Herbs (15-)25-100(-220) cm, retrorsely hispid, rarely glabrescent. Stems erect, often branched above. Petiole of basal and lower cauline leaves 1-3(-6) cm; leaf blade oblong, ovate, or lanceolate in outline, lyrate, pinnatifid, pinnatisect, (3.5-)5-14(-16) × 2-6(-8) cm; terminal lobe broadly ovate, (1-)3-6 cm, usually 3-lobed, margin dentate; lateral lobes 1-3 on each side of midvein, oblong, ovate, or lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 cm, margin dentate, repand, or rarely pinnatifid. Upper cauline leaves shortly petiolate; leaf blade ovate or oblong-ovate, 2-4.5 cm, margin coarsely dentate, rarely subentire. Fruiting pedicels divaricate, stout, (3-)6-12(-17) mm. Sepals yellow or green, narrowly oblong, (3.8-)4-7(-8) × 1-1.8 mm, spreading or reflexed. Petals pale yellow, obovate, (0.7-)0.8-1.2(-1.4) cm × (3-)4-6(-7) mm. Filaments (3-)4-7(-8) mm; anthers oblong, 1.2-1.5 mm. Fruit lanceolate, (1.5-)2-4.2(-5) cm × (2-)3-5.5(-6.5) mm; valvular segment (0.5-)0.7-1.7(-2) cm, 2-5-seeded in each locule, 3-5(-7)-veined, torulose, terete or slightly compressed, hispid with subsetose trichomes mixed with much shorter and more slender ones; terminal segment ensiform, strongly compressed, (1-)1.5-2.5(-3) cm, straight or curved upward, seedless or 1(or 2)-seeded. Seeds gray, pale brown, or reddish brown, globose, (1.7-)2-3(-3.5) mm in diam., finely reticulate.

Antibacterial, antifungal, appetizer, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emetic, expectorant, rubefacient and stimulant (seed)

Plants For A Future
Flora of China

Alanine, alpha-linolenic acid, arginine, aspartic acid, behenic acid, beta-carotene, beta sitosterol, choline, cystine, delta-5-avenasterol, erucic acid, glucuronic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, linoleic acid, lysine, methionine, neoglucobrassicin, niacin, oleic acid, oxalic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, phenylalanine, riboflavin, serine, sinapic acid, stearic acid, thiamin, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine (seed); glucobrassicin (spruting seedling); ascorbic acid (plant)

The seeds are used in the treatment of coughs with profuse phlegm and tuberculosis, pleurisy, asthma and chest congestion. Externally it is usually made into mustard plasters (using the ground seed), poultices or added to the bath water. It is used in the treatment of respiratory infections, arthritic joints, chilblains and skin eruptions etc. It is also used for treating multiple or metastatic abscesses, and deep-rooted carbuncles.

Since Semen Sinapis encourages the formation of blisters on the skin, it is contraindicated in patients with skin allergies.

Jing-Nuan Wu. An Illustrated Chinese Materia Medica. P: 590, Oxford University Press, Inc.2005.