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The term mustard oil is used for two different oils that are made from mustard seeds:

• A fatty vegetable oil resulting from pressing the seeds,
• An essential oil resulting from grinding the seeds, mixing them with water, and extracting the resulting volatile oil by 

While the former is used as cooking oil in a major part of India, Pakistan, and Nepal and as massage oil for kids; the latter is known for its plant protection skills, i.e. mustard as an essential oil is applied on plants to keep the herbivores away. It is also used to repel animals like cat and dog. Thus Mustard is useful both internally and externally.

Why should we Use Mustard:

• Can help you lose weight: The wonder seeds are packed with B-complex vitamins like folates, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin mustard oil or sarso is known for increasing the body’s metabolism, thus aiding in quick loss of weight.
• Acts as a natural cleanser: Mustard oil is applied by many i.e. massaged with by many for it stimulates sweat glands and opens the pores of the skin. This helps in reducing body temperature and removes toxins, unwanted salts and water from the body. It disperses into the skin swiftly. While it is massaged on the face. Certain enzymes are activated by body heat that in turn transports the oil to the areas that needs attention effectively. Thus the skin gets cleansed naturally within minutes.

• Can slow ageing: Mustard is a great source of vitamin A, C and K. All these components put together empowers it as strong antioxidants, which in turn slows the ageing process.
• Protects chapped lips: If lip balm doesn’t give long lasting results, one can always dab mustard oil on their lips instead. Due to the oil being thick and well oily, it is known to be a natural moisturizer that can do wonders on your skin and lips. It is a conventional/ traditional way to heal chapped lips. It is even better than packaged lip balms.
• Lowers cholesterol: Compounds like niacin or vitamin B3 have many beneficial qualities. Niacin has properties that help lower one’s cholesterol levels and protects the arteries. It also helps to regulate blood flow and protects the body from hypertension. Both these components are majorly present in sarso.

• Dental care with mustard oil:

1. It whitens teeth: During the old times, when tooth pastes were yet to make a grand entrance in the society, our ancestors used to use mustard as one. We can still use it after brushing our teeth with toothpaste.Applying a coat of mustard oil mixed with few drops of lemon juice and a dash of salt regularly will make our teeth shine and also stronger.
2. It keeps off infections: Due to its antibacterial and antifungal characteristics, mustard oil helps to keep infection at bay. It also keeps our gut healthy.

• Stimulates hair growth: For centuries mustard oil has been known to stimulate hair growth. Known for being packed with vitamins and minerals, but what truly differentiate it from the other hair oils is the beta carotene that it contains in high amount. During oil production, beta carotene gets converted to vitamin A, which is excellent for hair growth. Some other major nutrients that it contains are iron, fatty acids, calcium and magnesium, all of which promote hair growth.

• It lightens tan and dark spots: we have read earlier that mustard acts as a face cleanser, but along with it, massaging mustard oil on face (regularly) can help reduce tan and lighten dark spots and pigmentation. Face mask made by mixing mustard oil with besan or gram flour, one teaspoon of curd and few drops of lemon juice can do the trick. Mix the ingredients and apply it on the desired spots, face and hands, etc. Wash your face after 10 to 15 minutes. Regular use of it (3 times a week) might show the results you were looking for.
• Can help control symptoms of asthma: if mustard oil is consumed regularly, it is known to control and keep the symptoms of asthma, cold and chest congestion at bay. This is because Mustard seeds are high in selenium and magnesium. Both the components give it a unique anti-inflammatory property.

One thing that can be deduced from the lengthy paragraphs above is that mustard is an all-around in its own way. It is an all in one and one in all oil.Even though it has great healing properties, it can also be toxic in large quantities. Make sure to ask some physician before self-medicating.