leaves of these small plants, are generally used as food item. They
should be eaten raw to derive all its beneficial effects. Cooking destroys its vitamin content and thus cooked
vegetable looses its powerful antiscorbutic properties. However, the leaves are also eaten as salad or used in
cooking. Radish leaves have more calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C and protein than radish itself.
Natural Benefits and Curative Properties
The leaves of radish are diuretic, antiscorbutic and laxative. The tap root is also strongly antiscorbutic for preventing of curing scurvy and the seeds
are expectorant, diuretic, carminative for relieving gastric discomforts, laxative and stimulant.
Piles
The juice and the fresh root is regarded as an effective food remedy in piles. It should be
given in doses of 60 to 90 ml. morning and evening.
Genito-Urinary Disorders
This juice is also beneficial in the treatment of dysuria on painful urination and stranguary or severe urethral pain.
It may be given in doses mentioned above and repeated as often as necessary. A cupful of radish leaf juice given once
daily for a fortnight acts as a curative medicine in dissolving gravel in urinary tract and cystitis - i.e. inflammation of urinary
bladder.
Chest complaints
A syrup prepared by mixing a teaspoonful of fresh radish juice with equal quantity of honey and a little
rock salt is highly beneficial in the treatment of hoarseness, whooping cough, bronchial disorders and other chest complaints.
It should be given thrice daily.
Jaundice
Green leaves of radish are beneficial in the treatment of jaundice. The leaves should be
pounded and their juice expressed out through a piece of thin cloth. It should be
sweetened to one's taste by adding fine crystaline sugar. About half a Kg. of this juice should
be taken daily by an adult patient. This provides immediate relief. The preparation induces healthy appetite and
proper evacuation of bowels which gradually reduces the trouble.
Leucoderma
A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in deucoderma. About 35 gms. of these seeds should be powdered
in vinegar and applied on the white patches of leucoderma. For better results seeds should be finely pounded along with a pinch
of arsenic poison and soaked in vinegar at night. After two hours leaves will appear. It should be rubbed on the white
patches of leucoderma. This preparation is meant for external use only.
Other Skin Disorders
Radish seeds contain a bleaching substance and emulsion of the seeds with water appled over the face will remove
black heads and freckles. It can also be applied with beneficial results in the treatment of ringworm.
