Medical uses of Nasturtium
Externally, nasturtium can be used as an antimicrobial poultice or compress for treating local bacterial infections.
Internally, it has been used to fight bacterial infections and in particular respiratory infections. It has also been effective for some in treating influenza and the common cold. The leaves have a high vitamin C content. Vitamin C has been used to fight infection in the past.
The Tea has also been used to fight infections of the reproductive and urinary tract.
Parts used are the leaves and flowers.
Dislcaimer:
Please always contact your doctor first for any care you need. This is to just share what some have experienced with the natural herb, Nasturtium. It has not been tested by the food and drug administration.
Internally, it has been used to fight bacterial infections and in particular respiratory infections. It has also been effective for some in treating influenza and the common cold. The leaves have a high vitamin C content. Vitamin C has been used to fight infection in the past.
The Tea has also been used to fight infections of the reproductive and urinary tract.
Parts used are the leaves and flowers.
Dislcaimer:
Please always contact your doctor first for any care you need. This is to just share what some have experienced with the natural herb, Nasturtium. It has not been tested by the food and drug administration.
Preparing Nasturtium for tea, compress or a poultice
There are few typical preparations you can use for nasturtiums.
Poultice:
You can bruise the leaves, then place between two thin layers of gauze and apply to the skin. (some say it is helpful to fight bacterial infections)
Nasturtium Tea:
Using one to two teaspoons of fresh nasturtium leaves, steep in boiling water for 10 - 15 minutes. Strain out the leaves. For adults, you can take up to three one cup servings of this a day.
Compress:
Soak a clean cloth in the nasturtium tea as prepared above and apply wherever needed.
Nasturtium leaves and flowers can have a medicinal effect when added to the diet.
Disclaimer: Please always rely first on your doctor/physician for all your health needs.
Thank you for reading and stopping by.
Poultice:
You can bruise the leaves, then place between two thin layers of gauze and apply to the skin. (some say it is helpful to fight bacterial infections)
Nasturtium Tea:
Using one to two teaspoons of fresh nasturtium leaves, steep in boiling water for 10 - 15 minutes. Strain out the leaves. For adults, you can take up to three one cup servings of this a day.
Compress:
Soak a clean cloth in the nasturtium tea as prepared above and apply wherever needed.
Nasturtium leaves and flowers can have a medicinal effect when added to the diet.
Disclaimer: Please always rely first on your doctor/physician for all your health needs.
Thank you for reading and stopping by.
Planting Nasturtiums from seeds
In the garden, you can plant your own Nasturtiums. Some things to keep in mind:
1. Plant your seeds outdoors after all danger of frost is past.
2. Plant in a sunny location, in mid spring.
3. This plant actually thrives in poor soils, which occasionally is great for someone like me who gardens a lot but doesn't always get around to replenishing depleted soils.
4. You can start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost date in your area.
5. Cover seed lightly with fine soil and keep moist.
6. Place your seeds 6-9 inches apart.
7. They will grow to about 12 inches tall
8. Nasturtiums are an annual
Enjoy growing some beautiful flowers
1. Plant your seeds outdoors after all danger of frost is past.
2. Plant in a sunny location, in mid spring.
3. This plant actually thrives in poor soils, which occasionally is great for someone like me who gardens a lot but doesn't always get around to replenishing depleted soils.
4. You can start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost date in your area.
5. Cover seed lightly with fine soil and keep moist.
6. Place your seeds 6-9 inches apart.
7. They will grow to about 12 inches tall
8. Nasturtiums are an annual
Enjoy growing some beautiful flowers
Using Nasturtiums
In the Garden:
The ones I planted were a dwarf annual variety. They have compact, and bushy foliage, with really neat leaves. The leaves are kind of circular and a blue green color. The flowers come in different colors, like yellow, orange, red and cream color. They are a very cheerful flower.Nasturtiums will bloom from summer to fall. They are nice to use in the front of a flower bed as they are lower to the ground. They are good for borders, and window sills, and for container plantings.
In the Kitchen:
A chef may enjoy occasionally adding the leaves of nasturtium to salads, sandwiches, cold soups and vinegars. They have a peppery taste and are completely edible.
Some have been known to stuff the flower buds with cream cheese, or used as a beautiful garnish. As a vinegar, it makes a lovely golden herbal variety. It has a spicy accent to it.
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum smithii (one kind, in this picture)
I love Nasturtiums, they are bright and beautiful flowers. I didn't realize for a long time, that they were even edible.
This blog is dedicated to the herb, Nasturtium, and I hope you learn something that you maybe didn't know before.
Thank you for stopping by.
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