Land Cress

Land cress is growing strongly in streams all over ireland at this time of year and, providing it is clear running water with no effluent running into it from grazing animals (which introduces serious risks, including liver fluke parasite), it is safe to pick. Best picked in spring and autumn, the darker leaves have best flavour. Wash well, trim, and shake dry before use.

Although hailed as one of the most potent of todayas asuperfoodsa, there is nothing new about land cress.

As darina allen points out in her invaluable book, forgotten skills of cooking (kyle cathie), land cress aaformed part of the diet of hermits and holy men, who valued its special properties, which we now know include significant amounts of iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamins a and c.

Blood purifier.

Garden cress helps purify blood and stimulate appetite.

It is used during constipation as a laxative and a purgative. Paste made of the seeds can be taken internally with honey to treat amoebic dysentery. The mucilage of the germinating seeds allays the irritation of the intestines in dysentery and diarrhea.

High nutritive content of cress seeds. Its given to specially to post partum mothers and lactating mothers as it enhances milk production.

Garden cress seeds being the richest source of non-haeme iron [iron found in hemoglobin which is an easily absorbed dietary iron.] help to increase the hemoglobin levels. When taken regularly, it helps to alleviate anemia. It is advisable to have vitamin c half an hour after consumption of these seeds as it enhances iron absorption.

Garden cress seeds contain antioxidants like vitamin a and e which help protect cells from damage by free radicals. Hence, these seeds have a chemoprotective [drugs which protect healthy tissue from the toxic effects of anticancer drugs] nature.

Cress seeds are stimulant to bile function.it protects the liver from damage from toxic agents like carbon tetra chloride (ccl4). Presence of flavonoids, triterpens, alkaloids, tannins provide protection to the liver.

It is an abortifacient [substance that induces abortion], if had in excess. It contains goitrogens that prevent iodine absorption in thyroids and hence can lead to hypothyroidism. If large quantities of garden cress are consumed, the mustard oil it contains may cause digestive difficulties in some people who are sensitive to it. Therefore, garden cress should be eaten in moderation.