Nasturtium: A Vibrant Flower for Immune Strength and Skin Health

Discovering the peppery power of a garden flower that doubles as a potent medicine chest. In the search for wellness, we are often taught to look for the rare, the exotic, or the complex. But what if one of the most potent allies for our health was already blooming in our garden, a vibrant burst of orange, red, and yellow?

What if a flower you’ve seen a hundred times—a simple, beautiful plant—was also a powerful pharmacy, traditionally used to fight infections, strengthen the immune system, and heal the skin?

Welcome to the world of the Nasturtium.

At Guimeds, our mission is to guide you through the knowledge of ages, revealing how nature provides for our health in the most accessible ways. The Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is a brilliant teacher in this regard. Its journey from the Andean mountains of Peru, where it was a traditional food and medicine, to gardens all over the world, is a story of resilience.

But its true power lies within its peppery, vibrant leaves and flowers. This is not just a salad ingredient; it is a profound medicinal plant. Let us get ready to dive into the science and tradition of this beautiful, edible healer.

The “Mustard Oil Bomb”: A Simple Look at Pharmacognosy

This is the “science-meets-tradition” pillar of Guimeds. To understand why Nasturtium is so powerful, we need to look at the science of pharmacognosy (the study of medicines from plants) in its simplest, most elegant form.

The first clue is its taste. When you bite into a fresh Nasturtium leaf or flower, you get a sharp, peppery, almost spicy kick, similar to mustard or wasabi.¹ That taste is the medicine.

Here’s what’s happening, explained simply:

1. The Precursors: The plant holds a compound called glucotropaeolin (a type of glucosinolate) and an enzyme called myrosinase.² They are stored separately in the plant’s cells.
2. The Activation: When you chew the leaf, chop it, or even when a pest bites it, the cell walls are broken. The compound and the enzyme mix.
3. The Medicine: This reaction creates a new, powerful substance: benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC).

This is often called a “mustard oil bomb.” It’s a tiny, brilliant defense system the plant uses to protect itself. And it turns out, this same defense system is incredibly protective for us, too. This BITC is a potent antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal agent.³

But the plant’s pharmacy doesn’t stop there. Nasturtiums are also famously packed with:

• Vitamin C: A heroic amount, often more than oranges by weight. Vitamin C is a cornerstone of immune function and essential for building collagen for healthy skin.⁴
• Lutein: A powerful carotenoid (an antioxidant) that is famous for protecting the eyes, but also plays a key role in protecting the skin from sun damage.⁵
• Antioxidants: A host of flavonoids and other compounds that help protect your body’s cells from stress and inflammation.⁶

A Shield for the Immune System

In traditional medicine, Nasturtium has always been the “go-to” for the “chest and water.” This means it was used for two primary things: respiratory infections (colds, coughs, bronchitis) and urinary tract infections.⁷

The science now shows us why.

When you eat Nasturtium, that powerful benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is absorbed into your body. And here is the brilliant part: your body excretes it through the very pathways that need help.

• For Respiratory Health: The compounds are released via the lungs. As you exhale, this natural antibacterial and antiviral agent is literally working on the tissues of your respiratory tract, helping to fight the infection and break up mucus.
• For Urinary Health: The compounds are filtered by the kidneys and excreted through the urinary tract. As it passes, the BITC acts as a potent antimicrobial, “cleansing” the bladder and urethra. This is why it’s so revered as a support for those prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Combined with its massive dose of Vitamin C, the Nasturtium acts as a two-part system: The Vitamin C strengthens your body’s own immune defenses, while the BITC actively fights the invading pathogens.

A Guardian for Skin Health

The “abundance of wellness” we seek is holistic—it’s about our internal health being reflected externally. Nasturtium is a perfect ally for this, supporting skin health from the inside out and the outside in.

1. Inside-Out: The Glow of Good Nutrition

Eating Nasturtiums is like taking a “skin vitamin.”

