Parsley

Parsley- Also known as Petroselinum

Parsley is the world’s most popular herb. Derived from the Greek word meaning “rock celery” (it’s a relative to celery), parsley has been cultivated for 2,000 years, and was used medicinally long before that.  Parsley is one of the most important herbs for providing vitamins to the body. It’s like an immune-enhancing multi-vitamin and mineral complex in green plant form.  Highly nutritious, it can be found year round in your local supermarket. Parsley is a bi-annual, which means it will grow the first year and die back when the frost arrives. The seeds can be sown as early as February, but then it takes much longer to germinate.  Parsley prefers to be planted in moist, humus rich soil and partial shade.

Parsley is an amazing medicinal herb, is delightful to the taste and agreeable to the stomach.  It is a very versatile plant to aid the body in regaining health. The root contains calcium, B-complex vitamins, and iron, all of which nourish the glands that help regulate the uptake of calcium. It is a source of both magnesium and calcium, and especially potassium.

Parsley is high in vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C.  It contains more vitamin C than any other standard culinary vegetable, approximately three times as much as oranges and about the same as blackcurrants. The iron content is exceptional (twice as much as spinach) and the plant is a good source of manganese, calcium and potassium. Parsley is also rich in vitamin A, well known for its effects on vision, plus can mitigate risks of atherosclerosis and diabetes.  It also contains flavonoids that act as antioxidants.  As a wholesome organic-food it is also a good choice for bone health with vitamin K (536 mg in an average serving).

Traditionally parsley has been used for congestion and inflammation of the kidneys and bladder, gravel, stones, and urine retention. The root and leaves are excellent for the liver and spleen. It is also one of the best reliefs for edema, helping when other remedies have failed; parsley is a very reliable diuretic remedy often ignored today. Parsley root and seeds contain ingredients that help produce a pain relieving benefit to relax stiff joints.

Parsley works on the gall bladder and will remove gallstones if used properly by taking a pint of the tea daily.  Parsley is a specific for the adrenal glands, is powerfully therapeutic for the optic nerves, the brain and the sympathetic nervous system.

Raw parsley cleanses the blood, dissolves sticky deposits in veins, maintains elasticity of blood vessels, facilitates removal of moderately sized kidney and gallstones, treats deafness and ear infections, and benefits the sexual system.  Parsley juice is an excellent tonic for the blood vessels, particularly the capillaries and arterioles.  Parsley can help with expelling watery poisons, excess mucus, flatulence (gas), and reducing swollen or enlarged glands. Parsley is also good as a topical remedy for bruises.

Parsley has been used in Traditional Persian Medicine as well as cuisine for centuries.