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Radish - Health Benefits of Radish

Botanical Name: Raphnus sativus

Family Name : Crucifarae

Radish is the most commonly used vegetable, an annual herb having no stem or branches. It has only one root which is normally cylindrical white/red fleshy, succulent, 3 to 7 cm thick and 10 to 20 cm long. It has a pungent flavour. There are many varieties of radish but familiar ones are white & red.

Radish is a cool-season, fast-maturing, easy-to-grow vegetable. Garden radishes can be grown wherever there is sun and moist, fertile soil, even on the smallest city lot. Early varieties usually grow best in the cool days of early spring, but some later-maturing varieties can be planted for summer use.

Origin and Distribution

It has its origin in Western Asia. It was cultivated in Egypt, Greece & Rome but now its cultivation is spread all over the world - America, Africa, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, China and other countries.

Properties of radish

Diuretic, laxative, liver tonic, anti-scorbutic, carminative, stimulant, lithnotriptic.

Food Value of radish

Radish is one of the richest sources of iron, calcium and sodium among all the common vegetables. Its leaves are used more as food item than roots. To derive all the benefits, eat raw vegetables. Cooking destroys nutritional contents and vitamins.

Analysis of radish and radish leaves gives the following composition (per 100 gm's of edible part):

Medicinal Uses & benefits

1. The leaves of radish are diuretic, antiscorbutic and laxative.
2. The juice and the fresh root are effective piles remedies. One should take 50 to 70 ml juice morning and evening for a week at least.
3. Radishes are an excellent food remedy for stone, gravel and scorbutic conditions. The juice has been used in the treatment of cholelithiasis as an aid in preventing the formation of biliary calculi.
4. The juice is also of much value in dysuria and stranguary or severe urethral pain (doses-50 to 70 ml morning and evening). A cupful of radish leaf juice given once daily for 15 days, dissolves calculi in the urinary tract and cystitis - the swelling of bladder.
5. In chest complaints, a syrup prepared by mixing a teaspoonful of fresh radish juice with equal quantity of honey and small amount of rock salt given 3 times daily is highly useful in hoarseness, whooping cough, bronchial disorders.
6. In jaundice, leaves of radish bring about miraculous relief. 500 ml juice should be obtained, glucose & lemon juice is also added and taken daily in divided doses.
7. In leucoderma, a paste of seeds in vinegar is applied on the white spots.