Abstract:

Mustard is a condiment that has been used for culinary, religious and cultural purposes by humanity since time immemorial. Mustard has figured prominently in the Indian tradition and its medicinal properties have been systematically evaluated and documented in the classical Ayurvedic texts. The paper attempts to carefully review the ancient and contemporary uses of mustard as food and medicine with reference to the Ayurvedic tradition. It will give an outline of the varieties of mustard described in the ancient Ayurvedic writings, comparing Ayurvedic and modern medical information regarding their properties and applications for health as well as other ways in which mustard has been used for betterment of human life.