Its medicinal and nutritional qualities surpass many other plants. Inconspicuous and slightly underestimated black turnip is an extremely rich source of many valuable vitamins. It will help with coughing, has antibacterial, cholagogic effect, will be a way to treat anemia, kidney stones and neuralgia. Check what else makes black turnip a must-have in your menu.
Turnip root, i.e. a tuber covered with a black skin, hides a white, sharp, well-known flesh. It is he who has so many medicinal and health benefits. It is also called black radish and is one of the longest cultivated crops in Europe, Asia and Africa. In Poland, we know mainly its cultivated varieties, and in the wild it occurs mainly on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea.
Root extract of this plant is an ingredient of many herbal preparations. These types of drugs are supposed to support liver function, often they are also slimming supplements, and even cosmetics, mainly those for hair – counteracting seborrhea, dandruff, strengthening bulbs.
Properties of black turnip
Its root contains mustard glycosides with a high content of valuable sulfur compounds. When the tuber is crushed, the glycosides break down and turn into volatile compounds. They are called mustard oils and they are characterized by a sharp smell and a specific taste. They have a strong effect because they stimulate salivation, increase blood circulation in the skin, help in the production of bile and digestive juices.
In addition, turnips contain phytoncides that inhibit the development of diseases, because they have an effect similar to antibiotics. The tuber also contains sulfur compounds (disinfectants and anti-seborrhea), enzymes, large amounts of vitamins – B1, B2, C, PP, mineral salts – magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sugars. Thanks to this combination, turnip is helpful with urolithiasis and anemia, cough, inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It is also good for rubbing in radiculitis and neuralgia. In summary, its main advantages include:
- Increasing the secretion of digestive juices
- Diuretic, detoxifying effect
- Éifeacht antibacterial.
It is best to choose turnips from organic farming, as they absorb carcinogenic nitrates quite easily. You can consume it, for example, in the form of fresh juice (squeeze the grated turnip through gauze, drink a few tablespoons of juice a day, e.g. with the addition of carrot juice), or tincture (grate it on a fine grater, pour 40-70% alcohol – proportion 1 part turnips to 5 parts alcohol, set aside for 2 weeks). You can use the tincture as a scalp rub for hair loss, rubbing sore muscles, joints, for hard-to-heal wounds.