Description
Medicinal Parts
The medicinal part is the fresh root. The plant is an important drug in homeopathic medicine.
Flower and Fruit
The raceme is loose and has about 30 flowers. The pedicles are 1 to 2 cm long and are covered in scattered bristles. The sepals are 6.5 to 10 mm long, oblong, acute, glabrous or with scattered bristles, and red or green. The petals are 17 to 22 mm long, obovate, slightly margined, violet or white with dark veins. The fruit is on upright, patent stems. They are upright, cylindrical, and conically acuminate. The upper segment is up to 9 cm long and even or slightly constricted between the seeds, and strawlike on the outside. The seeds are ovate, 4 mm long and 3 mm wide, light brown with a black hilum.
Leaves, Stem, and Root
The root is annual or biennial and thin. The stem is up to 1 m high, bent, canelike, branched, glabrous or covered with bristles, and often violet, particularly in the axils of the lateral branches. The lower leaves are lyrate-pinnatisect with large sweeping crenate end segments and smaller, oblong-ovate, obtuse, dentate lateral lobes. They are light green, often red-veined and covered with scattered, appressed bristles.
Characteristics
The large, thick, tuberous, fleshy root is hot to the taste.
Habitat
The plant is probably indigenous to China and Japan and today is cultivated in most temperate regions of the world.
Production
Radish consists of the fresh roots of Raphanus sativus and its preparations. It is a cultivated plant.
Other Names
Common Radish, Garden Radish
Actions & Pharmacology
Compounds
Glucosinolates in the fresh, unbruised rhizome: chief component 4-methylthio-3-butenyl-glucosinolate, glucobrassin, sinigrin, glucoraphanine
Effects
The drug is said to be choleretic and antimicrobial and to increase motility in the upper gastrointestinal tract, an effect caused by the mustard oils. A choleretic effect and an antiviral effect were proved in animal experiments. Radish has a secretolytic effect in patients suffering from chronic bronchitis.
Indications & Usage
Approved by Commission E:
- Cough/Bronchitis
- Dyspeptic complaints
Radish is used internally for respiratory catarrh and dyspeptic disorders, especially those related to dyskinesia of the bile ducts.
Unproven Uses
In folk medicine Radish is used for whooping cough and gallstones.
Chinese Medicine
In China, Radish is used to treat coughs, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Indian Medicine
Uses in India include dyspeptic complaints, nausea, flatulence, gallbladder disturbances, headache, neuralgias, and urological conditions.
Homeopathic Uses
Raphanus sativus is used for poor digestion and oily skin.
Contraindications
Not to be used in the presence of cholelithiasis.
Precautions & Adverse Reactions
No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.
Overdosage
Administration of higher dosages of the fresh root could lead to mucus membrane irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the cholagogic effect of the drug, biliary colic could be triggered in patients with gallstones.
Dosage
Preparation:
Radish-honey juice — 1 radish is grated and the resulting juice is mixed with honey, then allowed to stand for 10 hours.
Radish plant juice — The Radish is washed, cut and grated and up to 17% of the liquid is pressed out. 1-liter of juice is extracted from 1.3 kg of fresh drug.
Daily Usage
- Pressed juice — 50 to 100 mL; 1/2 tablespoon several times daily over a 3-day period.
- Radish-honey juice — spoonfuls taken over the course of the day for whooping cough.
Homeopathic Dosage
5 drops, 1 tablet, or 10 globules every 30 to 60 minutes (acute) or 1 to 3 times daily (chronic); parenterally: 1 to 2 mL sc acute: 3 times daily; chronic: once a day (HAB1)
