Parsley

PetroselinumsativumHoffm

The homeland of parsley, one of the most popular plants, is the Mediterranean, where to this day it can be seen growing wild. The properties of parsley were well known in Ancient Egypt. In Ancient Greece it was one of the cult plants. Due to its external resemblance to celery and the place where it grows, the favorite spice was called “petroselinone”, which means mountain, or stone, celery.

The Greeks were sure that a plant that grows on rocky mountain slopes absorbs all the strength and strength of the stone. The root, stem, leaves and seeds of parsley were a popular remedy for the treatment of long-healing wounds, kidney diseases, and insect control. Once every four years, when the Pythian Games took place in Delphi, where the best poets and musicians competed in their skills, the winner received a wreath into which delicate sprigs of parsley were woven.

In Russia, where parsley has been cultivated since the 15th century, similar wreaths adorned the heads of not only girls, but also boys during the spring mermaid festivals. Popular wisdom says: “A handful of parsley is equal to a handful of gold.”

Abu Ali Ibn Sina gave a very detailed description of the properties of this plant: “Resolves swelling, opens blockages, drives away sweat, soothes pain from cracked nails, warts, gives a pleasant smell to the breath. Parsley is good for the liver and spleen. Its seeds are useful against dropsy; they cleanse the liver and warm it. Parsley drives urine and menstruation and is harmful for pregnant women. All types and all parts of parsley cleanse the kidneys, bladder and uterus... mountain parsley crushes stones.”

Essential oil from parsley seeds and greens has been obtained for medicinal purposes since the 15th century. Parsley oil has a characteristic odor for this plant, but if the seeds are used as raw material, the aroma takes on a different sound - deep with light herbaceous and woody notes.

The chemical composition of these oils is very different from each other, which means that the effect on the body also differs. Today this issue is still poorly studied by aromatherapists. Usually, oil from seeds and leaves is used as equivalent, although it is obvious that the first is more effective on the genitourinary system, and the second - as a cosmetic product.

Medicinal properties

1. Increases appetite, stimulates the secretion of gastric glands. Recommended for dyspepsia, flatulence, stomach colic.
2. Eliminates odor (onion, garlic) from the mouth, has a bactericidal effect on the oral cavity, strengthens the gums (periodontal disease).
3. Used for liver diseases accompanied by impaired digestive function, for the treatment of hypotonic and hypokinetic dyskinesias of the gallbladder, increases bile secretion.
4. Disinfectant and anti-inflammatory agent for kidney diseases.
5. Regulates the activity of the adrenal glands and thyroid gland.
6. Effective for urolithiasis, urinary disorders in children, inflammation of the prostate gland.
7. Relieves cervical spasms, especially during menopause, promotes the production of sex hormones, regulates menstruation, increases the tone of the smooth muscles of the uterus, and enhances lactation.
8. Helps remove toxins from the body.
9. Improves blood circulation, strengthens capillaries.
10. Has a slight hypoglycemic effect.
11. Lowers blood pressure.
12. Effective for decompensated heart defects.
13. Painkiller for rheumatism.
14. Used for scleroderma, hyperkeratosis, vitiligo, eczema, neurodermatitis, psoriasis, acne, bruises, abscesses, excessive sweating.
15. In folk medicine, it is used for edema of cardiac origin, malaria, fever, stimulation of weak menstruation, kidney stones, gall and bladder stones, kidney spasms, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as a diuretic for dropsy, carminative, diaphoretic, antispasmodic and antiparasitic.
16. Calms the nervous system. Indicated for neuroses and depression.
17. Recommended for the care of prematurely aging, dry skin. Improves complexion. Has a slight whitening effect. Refreshes, moisturizes and smoothes wrinkles, tightens pores, removes age spots and freckles, relieves skin irritation, gives it elasticity and tenderness.
18. Strengthens hair, stimulates its growth, eliminates dandruff. Effective for thinning and splitting nails.
19. Relieves pain from mosquito, bee, wasp and bumblebee bites. Helps get rid of lice.

Dosage

Oil burner: 4-5 k.

External: 1-2 k. with 1 tsp. honey 2-3 times a day.

Massage: 4-6 k. per 10 ml of transport oil.

Baths: 5-7 k.

Compresses: 6-7 k.

Rinsing: 1-2 k. per 200 g of water.

Enrichment of cosmetics: 3-6 k. per 10 g of base.

Contraindications. Individual intolerance, pregnancy, nephritis, acute cystitis, fibroids, photodermatosis, gout.

Note. May cause uterine bleeding during the postpartum period.