Watercress
Watercress (Dou Ban)
Botanical Name: Nasturtium officinale
Widely used as a leafy green in salads and sandwiches, watercress’s high nutritional value makes it a true “food as medicine” plant. It has superior cleansing and nourishing functions and it is a prime anabolic blood builder, restoring the blood both structurally and functionally.
Watch a short video, from Ann Christensen, Founder and Creator of White Rabbit Institute of Healing™ – Many People Don’t Know This About Watercress…
Remember to check with your doctor before trying new medicines or herbal remedies, especially if you are taking other medication where drug interactions are possible.
Below is an overview of watercress, combining the best of Western Science, Oriental Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Shamanism, Folklore, and a wide range of healing modalities. Gain a balanced and thorough understanding of the healing properties of watercress.
How to take FULL advantage of Watercress's healing powers!
CHECK OUT our Herb Health Session on Watercress. (All Healing Herb Health Sessions are included in WRI’s Complete Collection PLUS+.)

Western
Also Known As: N/A
Organs/Systems: Digestion, Lungs, Cardiovascular System, Intestines, Skin
Key Actions: Stimulant, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Expectorant, Digestive, Depurative, Hypoglycemic, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Anticancer, Anabolic Blood Builder
Medicinal Uses: Lung cancer, a digestion, constipation, goiter, gout, rheumatism, colds, flu, immune enhancing, baldness, lowers blood pressure, regulates blood sugar, diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, builds blood, protects blood vessels, and prevents parasitic worms. Used externally for eczema, scabies, arthritis and earaches.

Eastern
Also Known As: Chinese Watercress
Meridians: Spleen, Lung, Stomach, Intestines, Liver
Key Actions: Promotes Qi, Blood and Lactation, Supports the Liver and the Stomach, Clears Lung Heat, Expels Damp Phlegm
Medicinal Uses: Blood deficiency with fatigue, pale face and nails, anemia, thyroid deficiency, as well as mental or physical exhaustion, low painful digestion, diabetes, clears toxins, cleanses the lymphatic system, lung congestion, chronic and degenerative diseases, skin eruptions, scurvy, scrofula, urinary stones and gallstones, intestinal parasites, bronchitis, yellow-green copious phlegm, head congestion, colds, flu, cataracts, blurry vision, macular degeneration.
Basic Habitat/Botany:
Native to Europe and Asia. It is semi-aquatic, thriving in water that is slightly alkaline. Frequently produced around the headwaters of chalk streams.
Parts Most Frequently Used: Stems, Leaves, Seeds for Oil
Flavors/Temps: Pungent, Slightly Bitter, Cool, Dry
Caution: None noted.
Key Constituents: Significant amounts of Iron, Calcium, Iodine, Manganese and Folic acid. Vitamins A, B6, C, and K, Omega-3 Fatty acids, Phosphorus, and Copper. DIM (diindolylmethane), Sulforaphane, Alpha-Lipoic acid, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Zeaxanthin, Lutein
History/Folklore: One of the oldest known leafy vegetables consumed by humans. The Romans used it as a staple in the diet of soldiers to help build strength and stamina. Watercress is eaten fresh as it is unsuitable in dry form. Therefore, it is rarely found in capsules or extract forms, fresh or powdered extract forms remain the preferred preparation as they contain the highest levels of active nutrient and antioxidants.
Used since the time of Hippocrates as a stimulant and expectorant to treat coughs and bronchitis. It is said watercress was naturalized by Nicholas Messier in Germany in the 16th century. In the nineteenth century it was brought to Canada and the United States where the climate was right and there were plenty of waterways for the plant to spread.
The high Vitamin C levels help the body absorb iron. Watercress is also high in vitamin K, A, and E. It also contains a host of key minerals used by the body to function and stay healthy. For this reason, it is considered a superfood. It is considered excellent for reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease.
Studies have found that the compounds DIM (diindolylmethane) and sulforaphane help to prevent cancer and slow its progression. The compounds zeaxanthin and lutein, also found in watercress, belong to the carotenoid family and have been proven to help support eye health. These compounds protect the eye from blue light damage, cataracts, and macular degeneration.
The plant’s active principles are said to be at their best when the plant is in flower. The best way to prepare watercress is to juice it or eat it fresh in salads.
It is excellent at cleansing and nourishing all the body’s fluids as well as the endocrine system and it addresses both pituitary and thyroid deficiencies. It is a remedy for chronic and degenerative diseases as well as a dietary maintenance supplement.
Crushed watercress leaves can be applied as a poultice to treat gout and rheumatism.
The Chinese consider watercress a food for nourishing the lungs. It is popularly used to support skin health, support thyroid deficiency and help counter chronic physical and emotional fatigue.

Remedy For Scurvy

Natural Diuretic

Cleanses Toxins
How to use Watercress to take FULL advantage of it's healing powers!
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