I have just started my 2nd semester for my Associates with Complimentary Medicine. Last semester I had Aroma 203 and Herb 201. What an amazing class, filled with challenges, learning new remedies, and benefits of herbs that I started incorporating into my daily diet.
One of the herbs I would like to share with you is the amazing benefits of Parsley!
There are several varieties of parsley: the common plain-leafed, the curl-leafed, the broad-leafed or Hamburg that is grown for it's fleshly taproot, and the celery-leafed or Italian.
Most people think of parsley as a garnish, but there is so much more to parley than meets the eye!
Therapeutic Actions:
*Antimicrobial
*Antiperiodic (juice)
*Antispasmodic
*Aperient
*Aromatic
*Carminative (seeds)
*Digestant
*Diruetic (lithotriptic)
*Emmenagogue (seeds)
*Expectorant
*Febrifuge (seeds)
*Hypotensive
*Laxative
*Nutritive
*Stomachic
*Tonic
*Vulnerary
Parsley is chiefly used for it's beneficial influence on the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and gallbladder, although it's contraindicated for inflammatory kidney disease.
Fresh raw parsley juice is a specific tonic for the adrenal glands and is a powerful tonic to the whole nervous and circulatory systems. Again, take small doeses, perferably mixed with carrot and celery juices, and do not use the concentrated juice if the kidneys are inflamed. Parsley has a high mineral content, particularly in iron, makes it valuable for anemia and muscle complaints. This is great for women to take before and during menstration.
It is used for acidosis, adrenal gland exhaustion (which I have used and has helped), Amenorrhea, anemia, arthritis, asthma, baldness, colic, conjunctivitis, convalescing, coughs, cystitis, dandruff, to decrease lactation, difficult urination, dropsy, dysmenorrhea, dysepsia, fevers, gallbladder tonic, gout, gravel in kidneys, hair growth (stimulation), halitosis, head lice, hepatitis, high blood pressure, insect bites and stings, jaundice, kidney tonic, irritation, inflammation, menstrual obstructions, nephritis, obesity, obstruction of liver or spleen, paiinful urination, pancreas, tonic, prostrate inflammation, rheumatism, sciatica, swollen glands, and thyroid tonic.
Parsley also has the reputation of absorbing the odor of garlic, which makes it useful for garlic eaters who value their social lives. :) It can lower the risk of cancer, enhance our immune system, reduce inflammation and so much more!! Here is some insight...
Lower your risk of cancer
Parsley is rich in a flavonoid known as apigenin which has been shown to reduce certain cancers, such as skin, breast and prostate cancer. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.
Enhance your immune system and conquer inflammation
Parsley's essential oils have been proven to suppress overstimulated immune responses, which makes it a crucial player in the fight against allergies and autoimmune and persistent inflammatory disorders. Eugenol, one of the oils found in parsley, has been shown to have anti-arthritic properties. This oil, combined with the anti-inflammatory benefits of parsley, can significantly reduce joint swelling. Parsley can help protect us from many disorders such as diabetes, colon cancer and asthma.
Improve your heart
Parsley contains a significant amount of the B vitamin folic acid, also known as folate, which reduces homocysteine (an amino acid that can damage blood vessels) in our bodies, thus lowering the risk of stroke, heart attack and atherosclerosis (thickening of artery walls).
Ease urinary tract infections
Along with drinking cranberry juice, homeopathic experts list parsley as an antibiotic alternative to be used at the first signs of urinary tract infection. Be sure to check with a doctor if symptoms persist for more than a few days. ***THIS DOES WORK!!!***
Liver health
Two compounds found in parsley, apigenin and myristicin, boost the production of a liver enzyme which can detox our bodies. Additionally, a report on apigenin found that the compound also improves the effects of some drugs used to treat colon cancer. This is in line with a study published in February 2011 in the journal Clinical and Experimental Metastasis.
Fight bad breath
Parsley is chock full of chlorophyll, which has antibacterial properties. That is why people eat the parsley sprig from their plates after a meal. It fights oral bacteria that causes bad breath.
**Possible side effects**
Parsley can cause some side effects. Headaches can occur when first using parsley but often pass as your body becomes accustomed to the compounds. Also, higher levels of parsley can cause loss of equilibrium, so show care when walking until this side effect passes, should you experience it.
***Watch for signs of kidney damage when taking parsley supplements. These signs can include severe pain in the flanks, back pain, fever, abdominal swelling and blood in the urine.
In rare cases, seizures can occur when using high amounts of parsley supplements. Seizures can be either convulsions (writhing or jerking movements) or simply loss of awareness.
If any of these problems occur, visit a doctor or emergency room as soon as possible. Never hesitate to check with your primarycare physician before incorrporating herbs into your daily diet. Always look to see how long you should take an herb for as well. Some herbs you shouldn't take more than 7-14 days at a time with a rest period in between.
Sources:
Peterson, Dorene. "Module 7-Parsley. Herb201. Portland: American College of Healthcare and Science, 2013. 232-38. Print.
http://www.naturalalternativeremedy.com
