Radish

Description

      The radish is one of the most commonly used vegetables in India. It is a hairy annual herb. It has no stem or branches. It has only one root which is round, cylindrical or tapering, white or red, slightly coarse, fleshy, succulent, and 3 to 7 cm thick, 10 to 20 cm long. It has a pungent flavor. It stimulates appetite and promotes a healthy bloodstream.

      There are many varieties of radish, differing in size, and color. The red and white colored are most familiar. They are tender when young but become woody and, tough as they mature.

Origin and Distribution

      Radish is believed to have originated in Western Asia. It was cultivated in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. It has now spread all over the world. Its areas of cultivation include South America, East and West Africa, the Caribbean, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and most tropical areas.

Food Value

      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 loses 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.

Radish*
Food Value		Minerals and Vitamins
Moisture	94.4%	Calcium	35 mg
Protein	0.7%	Phosphorus	22 mg
Fat	0.1%	Iron	0.4 mg
Minerals	0.6%	Vitamin C	15 mg
Fiber	0.8%	Small amount of
Carbohydrates	3.4%	Vitamin B Complex
	100%
		Calorific Value – 17
Radish Leaves*
Food Value		Minerals and Vitamins
Moisture	90.8%	Calcium	265 mg
Protein	3.8%	Phosphorus	59 mg
Fat	0.4%	Iron	3.6 mg
Minerals	1.6%	Vitamin C	81 mg
Fiber	1.0%	Small amount of
Carbohydrates	2.4%	Vitamin B Complex
	100%
*Values per 100 gms edible portion		Calorific Value - 28

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, and carminative for relieving gastric: discomforts, laxative and stimulant.

Piles

      The juice and the fresh root are regarded as an effective food remedy in piles. It should be given in doses of 60 to 90 ml. morning and evening.

Genitor-Urinary Disorders

      This juice is also beneficial in the treatment of dysuria on painful urination and stranger 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

      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.

Leucotomy

      A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in leucoderma. About 35 gm. 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 applied over the face will remove black heads and freckles. It can also be applied with beneficial results in the treatment of ringworm.