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Cabbage

Scientific names: Brassica oleracea, Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Family: Brassicaceae/Cruciferae

Alternate names: Cabbage Leaf, Chou, Chou Blanc, Chou Commun, Chou Rouge, Chou Vert, Col, Green Cabbage, Headed Cabbage, Purple Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Repollo, Vitamin U, Vitamine U, White Cabbage

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antithyroid, Chemopreventive

Scientific names: Brassica oleracea, Brassica oleracea var. capitata

Family: Brassicaceae/Cruciferae

Alternate names: Cabbage Leaf, Chou, Chou Blanc, Chou Commun, Chou Rouge, Chou Vert, Col, Green Cabbage, Headed Cabbage, Purple Cabbage, Red Cabbage, Repollo, Vitamin U, Vitamine U, White Cabbage

Actions: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antithyroid, Chemopreventive

Background

Cabbage is one variety of the Brassica oleracea plant. It's related to broccoli, Brussels sprout, cauliflower, and kale. It's commonly eaten as a vegetable.

Different types of cabbage are grown for food. Cabbage leaf contains high amounts of vitamin K1, as well as other nutrients. It also contains chemicals that might help prevent cancer and help with wound healing.

People use cabbage for hard, painful breasts during breastfeeding. It is also used for cancer, knee pain, osteoarthritis, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Don't confuse cabbage with other varieties of the Brassica oleracea species, including broccoli, broccoli sprout, Brussels sprout, cauliflower, collard, kale, and kohlrabi. These are not the same.

Safety Safety definitions

When taken by mouth: Cabbage is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when used in larger amounts as medicine, short-term.

When applied to the skin: Cabbage is possibly safe for most people when used short-term. It's usually well-tolerated. Pain, itching, and burning have been reported after keeping cabbage leaves on the skin without moving for 2-4 hours, but this is uncommon.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy: Cabbage is commonly consumed in foods. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if it is safe to use in larger amounts as medicine while pregnant. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Breast-feeding: Cabbage is likely safe when applied to the skin for a short amount of time while breast-feeding. But there isn't enough reliable information to know if cabbage is safe when taken by mouth in medicinal amounts while breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.

Allergy to vegetables from the Brassicaceae/Cruciferae family: People who are allergic to cabbage relatives from the Brassicaceae/Cruciferae family, such as broccoli, Brussels sprout, and cauliflower, might also be allergic to cabbage.

Under-active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism): Cabbage might make this condition worse. Check with your healthcare provider before consuming cabbage if you have an under-active thyroid gland.

Surgery: Cabbage might affect blood sugar levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop using cabbage at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Effectiveness

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.

Possibly effective Effectiveness definitions

Hard, painful breasts during breastfeeding. Applying whole cabbage leaves to the breasts seems to be about as effective as chilled gel-packs in relieving swelling and pain from breastfeeding.

There is interest in using cabbage for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Dosing & administration

Cabbage is a plant related to broccoli, cauliflower, and kale. It's commonly eaten as a vegetable. As medicine, adults most often apply whole or crushed cabbage leaves to the skin. The leaves are sometimes cooled and covered with cold compresses. Speak with a healthcare provider to learn about how it might be used for a specific condition.