Parsley

Natural garden parsley (Petroselinum hortense) is a biennial plant that grows a large taproot in the first year and flowers in the second. It is grown in different varieties that favor differently shaped leaves or a more developed taproot, but all have approximately the same remedial qualities.

Special Precautions of Parsley

• Parsley in large quantities is not safe for pregnant women.
• Fluid retention (edema): There is a concern that parsley might cause the body to hold onto sodium (salt), and this increases water retention.
• High blood pressure: There is a concern that parsley might cause the body to hold onto sodium (salt), and this could make high blood pressure worse.
• Kidney disease: Don’t take parsley if you have kidney disease. Parsley contains chemicals that can make kidney disease worse.
• Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with parsley
• Water pills (Diuretic drugs) interacts with parsley.

The benefits of Parsley are

Parsley leaf is loaded with antioxidants and is a fantastic diuretic. The herb is a wonderful kidney aid, helping to get rid of kidney stones and edema (swelling), as well as healing any urinary tract infection or inflammation. Parsley root is high in calcium, iron, B complex vitamins, B 12, K and A. Parsley also contains about three times the amount of vitamin C by volume as an orange. Vitamin C is extremely important for healthy immune function and youthful skin & joints. Additionally, it contains carotenoid anti-oxidants lutein and zeaxanthin which enhance eye function and help the body neutralize damage from UV radiation. Also good source of Apigenin.

• The antioxidants in parsley are able to combat oxidative stress in vivo : The British Journal of Nutrition published a medical study to measure the antioxidant capabilities of parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Fourteen people ate a restricted diet for two weeks which was high in parsley, but low in other foods containing flavones and other natural sources of antioxidants. Urinary excretion of the flavone apigenin was measured before and during the ingestion of parsley. Apigenin levels were noticeably higher when parsley was added to the diet. The researchers noted that when the subjects were on the restricted diet, their oxidative stress markers rose. However, when the people added parsley during the second week of study, the parsley was able to reverse these numbers somewhat. The leaves, roots, and seeds of the parsley plant are all used medicinally. Parsley tea made from the roots and leaves is the most common medicinal preparation, but the seeds are also harvested for extraction of apiol, a therapeutic essential oil long used to treat amenorrhea and historically as a way to terminate a pregnancy.
• Parsley is a scientifically proven diuretic : In 2002, the Journal of Ethnopharmacology published a study confirming the diuretic effects of parsley, as claimed for years in folk medicine literature. Rats were given parsley seed tea to drink. Over a twenty-four hour period, the rats had a marked increase in urinary volume. The scientists believed that parsley works as a diuretic due to a mechanism in the herb which blocks the re-absorption of sodium and potassium. This causes more water to flow via osmosis, and hence, a greater urinary volume.
• Herbalists use parsley for kidneys, joint problems, nerves, and more : Dr. John R. Christopher, one of the greatest master herbalists of the twentieth century, used parsley in a variety of ways. He used the herb not only for all kidney and bladder issues, but also for jaundice and sexually-transmitted diseases. Dr. Christopher used parsley for water retention (edema), and suggested parsley root tea for stiff fingers and other joint issues. He said gallstones could be removed by drinking a pint of fresh parsley tea every day. The herb is also calming to the nerves and adrenal glands. Dr. Christopher recommended at least two quarts of strong parsley tea per day for these issues, or even up to a cup of tea every hour. To make fresh parsley tea, add a large handful of parsley to a pint of boiling water. Cover, steep, and drink the tea throughout the day.
• hepatitis : As a diuretic, parsley can help flush toxins from the body, a boon to our critically important hepatic organ. More specifically, it seems to also contain antiviral agents particularly effective against viruses that attack the liver. For this reason, it is strongly recommended for those afflicted with Hepatitis A, B, or C.
• Parsley juice is an effective blood tonic, but it should be diluted with some other kind of fresh, organic juice, such as carrot juice. No more than an ounce or two of parsley juice should be taken at any one time.
• Parsley is super rich in chlorophyll, the energy producing substance that gives herbs and plants its characteristic green color. Chlorophyll helps to alkalize the body, purify blood, and form new red blood cells. In addition, the chlorophyll and flavonoids in parsley help to enhance cellular glutathione formation. Higher levels of cellular glutathione allow the body to detoxify and heal more effectively.
• Parsley is a fantastic source of Folic Acid which is extremely crucial for its ability to reduce homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an inflammatory mediator that is linked with cardiovascular disease and brain degeneration. Folic acid is also important for pregnant women as it plays a critical role in fetal development. It is also an important nutrient for cancer prevention.
• Cancer : Studies show that myristicin, an organic compound found in the essential oil of parsley, not only inhibits tumor formation (especially in the lungs), but also activates the enzyme glutathione-S-transferase, which helps the molecule glutathione attach to, and fight against, oxidized molecules.One chemical component of parsley, apigenin, reduces the number of new blood vessels that form around a cancerous tumor, helping to starve the growth of cancer cells.
• Detox : contains vitamin C, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin K and folate, which are all needed by the body for detox.
• Hair Loss : Parsley essential oil, when massaged into the scalp, may reduce hair loss.
• anti-inflammatory properties.
• Halitosis : Parsley can kill bacteria that cause bad breath because it is rich in chlorophyll, “which is thought to have antibacterial activity.”