| Some Products using Parsley | ||
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Traditional Uses
Parsley is, by far the most commonly mentioned of herbs in recipes all over the world.
It has been greatly sought for its medicinal uses, getting mentioned by none other than Hippocrates himself as a cure for a variety of ailments.
It is mentioned by the ancient Romans in the forth century BC. Two types, one with dense crowded leaves the other with open, broader leaves are described. Pliny, in the first century AD writes that there would not be a salad or sauce served without parsley.
The Greeks, on the other hand, didn't eat it. It was considered sacred to the dead having reputedly sprung from the blood of their hero Archemorus.
The Ancient Greeks crowned winners of major sporting events with wreaths of parsley. One rumour had it that you could bring about the demise of an enemy by plucking a sprig of parsley while speaking his (her?) name. However, it is used in the Hebrew celebration of the Passover as a symbol of rebirth. In Medieval times revellers placed it on their tables and around their necks to absorb food odours. It was also used as a poison antedote.
It was introduced into England from the Mediterranean, where it originally grew wild, in the 16th century and both the plain and curled variety is mentioned by McMahon in 1806 as being in American gardens.
Parsley is easy to grow and adorns every respectable herb garden, and, in my view, should be used fresh, although I'm informed that most people still use it dried.
Current uses
Parsley has many health benefits. It is a nutritious food, providing dietary calcium, iron, riboflavin, thiamine, carotenes, ascorbic acid, and vitamin A.1 and vitamin C
It also contains vitamin C, potassium, folic and amino acid and is good for blood pressure, the heart and stomach, and for pain relief. Arthritic aches and pains are reputed to be relieved by taking parsley.
Parsley is mildly laxative and has been recognised as a blood purifier through its action in excreting toxins from the body.
Parsley is a known diuretic and is applied by herbologists for problems with kidneys and bladder , as well as for liver, gall bladder and spleen.
It is also used as an expectorant, for coughs. As a hot poultice it is used to relieve insect bites and stings.
A tea made from parsley seeds is a traditional remedy for colic, indigestion, and intestinal gas.
It is also claimed to be a natural mild aphrodisiac
It has been traditionally used as a poultice for sprains and bruises and insect bites.
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Precautions and side effects (refer also to statements below)
Occasional allergic skin or mucous membrane reactions have been reported.