What is watercress?

The watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is an aquatic plant that grows so wild in riversirrigation ditches and sources of clean water throughout the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. Others types of watercress They can be grown in the ground or in pots, like the garden cress (Lepidium sativum).

It is a fleshy plantbarely two spans high, which usually also appears lying on the surface of the water. It has the split leaves (liradas) in irregular segments and the white flowersgathered in terminal clusters. It blooms from early spring to late summer and For medicinal purposes, the leaves and flowers are harvested.

Although it is from the same family as the canons, they should not be confused: The leaves of watercress are larger and its flavor is more powerful than that of lamb’s lettuce, even slightly spicy.

Nutritional properties of watercress

The watercress leaves are consumed fresh in salad or as an ingredient of vegetable soups and creams.

The healing attributes of watercress have been known since Antiquity. It was used together with fumaria, chicory and lettuce in purifying curesand for his richness in vitamin C It was highly valued to combat scurvy, a common disease in medieval Europe.

The culinary possibilities of watercress are well known, but not so much its medicinal virtues and, nevertheless, it is a great restorative and a good ally against anemia.

It is a plant very rich in mineral salts, such as iron, sodium, iodine, phosphorus and manganeseand also contains glycosides (gluconasturtoside), enzymes and bitter principles.

Medicinal properties of watercress

• For his remineralizing and vitamin virtueswatercress is very useful as support in states of weakness, anemiaconvalescence and lack of energy. It is also indicated for women affected by abundant rules and debilitating and in situations of stress fatigue either physical overexertion.
• In addition to iron, it contains folic acidso it is a vegetable highly recommended during pregnancy and even before this.
• It is also shown as a effective diureticindicated in cases where it is necessary to increase diuresis, due to fluid retention problems, difficulties urinating normally, edema, cystitis and as a natural means to treat high blood pressurethe drop and excess urea in the blood.
• For oily skinhe watercress extract is included in the formulation of creams, gels and soaps. He fresh watercress is used so much to treat acne such as seborrheic dermatitis.
• The fresh juice is used as a lotion to stimulate the scalp and thus combat the seborrheic dermatitis and prevent hair loss.
• The chewed leaves for a while, they are indicated to promote salivation and to combat inflammation of the gums in case of gingivitis.

Watercress broth or tea for fatigue

Indicated as a purifying and remineralizing agent, for it to be effective it is recommended to take a liter or more per day of the decoction or broth of the boiled plant.

You can also take some 150 grams of fresh plant juice. But it must be taken fresh, because once dried it loses part or all of its properties and it is even better to purchase it from organic cultivation.

Precautions and contraindications of watercress

Those prepared with watercress, internally, they should be avoided by people with gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer and hypothyroidism.

Experts warn that gluconasturtoside can interfere with the oxidation of iodides to iodine, which can affect the transport of iodine to the thyroid gland and decrease thyroxine production.

High doses or prolonged treatments are not recommended to avoid possible gastric or kidney irritations.

Jordi Cebrián. Advisor: J Mª Teixé, herbalist from “El Manantial de Salud”