Horseradish for Urinary Tract Infection
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: No Name Given
Posted on: November 18, 2003

What’s a horseradish look like? Just want to know how to use a horseradish in treating urinary tract infection.

Henriette Kress has photographs of the horseradish plant and root on her comprehensive herbmed website (http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed).

Showing a cultivated plant in flower: http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/pictures/p02/images/armoracia-rusticana-2.jpg

Showing a root dug up: http://www.ibiblio.org/herbmed/pictures/p02/images/armoracia-rusticana-root-2.jpg

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is a hardy perennial native to southereastern Europe and western Asia. It is rarely found in the wild now, but it is widely cultivated in many parts of the world for the roots. The fresh roots are grated to make a piquant condiment that is very popular on meat.

According to herbalist John Lust, it is effective against bladder infections, as well as gout and rheumatism, some types of colitis, and catarrh, coughs and asthma.

For bladder infections, Lust recommends 3-4 tablespoons of grated horseradish daily taken with wine vinegar and some dextrose (grape sugar). The roots must be used in their fresh state; the dried roots are not effective.

Lust cautions against taking too much horseradish at one time. If diarrhea or night sweats develop, stop taking it.

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