Bittercress - Cardamine hirsuta

Bittercress, hairy bittercress, Cardamine hirsuta, has been used historically in folk medicine for respiratory issues and digestive complaints. It contains vitamins A and C, antioxidants, and glucosinolates, which are compounds that may help the body detoxify and have potential anti-tumor properties. It can be consumed raw in salads, where it adds a peppery flavor similar to watercress. It is part of the Brassicaceae family of plants, which are known to have anticancer properties. There is research into whether it can be used as an antidiabetic.

A study on rats concluded that it aided in stabilizing blood sugar and reduced oxidative stress.¹ Another study concerns the application of bittercress nanoparticles to fight cancer.²

Suggested dosing: Tincture 1-3 ml 3 times a day.

Possible side effects: Allergy

Contraindications: None. This plant is generally regarded as safe.

¹ In Vitro, In Silico, and In Vivo Studies of Cardamine hirsuta Linn as a Potential Antidiabetic Agent in a Rat Model. Aqna Malik, Ali Sharif, Hafiz Muhammad Zubair, Bushra Akhtar,Aisha Mobashar.

² Math, Halaswamy Hire, Kariyellappa Nagaraja Shashiraj, Raju Suresh Kumar, Muthuraj Rudrappa, Meghashyama Prabhakara Bhat, Dhanyakumara Shivapoojar Basavarajappa, Abdulrahman I. Almansour, Karthikeyan Perumal, and Sreenivasa Nayaka. 2023. "Investigation of In Vitro Anticancer and Apoptotic Potential of Biofabricated Silver Nanoparticles from Cardamine hirsuta (L.) Leaf Extract against Caco-2 Cell Line" Inorganics 11, no. 8: 322. https://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics11080322

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose or treat any illness. I am not a medical professional and cannot diagnose or treat any illness.