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Known for its pungent taste, Horseradish has been used as a condiment and medicine for centuries in Europe.

Horseradish contains many compounds similar to mustard, which is in the same botanical family. It is essential in cocktail sauce, specialty mustards, and many other sauces, dips, spreads, relishes and dressings.

Medicinally, horseradish was used both internally and externally. Applied to the skin, it causes reddening and was used on arthritic joints or irritated nerves. The glycosides are responsible for the reddening effect (by increasing blood flow to the area) when horseradish is applied topically.

Internally, it was considered primarily to be a diuretic, used for kidney stones or edema, and an antiseptic treatment for hacking coughs.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Horseradish for 'Internal: Catarrhs of the respiratory tract; supportive therapy for infections of the urinary tract. External: Catarrhs of the respiratory tract; hyperemic treatment for minor muscle aches.'

'Contraindications: Internal: Stomach and intestinal ulcers, kidney disorders. No administration to children under the age of 4. Side Effects: Internal: Discomforts of the gastrointestinal tract.

'Average daily dosage: 20 g of fresh root; equivalent preparations. External: Preparations with a maximum of 2 percent mustard oil. Mode of Administration: Fresh or dried, cut or ground root, freshly pressed juice as well as other galenical preparations for internal or external applications. Actions: Antimicrobial; Hyperemic.'

Horseradish has antibiotic properties, which may account for its easing of throat and upper respiratory tract infections. It was also recommended as a digestive stimulant.

Grieve's classic 'A Modern Herbal': 'Stimulant, aperient, rubefacient, diuretic and antiseptic. It is a powerful stimulant, whether applied internally or externally as a rubefacient, and has aperient and antiseptic properties.'

'Taken with oily fish or rich meat, either by itself or steeped in vinegar, or in a plain sauce, it acts as an excellent stimulant to the digestive organs, and as a spur to complete digestion.'

'It is a very strong diuretic, and was employed by old herbalists in calculus and like affections. It is useful in the treatment of dropsy. An infusion for dropsy is prepared by pouring 1 pint of boiling water on 1 oz. of Horseradish and ½ oz. of Mustard seed, crushed. The dose is 2 to 3 tablespoonsful three times a day.'

'The chief official preparation of Horseradish in the British Pharmacopoeia is Comp. Sp. Horseradish; a fluid extract is also prepared. A compound spirit of Horseradish may be prepared with slices of the fresh root, orange peel, nutmeg and spirit of wine, which proves effective in languid digestion, as well as for chronic rheumatism, 1 or 2 teaspoonsful being taken two or three times daily after meals with half a wineglassful of water.'

'The root is expectorant, antiscorbutic, and if taken too freely, emetic. It contains so much sulphur that it is serviceable used externally as a rubefacient in chronic rheumatism and in paralytic complaints. A poultice of the scraped root serves instead of a mustard plaister. Scraped horseradish if applied to chilblains, secured with a light bandage, will help to cure them. For facial neuralgia, some of the fresh scrapings, if held in the hand of the affected side, will give relief - the hand in some cases within a short time becoming bloodlessly white and benumbed.'

'When infused in wine, Horseradish root will stimulate the whole nervous system and promote perspiration. An infusion of sliced Horseradish in milk, by its stimulating pungency and the sulphur it contains, makes an excellent cosmetic for the skin when lacking clearness and freshness of colour. Horseradish juice mixed with white vinegar will also, applied externally, help to remove freckles. The same mixture, well diluted with water and sweetened with glycerine, gives marked relief to children in whooping-cough, 1 or 2 desertspoonsful being taken at a time.'

'Horseradish syrup is very effectual in hoarseness: 1 drachm of the root, fresh scraped, with 4 oz. of water, is infused two hours in a close vessel and made into a syrup with double its weight in sugar. The dose is a teaspoonful or two, occasionally repeated.'

'If eaten at frequent intervals during the day and at meals, Horseradish is said to be most efficacious in getting rid of the persistent cough following influenza.'

King's 1898 Dispensatory: 'Stimulant, sialagogue, diuretic, antiscorbutic, and rubefacient. The pungent and acrid nature of the fresh root, with the faucial and nasal irritation and consequent lachrymation, are well-known effects to those who use it as a condiment.'

'Externally applied it is rubefacient and may vesicate. It promotes all the secretions, the urinary in particular, and stimulates the stomach when this organ is enfeebled. By its sialagogue and stimulant effects upon the gastric membranes it promotes digestion.'

'The infusion is emetic. It has been used with advantage in chronic affections attended with debility of the digestive organs, and of the general system, as in paralysis, rheumatism, dropsy, and as an antiscorbutic in scurvy.'

'In dropsy an infusion of the root in cider, and drank as warm as could be borne, in large quantities and freely, the patient being warmly covered up, has caused copious diuresis and diaphoresis, and cured the disease in a few weeks; the operation being repeated nightly, or as the strength of the patient would permit.'

'Horseradish was formerly much employed to produce abortion, frequently effecting this object, when other internal agents failed; it was used as follows: A saturated infusion of the recent roots in whiskey was made, of which 4 fluid ounces was the dose, repeating it 3 or 4 times every day, and continuing its use until the desired effect was produced.'

'Locally the vinegar infusion is said to remove tan and freckles. The grated root, with sugar and water to form a syrup, is excellent for hoarseness; a spoonful or two may be swallowed as occasion requires. It has been also used externally as a rubefacient. Dose of the root grated, from 1 to 2 drachms.'

British Pharmaceutical Codex, 1911: 'Horseradish has the same action as the peppers and more irritant volatile oils, and has been used as a diuretic. It is employed mainly as a condiment for stimulating digestion. Spiritus Armoraciae Compositus is official, and an infusion of the drug may be used as a gargle, or taken as a stimulant.'