Horseradish is a perennial plant that can reach 40-120cm (sometimes even 150cm) in height during flowering. Horseradish has a thick rosette of rhizome leaves. It has a strong, thick, fleshy, whitish, branched rhizome, which is on average 1-5 cm in diameter and often more than 100 cm in length. Root leaves are on long stems, large, 30-60 cm long, elongated; lower stem leaves on short stems, upper ones - sessile, elongated. The flowers are arranged in clusters. The flower consists of four white petals. Fruits - elongated, elliptical seeds (4-6mm long). The plant blooms in June and July. The fruits ripen in August and September. Reproduces mainly vegetatively, producing few seeds, sometimes none at all.

Horseradish root (which has reached a diameter of at least 1.5 cm) is mainly used for medicinal purposes. It starts to be dug in the second year of life. Harvest is usually done in late autumn after the leaves have died or in early spring before the new leaves appear. In the past, people had a simple principle - horseradish is dug in all months with the letter "R". The excavated rhizome is cleaned of sand and immediately divided - the usable part and material for the new seedlings. Store, like most root fruits, in boxes with earth, sand or peat, in a dark and cool place - usually in cellars. Material for seedlings can also be stored this way or planted immediately. The storage temperature is from 0C to +3C degrees.

Horseradish contains steroids: beta sitosterol, campesterin, flavonoids; in leaves and flowers - kaempferol, quercetin, 3-O-beta-D-glucosyl-beta-D- kaempferol xyloside, 3-O-beta-D-glucosyl-beta-D- quercetin xylosyl; in leaves- 3-O-kaempferol glycoside, 3-O-quercetin glycoside; in flowers- 3-O-beta-D- kaempferol glycoside, thioglycosides; in rhizomes, sinigrin, gluconasturcin, isothio- and thiocyanites; in the roots - allylthiocyanic and allylisothiocyanic acids, allylthiocyanate, as well as other nitrogen-containing compounds, mustard oil up to 0.2%.

Medicinal significance

Horseradish root extract has many valuable properties: anti-inflammatory, immunostimulating, antimicrobial. The juice of the rhizome has an antibacterial, enzymatic and antiabotic effect. Horseradish also acts as an appetite stimulant and enhances the secretion of the digestive tract.

In folk medicine, horseradish juice was used as an antibacterial agent to treat flu, angina - to rinse the mouth and throat, treat tonsillitis, toothache, pieces of it were placed in the ears to treat ear infections.

A mixture of fresh juice and water is effective in the treatment of anacid gastritis, dysentery, liver disease and giardiasis, as well as hypertensive disease and is used as an adjunct in the treatment of viral hepatitis.

By boiling horseradish root together with juniper berries in beer, you can get a remedy that can reduce swelling. In folk medicine, horseradish root is used to improve appetite, improve the functioning of the digestive tract, edema, kidney diseases, as well as bladder diseases. It is useful as an expectorant in case of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. It can also be used in case of scurvy, physical and moral exhaustion, malaria. Horseradish root can be grated and applied in the form of rheumatism, gout and purulent wounds.

Horse-radish has also found its place in home cosmetics, as a whitening agent against freckles and pigmentation spots. Also, horseradish root grated together with apples will be an indispensable tool for restoring the youth of the skin. 

When using horseradish root, in large quantities, inflammation of the side-kidneys and digestive tract can also be observed.

Care should also be taken when grating horseradish root - its roots can cause a strong cough, eye inflammation and increased lacrimation.

For men

Horseradish is commonly used in mixtures with other herbs to treat prostatitis

Not recommended for use

Horseradish root is not recommended for people with increased gastric juice, stomach ulcers or colitis.

Diet recipes

Horseradish salad

50 gr. horseradish, 10 gr. sugar, 10 gr. vegetable oils, vinegar, salt.

Sprinkle the grated horseradish roots with 2 tbsp. boiling water, add sugar, salt, vinegar and vegetable oil. Mix and sprinkle with dill or parsley.

Horseradish salad with apples and carrots

60 gr. horseradish, 10 gr. carrot, 50 gr. apple, 20 gr. cream, 10 gr. sugar, salt.

Grind horseradish, carrot and apple in a meat grinder or grate, add sugar and salt. Add cream.

Salad from horseradish, eggs and cream

50 gr. horseradish, 1 egg, 20 gr. cream, sugar, vinegar, salt.

Wash and grate the horseradish, cut the egg, mix with the horseradish, add cream, sugar, salt and vinegar. Stir.

Sandwiches with butter and horseradish

200 gr. horseradish, 100 gr. butter, 20 gr. sugar, vinegar and salt.

Add vinegar, salt and sugar to grated horseradish, keep for 2 hours, add butter, mix and use for sandwiches.

Horseradish drink with sauerkraut juice

200 gr. horseradish, 500 gr. sauerkraut juice, up to 1L of water.

Sprinkle grated horseradish with water and let it stand for 2-3 hours. Add sauerkraut juice, mix and cool.

Kvass with horseradish

2 tbsp. grated horseradish, 1L bread kvass. Grind the horseradish in a meat grinder or grate, cover with kvass, mix and leave for 10 hours. The layers are separated and bottled.

Horseradish sauce

100 gr. horseradish, 100 gr. cream, 200 gr. vinegar, salt.

Grated horseradish is sprinkled with vinegar, boiled for 20 minutes, the thickets are separated, cream is added and mixed.

Addition of horseradish

1 kg of horseradish, 100 gr. sugar, 40 gr. vinegar essences, 40 gr. salt, 800 gr. water.

Horseradish roots are ground or grated. Add sugar, salt, vinegar essence with water, mix everything thoroughly and place in cold, closed containers.

Horseradish powder

Horseradish roots are coarsely grated, dried in the oven. Grind in a coffee grinder and store in tightly closed containers. Before using the powder, soak it in water, add salt and vinegar.