Horseradish isn’t just for hamburgers. It has a long history of medicinal uses in cultures around the world. Some of its traditional therapeutic uses:

–As a diuretic, increasing urinary flow. It also increases perspiration, and was used to treat fevers.

–As a poultice, it was used externally for wound infections, arthritis, and pleurisy.

–As a remedy for sore throats and hoarseness.

A traditional recipe:

Steep 1 tablespoon grated horseradish in 1 tablespoon vinegar and ¼ cup water for one hour. Strain. Add 1/3 cup honey to the liquid and take one tablespoonful every hour until hoarseness is gone. For sore throat, mix 1 tablespoon grated fresh horseradish with 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon ground cloves in 1 cup warm water. Stir and sip slowly, or use as a gargle.