The Medicinal Uses of Nasturtium

A little while back I posted an article on the benefit of growing nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus) in the garden as a trap plant to keep cabbage butterflies off broccoli and cabbage.  And at the time that I was researching and writing that article, I came across so many references to the medicinal uses of nasturtium.  I began to wonder whether these were some hippy-feel-good-about-the-earth-so-we-make-stuff-up benefits, or whether there is really something to it. 

It turns out that nasturtiums really hit a home run!  Not only do they dress up the yard and keep cabbage butterflies off vegetable plants, they are also edible and useful as medicine.  And not merely in a “drink a little tea if you have a cold,” but nasturtiums have been demonstrated to be as effective as ampicillin and chloramphenicol in managing bacterial infections![1]  A nasturtium extract has even been noted for efficacy against bacteria that have become resistant to TMP-SMZ (trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole).[2] [3]

HARVEST

Harvesting the plant to produce medicine is easy—you use the aerial parts—anything growing above the ground.  While the flowers are medicinal, the leaves are more medicinal.   And that’s nice, because then you can save the flowers for eating.[4] 

EFFECTIVE AGAINST

·       Bacteria

o   Bacillus spp.[5]

o   Pseudomonas aeruginosa[6]

o   Salmonella spp.[7]

·       Fungi

o   Candida albicans[8]

PREPARATIONS

Infusion.  Use the fresh leaf if at all possible.[9] 

Tincture.  Tincture the leaves and flowers in alcohol.[10]  The most effective antibiotic comes from a tincture of the leaves.[11]

MODERN USAGE

·       Cardiovascular

o   Hypertension[12]

·       Respiratory

o   Acute bronchitis[13]

o   Acute sinusitis[14]

·       Skin

o   Abscesses (fresh herb poultice)[15]

o   Acne (alcohol extract; dried herb infusion) [16]

o   Bedsores (fresh herb poultice)[17]

o   Boils (fresh herb poultice)[18]

o   Eczema (alcohol extract) [19]

o   Itching (leaf juice) [20]

o   Parasites

§  Mites, fleas, and lice (vinegar tincture of fresh leaves)[21]

o   Wounds[22]

·       Urogenital

o   Urinary tract infection[23] [24]

HISTORICAL USAGE

·       Gastrointestinal

o   Gallstone prevention[25]

·       Respiratory

o   Bronchitis (leaf extract) [26]

o   Colds (syrup) [27]

o   Cough (syrup) [28]

o   Diphtheria[29]

o   Tonsillitis (leaf extract) [30]

NUTRITIONAL VALUE

Nasturtiums are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, and iron. [31]

In addition to all of the above, nasturtiums are a powerful antioxidant—the orange petals (eat them in salads) are higher in antioxidants than blueberries![32]  On top of that, the red petals are even higher in antioxidants than the orange petals.[33]  (But they may not be as effective in keeping cabbage butterflies off the veggies.)  Furthermore, nasturtiums exert an anti-inflammatory effect comparable to over the counter NSAIDs.  Because they operate by a different pathway, they can effectively be used in combination with conventional NSAIDs to reduce inflammation even more.[34]

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[1] Monica Butnariu, et al., Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the volatile oil compounds from Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium), African Journal of Biotechnology, 29 June 2011, Vol 10 No 31, https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380902607_Butnariu%20and%20Bostan.pdf (accessed 9 December 2021).

[2] Florian M Wagenlehner, M et al, Non-Antibiotic Herbal Therapy (BNO 1045) versus Antibiotic Therapy (Fosfomycin Trometamol) for the Treatment of Acute Lower Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infections in Women: A Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Randomized, Multicentre, Non-Inferiority Phase III Trial, Urologia internationalis 2018, Vol 101 No 3, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6262678/ (accessed 10 December 2021).

[3] R Stange, et al., Results of a randomized, prospective, double-dummy, double-blind trial to compare efficacy and safety of a herbal combination containing Tropaeoli majoris herba and Armoraciae rusticanae radix with co-trimoxazole in patients with acute and uncomplicated cystitis, Res Rep Urol., 2017, Vol 9, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5359132/ (accessed 10 December 2021).

[4] Monica Butnariu, et al., Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the volatile oil compounds from Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium), African Journal of Biotechnology, 29 June 2011, Vol 10 No 31, https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380902607_Butnariu%20and%20Bostan.pdf (accessed 9 December 2021).

