Plant Study
Parsley
Family Name: Carrot
Family Name: Umbelliferae
Latin Name: Petrocelinum Crispum
Common Names: Parsley
Related Species: P. hartense, P. sativum
Body System Affiliations:
1. Urinary System
2. Musculoskeletal System
3. Reproductive System
Botanical Description:
Habit: Herbaceous bi-annual plant
Size: Small to medium
Leaves: Green basal leaves with three sections
Flowers: Yellow umbrella like groups of flowers
Fruit: Produces small light brown seed
Underground Parts: Taproot
Ecology:
Habitat: Prefers cooler coastal climates but is cultivated inland as well
Range: Cultivated in the U.S.A., Germany, France, Belgium, Former Czeckloslovakia, Hungary and elsewhere
Native Where: Native to the eastern Mediterranean
.
Food: Eastern Mediterranean peoples have included Parsley in their diet extensively, it is highly nutritious and contains; Calcium,Iron,Ascorbic acid and vitamin A. Has been used by Mediterranean’s after eating garlic heavy meals to eliminate strong odors.
Western (European-American) Uses/Relationships: Long time used as garnish in types of meals.
Food: Eaten in pastas sandwiches or with meat
Medicine: Infusion
Part Used: Dried leaf
Medicinal Actions: Diuretic
Body System Associations: Urinary system, musculoskeletal system, reproductive system
Constituents: glycoside, apiin, vitamin C, apiol and myastricin essential oils
Indications: fluid retention, gout, menstrual pain,
Harvest: Leaves harvested in fall the second year’s growth preferred
Storage: store in dark sealed containers at room temperature for preferably under a year
Preparation: Pour one cup of boiling water over one to two teaspoons of dried herb
Applications: To increase urine flow and expel toxins
Pharmacy: Drink infusion three times a day
Cautions: Is a uterine stimulant and should not be taken in medicinal quantities by pregnant women, also may cause photosensitivity in some persons.
A side note to this caution:
This is an excerpt from page 188 in Michael Moore’s’ “Medicinal plants of the Pacific West”, in which nettle is discussed.
“Weis recommends its use for mild cardiac edema and venous insufficiently as well as for stimulating uric acid excretion by the kidneys. Be that as it may, the fresh juice is a strong and efficient diuretic, increasing both the volume of urine and to a lesser degree, the wastes. It works well for major premenstrual water retention, particularly since it also has astringent effects that keep it from over stimulating the uterine lining. Some volume diuretics such as Juniper, Parsley, and Celery can stimulate the uterus and create the potential for a disorganized menses.”
Essential Oil Information:
Essential Oils: apiol, apiolin, myristicin, pinene
Medicinal Actions: bronchial stimulant (expectorant)
Indications: Bronchitis
Aromatherapy: bring water to a steam and add three drops of essential oil and inhale
Personal Experience: My family has been using parsley as an Iron supplement for our daughter in place of nettles when they are out of season, we have no idea how effective it is compared to traditional supplements however.
Harvest:
Plant Part: Taproot
Season of Harvest: spring the first year of growth or autumn of the second
Method of Harvest: uproot and remove taproot
Ecological Considerations of Harvest: Bi-annual plant
Cultural Considerations of Harvest: introduced species
Harvest:
Plant Part: seeds
Season of Harvest: Fall
Method of Harvest: remove entire seed head then shake the seed into a container
Cautions: use half the amount in medicines calling for leaf
Harvest:
Plant Part: leaves
Season of harvest: leaf can be harvested year round but is believed more potent when harvested in the second year of growth early fall
Propagation:
Technique: Sow seeds indoors
Timing: Start in doors March
References Cited:
- Hoffman, David. The Holistic Herbal. London, England: Element publishing, 2003.
- Mabey, Richard, Michael McIntyre, Pamela Michael, Gail Duff, John Stevens. The New Age Herbalist. New York, London Toronto, Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore.Simon and
Schuster publishing, 1988,
3. Moore, Michael. Medicinal Plants of the Pacific West
- Author Unknown. Garden Action website. Online at
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_march_3_parsley.asp . Visited 2-11- 2006
.
- Author Unknown.Phytotherapy website. Online at
http://www.phytotherapies.org/monograph_detail.cfm?id=161 visited 2-16-06
The parsley plant is a widely used herb believed to be native to the Eastern Mediterranean (3 on-line). It is described in The Village Herbalist as “one of our richest sources of Vitamin C” (1, page120). It has been used as a garnish in western meals . It likes to grow in a sunny area in rich soil (3. on-line). It is a hearty light green to medium green little plant that I personally witnessed enduring repeated frosts unscathed.
Parsley is a considered to be a strong diuretic and is suitable for the treatment of urinary infections, its diuretic action encourages the elimination of uric acid thus making it a somewhat effective treatment for gout and rheumatism (2, page 121) (1, page221)
Parsley is also a uterine stimulant and can be used for inducing menses and increasing milk production during lactation, it is for this reason however, that medicinal amounts of parsley should be avoided by pregnant women (2, page121)