• Vitamin C: As mentioned, this is the building block for collagen, the protein that gives your skin its structure, firmness, and elasticity.⁸
• Lutein: This antioxidant helps filter high-energy blue light and protect the skin’s lipids from sun-induced damage.⁹ It’s an “internal sunscreen” that supports your skin’s own resilience.

2. Outside-In: The Traditional Healer

This is where Pillar 2 (Traditional Knowledge) meets our modern needs. Because of its potent antibacterial and antifungal properties, Nasturtium was traditionally used externally as a poultice.10

The leaves were crushed (activating that “mustard oil bomb”) and applied directly to:

• Minor cuts and scrapes: To cleanse the wound and prevent infection.¹¹
• Acne and skin blemishes: To help combat the bacteria responsible for breakouts.¹²
• Fungal infections: Such as athlete’s foot.
• Insect bites: To soothe itching and reduce inflammation.

A simple, crushed leaf becomes an immediate, effective first-aid remedy, a piece of generational wisdom that is as practical today as it was a thousand years ago.

How to Welcome Nasturtium: A Practical, Edible Guide

This is one of the most joyful parts of this plant’s wisdom: it asks you to eat it. The best way to get its full, fresh benefits is by incorporating it into your diet.

• In Salads: This is the easiest way. Toss the leaves and flowers into any green salad. The leaves add a peppery, cress-like flavor, while the flowers add a sweet, spicy note and beautiful color.
• As a “Pepper Pesto”: Forget basil. Blend Nasturtium leaves with olive oil, garlic, and pine nuts (or walnuts) for a potent, spicy, and vitamin-packed pesto.¹³ It’s delicious on pasta or bread.
• As an Infused Vinegar: Fill a jar with Nasturtium flowers and leaves, then cover them with apple cider vinegar. Let it sit for 3-4 weeks, then strain. You’ll have a beautiful, ruby-colored, spicy vinegar to use in salad dressings that doubles as a cold-season tonic.
• A Simple Poultice: For a minor bite or scrape, simply pick a fresh, clean leaf, chew it slightly or crush it between your fingers until it’s a wet pulp, and apply it directly to the spot.

A Critical Note on Safety (Your Welcoming Sage’s Promise)

Our mission is to provide useful and safe information. Nasturtium is a food and is safe for most people. However:

• Stomach & Kidney Sensitivity: Because of its “hot” and spicy nature (those isothiocyanates), it can be irritating in very large quantities to those with stomach ulcers, gastritis, or inflammatory kidney disease.¹⁴ As with all things, moderation is key.
• Pregnancy: While eating it in a salad is generally considered fine, high medicinal doses or extracts should be avoided during pregnancy out of an abundance of caution.
• Always Be Sure: Only harvest plants you are 100% sure are Nasturtiums, and that have not been sprayed with pesticides.

For Further Reading & Research

If you are ready to dive deeper into the knowledge, these sources are an excellent place to start, showcasing the science that backs the tradition.

1. For the Science (Phytochemistry & Antibacterial Action):
   • Pintão, M., et al. (2012). Tropaeolum majus L. in human health: A systematic review. Phytomedicine.

A comprehensive scientific review that details the plant’s chemical compounds (like glucosinolates) and explores the research on its antibacterial, antioxidant, and healing properties.

2. For the Clinical Use (UTIs & Respiratory):
   • European Medicines Agency (EMA). (2012). Assessment report on Tropaeolum majus L., herba.

This report from the EMA provides an authoritative summary of the “well-established use” of Nasturtium (often in combination with horseradish) for treating urinary tract infections and respiratory infections.

The Vibrant Lesson

Nasturtium teaches us that medicine doesn’t have to be bitter, complicated, or far away. It can be beautiful, delicious, and growing right at our feet.

It reminds us that a single plant can connect our plate, our immune system, and our skin. This is the heart of true, holistic wellness. It’s the “knowledge of ages” offering itself to us, not in a hidden text, but as a vibrant, peppery flower inviting us to take a bite and be well.