[5] Monica Butnariu, et al., Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the volatile oil compounds from Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium), African Journal of Biotechnology, 29 June 2011, Vol 10 No 31, https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380902607_Butnariu%20and%20Bostan.pdf (accessed 9 December 2021).

[6] Monica Butnariu, et al., Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the volatile oil compounds from Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium), African Journal of Biotechnology, 29 June 2011, Vol 10 No 31, https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380902607_Butnariu%20and%20Bostan.pdf (accessed 9 December 2021).

[7] Monica Butnariu, et al., Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the volatile oil compounds from Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium), African Journal of Biotechnology, 29 June 2011, Vol 10 No 31, https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380902607_Butnariu%20and%20Bostan.pdf (accessed 9 December 2021).

[8] Monica Butnariu, et al., Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the volatile oil compounds from Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium), African Journal of Biotechnology, 29 June 2011, Vol 10 No 31, https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380902607_Butnariu%20and%20Bostan.pdf (accessed 9 December 2021).

[9] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[10] Monica Butnariu, et al., Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the volatile oil compounds from Tropaeolum majus L. (nasturtium), African Journal of Biotechnology, 29 June 2011, Vol 10 No 31, https://academicjournals.org/article/article1380902607_Butnariu%20and%20Bostan.pdf (accessed 9 December 2021).

[11] Hamzeh Amiri, Volatile constituents and antioxidant activity of flowers, stems and leaves of Nasturtium officinale Natural Product Research, 2012, Vol 26 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21815727/ (accessed 10 December 2021).

[12] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/   (accessed 9 December 2021).

[13] KH Goos, et al., Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit eines pflanzlichen Arzneimittels mit Kapuzinerkressenkraut und Meerrettich bei akuter Sinusitis, akuter Bronchitis und akuter Blasenentzündung im Vergleich zu anderen Therapien unter den Bedingungen der täglichen Praxis. Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Kohortenstudie [Efficacy and safety profile of a herbal drug containing nasturtium herb and horseradish root in acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis and acute urinary tract infection in comparison with other treatments in the daily practice/results of a prospective cohort study]. Arzneimittelforschung, 2006, Vol 56 No 3, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16618018/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[14] KH Goos, et al., Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit eines pflanzlichen Arzneimittels mit Kapuzinerkressenkraut und Meerrettich bei akuter Sinusitis, akuter Bronchitis und akuter Blasenentzündung im Vergleich zu anderen Therapien unter den Bedingungen der täglichen Praxis. Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Kohortenstudie [Efficacy and safety profile of a herbal drug containing nasturtium herb and horseradish root in acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis and acute urinary tract infection in comparison with other treatments in the daily practice/results of a prospective cohort study]. Arzneimittelforschung, 2006, Vol 56 No 3, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16618018/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[15] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/  (accessed 9 December 2021).

[16] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[17] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/  (accessed 9 December 2021).

[18] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[19] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[20] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/  (accessed 9 December 2021).

[21] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[22] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/  (accessed 9 December 2021).

[23] U Albrecht, et al., A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of a herbal medicinal product containing Tropaeoli majoris herba (Nasturtium) and Armoraciae rusticanae radix (Horseradish) for the prophylactic treatment of patients with chronically recurrent lower urinary tract infections, Current Medical Research and Opinion, October 2007, Vol 23 No 10, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17723159/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[24] KH Goos, et al., Wirksamkeit und Verträglichkeit eines pflanzlichen Arzneimittels mit Kapuzinerkressenkraut und Meerrettich bei akuter Sinusitis, akuter Bronchitis und akuter Blasenentzündung im Vergleich zu anderen Therapien unter den Bedingungen der täglichen Praxis. Ergebnisse einer prospektiven Kohortenstudie [Efficacy and safety profile of a herbal drug containing nasturtium herb and horseradish root in acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis and acute urinary tract infection in comparison with other treatments in the daily practice/results of a prospective cohort study]. Arzneimittelforschung, 2006, Vol 56 No 3, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16618018/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[25] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[26] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[27] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[28] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[29] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[30] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[31] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[32] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[33] K Jakubczyk, et al., Garden nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus L.) - a source of mineral elements and bioactive compounds, Rocz Panstw Zakl Hig, 2018, Vol 69 No 2, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29766690/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

[34] HTT Tran, et al., Nasturtium (Indian cress, Tropaeolum majus nanum) dually blocks the COX and LOX pathway in primary human immune cells, Phytomedicine, 1 June 2016, Vol 23 No 6, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27161402/ (accessed 9 December 2021).

 18 march 2024