Greater nasturtium – a beauty with the power of antibiotics
Monk’s cress is an older name for nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), whose medicinal properties were already known in the 16th century. The appearance of the flowers and the name are a reference to the traditional robes of monks. It originally grew in the Andes, where indigenous tribes used it for healing, to boost strength and to aid recovery. Later, people from across the region would visit herbalists to seek out its medicinal heritage: decoctions, ointments and teas, as they understood the secrets of nature better than anyone else. In our grandmother’s herbarium, we found a description of the capuchin flower: a flowering panacea that does no harm, only helps. Today, we too can benefit from this traditional wisdom, and its benefits are scientifically proven. If you pluck a leaf from the nasturtium, the plant immediately activates a rapid regeneration mechanism and begins to ‘heal its wounds’ and continue growing. Thanks to its wide range of bioactive compounds and nutritional benefits, it is a valuable component of natural medicine and disease prevention. Modern science has discovered a wealth of beneficial substances in its leaves, flowers and seeds.
