Mustard Essential Oil
Mustard Essential Oil. Brassica nigra is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. Analysis of seeds in archaeological sites show that it has occurred as a weed in association with the growing of wheat and barley from their domestication in the Neolithic period onwards. The spread of Brassica nigra worldwide has often been through its contamination of cereal grain. The plant itself can grow from 2 to 8 feet tall with racemes of small yellow flowers. These flowers are usually up to 1/3" across, with 4 petals each. Its leaves are covered in small hairs. The leaves can wilt on hot days, but recover at night. Since the 1950s, black mustard has become less popular as compared to brown mustard because some cultivars of brown mustard have seeds that can be mechanically harvested in a more efficient manner.
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| Botanical Name: | Brassica nigra L. |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Synonyms: | Sinapsis nigra, Brassica sinapioides, black mustard, |
| See Also: | |
| Parts Used: | Seeds macerated in water |
| Extraction Method: | Steam Distillation. |
| Appearance: | Colourless to pale yellow liquid |
| Aroma Description: | Sharp, penetrating, acrid |
| Perfume note: | |
| Consistancy: | Thin |
| Strength of Initial Aroma: | |
| Blends well with: | |
| Historical Uses: | Seeds are used as a condiment and have been valued as an aid to digestion, to promote appetite, and for fevers, colds, flu, chills, coughs, chillblains, rheumatism and arthritis. |
| Modern Uses: | Not for home use, Used in some pharmaceutical preparations as counter irritant. Much used as a flavouring, and a little use in dog and cat repellants. |
| Cautions: | Oral toxin, dermal toxin, mucous membrane irritant. |
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