We all know of mustard as that yellow or yellow-brown goop we put on hot dogs and sandwiches but it, like many other spices, is also a medicinal herb.  If you ever watch the old western television series from fifties and sixties, you often see people being treated with a mustard plaster.  Some herbalists still recommend them for colds, flu and bronchial pneumonia.  You make a mustard plaster by mixing mustard powder with water and then spread the mix on a clean cloth, cover with gauze, and apply to the chest.  This also works well for removing phlegm.  Don't leave it on too long, as it can irritate the skin.  Externally, herbalists recommend mustard for arthritis, back pain and muscle aches. Mustard oil diluted with rubbing alcohol can be applied to the skin to improve blood circulation.   Internally, mustard mixed with honey was traditionally used to treat coughs.  Mix mustard with lemon juice, salt, honey, and hot water to make a gargle for sore throats.  Mustard powder mixed with water or oil can be put on the face like a mask and washed off a few minutes later to produce smoother, healthier looking skin.  Add mustard powder to a bath and soak in it to relieve muscle aches.  A little mustard mixed with water and drank can induce vomiting.

Some non-medicinal and non-culinary uses of mustard:

• Use a little mustard and water to rinse out stinky bottles
• Sprinkle white mustard seeds in your garden to retard weed growth
• Put mustard on foil plates to repel deer and other wild animals

On the non-physical level, mustard is said to improve fertility and increase mental powers.