Mustard seed
Other names: white mustard, Sinapis alba, Brassica alba
Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)
Mustard, also known as white mustard, Sinapis alba or Brassica alba, is an agricultural crop, grown mainly for its seeds. Mustard seeds are round, initially green, later yellowish, and range from one to two millimetres in diameter. Mustard is an annual plant that grows to a height of between 30 and 90 centimetres. The plant has a long rhizome from which the leaves grow straight out.
As far as the uses of this plant are concerned, both the narrowness and the variety of its applications are extremely wide. In particular, the seeds of the mustard seed are used to make mustard, specifically for the French and American variants of this popular condiment. In addition, the seeds are also used in the production of mayonnaise, in which they promote emulsification. However, mustard is also of great importance in alternative medicine, where its medicinal properties are exploited. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it is used in compresses and baths to relieve muscle and joint pain. It is also added to diets for its detoxifying properties.