Rajeeka / Indian Mustard / Brassica Juncea – Classification, Ayurvedic Properties & Dosage

Description

Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine that helps the needful to cure diseases. Herbs are used in synergistic combinations like diet, and routine, helping to restore balance in the doshas as well as in the body. Rajeeka is a mustard seed commonly used in the kitchen and in Hindi, it is commonly known as Raai. This is specifically used as a culinary substance appreciated for its odour and carminative effect on our bodies. Various dishes are made delicious with its seeds like sambar powder, masala powder, or many seasoning dishes. Rajeeka is Brassica juncea and belongs to the family Brassicaceae. This is pungent and bitter in taste and is of hot potency so alleviates Vata and Kapha dosha. It is beneficial for various ailments like abdominal pain, anorexia, worms, wounds, and diseases of the spleen. Its oil is used for cooking purposes and is good for enhancing digestive fire.

Rajeeka, Indian Mustard, Brassica Juncea

Special Note About This Plant

Rajeeka is helpful in Kapha-vata alleviation.
This herb is commonly found in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal.
This herb is a folk remedy for paralysis, arthritis, any type of inflammatory disorder, worm infestations, or pruritis, enhancing digestion.
Indian Mustard is rich in vitamins A and C and in enough iron.
Acharya Charak and Acharya Sushrut have mentioned this herb in their textbooks with properties and indications.

Systemic Classification

Botanical Name – Brassica juncea
Family – Brassicaceae
Genus – Brassica
Species – B. juncea

Synonyms

Rajeeka, Aasuri – Due to its sharp effect.
Teekshna gandha – Due to its pungent smell.
Kshujjanika – This enhances the digestive fire.

Other Vernacular Names

In Hindi – Raai
In Bengali – Rai sarisha
In Punjabi – ohar
In Gujrati – Rai
In Malayalam – Mohari
In Tamil – kaddugu
In Telugu – Avlu
In Farsi – Sipandaan
In English – Indian Mustard

Habitat

This plant is a large branching perennial herb, growing up to .6 to 1 meter in length.

Branches – are long, erect, or patent.

Leaves – are broadly ovate or may be obovate, coarsely dentate, upper ones are lanceolate and are dark greenish in color.

Flowers – are stalked and bright yellow in color, found in corymbose racemes.

Seeds – small and brownish red in color.

This herb is commonly found in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal.

Classical Categorization

Acharya Charak has mentioned this herb in various mahakashayas like in kandughana, asthapanopaga, shirovirechnopag.
Acharya Sushruta has mentioned this herb in Pippalyadi Varga.
Acharya Vagbhata has mentioned this herb in Kandughana Varga and pippalayadi Varga.
Bhavprakash and Kaiyyadev Nighantu have mentioned this herb in Dhnaya Varga.
Dhanvantri Nighantu has mentioned this herb in Karaveeradi Varga.
Raj Nighantu has mentioned this herb in Shalyadi varga.

Ancient Verse

Shloka – 1

सर्षपः कटुक: पाके रसे हृद्यः सतिक्तक: ।
तीक्ष्णोष्णाः कफवातघ्नो रक्तपित्ताग्निवर्धनाः।।
किञ्चिद्रुक्षो जयेत् कुष्ठं कण्डुकण्ठग्रहकृमीन्।
शाकं विदाही तीक्ष्णोष्णां रूक्षं संग्राही दोषलम्।।
स्वादुष्णाः गुरु क्षारम् तद्गुणा रक्तसर्षपा:।।

Reference – Kaiyyadev Nighantu

Interpretation of Shloka – This herb is pungent and bitter in taste and acts as cardio-protective, is sharp and hot in potency, helps to alleviate the Kapha- vata dosha, aggravates the rakta-pitta roga, and enhances the digestive fire. It is slightly dry in nature so may help with skin diseases, pruritus, and throat pain. It can be used as a vegetable, another variety named Rakta sarshap is slightly sweet, hot, and heavy to digest, and also has scrapping qualities.

Shloka – 2

आसुरी राजिका राजी कृषष्णका रक्तसर्षपा:।
तीक्ष्णगन्धः चातितीक्ष्णा क्षुतकाः क्षवकाः क्षव:।।
आसुरी कटुतिक्तोष्णा कुष्ठघ्नी कफगुल्माजित्।
निद्राकारी शोफहरी ग्रहकारी च सा स्मृता।।

Reference – Dhanwantri Nighantu / Karavadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – Asuri, Rajika, raaji, krishnaka, rakta sarshapa, teekshanagandhah, ati teekshana, kshutak, kshavak, and kshava are the synonyms of the Rajeeka herb. This herb is pungent, bitter, and hot and cures leprosy, abdominal tumor, and evil spirits. This herb acts as a sedative or anti-inflammatory and helps by the pacification of Kapha dosha.

Shloka – 3

आसुरी कटुतिक्तोष्णा वातप्लीहार्तिशूलनुत्।
दाहपित्तदा हन्ति कफगुल्माकृमिव्रणान्।।

Raj Nighantu / Salyadi Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – This herb is pungent, bitter, and hot. It is beneficial in vata dosha, splenic disorders, and many types of pain. It causes a burning sensation and enhances the pitta dosha. It cures disorders due to Kapha dosha, worms, or lumps on abdominal quantity and is good for healing purposes.

Shloka – 4

Reference – Bhav Prakash Nighantu / Dhanya Varga

Interpretation of Shloka – Raji, Rajika, teekshnagandha, kshut janika and asuri are the synonyms of Rajika. This herb pacifies Kapha and pitta dosha, is sharp, hot, good for rakta -pitta and slightly dry in nature, enhances the digestive fire, and eradicates itching, skin diseases, and worm infestations.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent)
Guna (Quality) – Teeshana (Sharp)
Veerya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
Vipaka (Post digestive effect) – Katu (Pungent)
Karma (Action) – Balances the Vata and Kapha dosha.
Projyang (Part used) – Seeds and oil are used.

Effects On Doshas

This is helpful in pacifying the vata dosha with its ushna gunna.
It pacifies the Kapha dosha with its light, teekshana, and katu-tikta rasa.

Practical Uses

It can help our body by eradicating Kapha-Vataj diseases.
Its seeds are commonly used in paste form to reduce inflammations.
Its oil is used to calm down pruritus, rashes, and worm infestations as well as it acts as an analgesic also.
It is widely used in kitchens for cooking purposes, so it helps to enhance digestive fire and reduces indigestion and bloating-like symptoms.
External application of oil can reduce sheet pradhan Vataj diseases like paralysis, pain in the lower back, or abdominal pain.
It protects the heart and acts as a cardiac tonic.
It nourishes the body and helps in strengthening the muscles.
In throat infections or any dental pains, it can be used as gargles or may help with a normal rinse.
It helps by increasing the amount of sweating and perspiration and reduces skin conditions.
Young tender leaves of mustard greens are used in salads or can be mixed with other salad greens.