August 2004 Ageless herbal newsletter
In Greek mythology parsley did not have a great start, where it was said that it sprang from the blood of Opheltes, infant son of king Lycurgus of Nemia, killed by a serpent when his nanny wasn't looking.
With this in mind, parsley was equated with death, but this perception later changed and it was heralded by the Romans as
a remedy for epilepsy, water retention and
fresh breath. The superstitious Europeans at one stage viewed this poor herb with vague unease and believed that it should only be planted on Good Friday to
appease evil spirits, although the German abbot and herbalist, Hildegard of Bingen, prescribed
parsley compresses for arthritis, or boiled in wine for chest and heart pain.
Culpepper used it internally for problems with "urine, wind, kidney stone and cough", and compresses to help bruising and
inflamed eyes.
As seen from its historical origins, the simple parsley plant is often sold short and given a raw deal - many people only see it as a decoration for a good looking plate of food, whereas it really has some amazing
healing properties contained within its humble green leaves.
Parsley is a short-lived perennial plant and its medicinal use can be traced back to ancient Greece. Its use then spread to India, where it is still used in Ayurvedic medicine - using the roots, leaves, oil and fluid extract of the plant.
It contains the flavonoids apigenin and luteolin; volatile oils myristicin, apiole, and B- phellandrene; fats; the furocoumarin bergapten; polyynes; protein; sugars; as well as vitamins A and C. Furthermore, it also contains a good amount of iron, making it a popular choice for use with people struggling with anemia.
The British Herbal Compendium lists the actions of parsley as diuretic, carminative, and spasmolytic.
The diuretic effect of parsley is due to the actions of the volatile oils myristicin and apiole contained in the herb.
Although not the only use, parsley is most often used for flushing out the urinary tract and for preventing and treating kidney gravel. For this reason it is also a very popular herb to use when
detoxing the body.
This irrigation therapy (flushing out) should NOT be done in cases where water retention is caused by impaired heart or kidney function - and your health practitioner must be consulted regarding this problem.
Parsley is also used for flatulent dyspepsia, rheumatic conditions, dysuria as well as anemia and overweight.
The use of medicinal amounts of parsley should not be employed when pregnant or when suffering from any inflammatory kidney conditions. This does not apply to use in cooking and baking, or when parsley is called for in a recipe.
Over and above the medicinal use of parsley, it has some good breath deodorizing
properties, and for this reason people normally have fresh parsley after having a garlicky meal, since it helps to
freshen the breath.
It is the good amount of chlorophyll contained in the leaves that has this breath freshening action.
People also use parsley as a support to ease
constipation, it is not really a laxative, but does gently help to keep you regular. This is particularly helpful when a person does not want to use, or cannot use, normal laxatives.
Women suffering from menstrual complaints have used parsley as an effective remedy and since it has
anti-histamine properties, it can also be used with some success in
treating allergies.
Topically this anti-histamine action is helpful to treat the allergic reaction of minor insect bites.
A tea made from parsley is a popular herbal remedy to help ease high blood pressure and the apigenin contained in parsley is a good anti-oxidant, which is required for general wellbeing.
Large therapeutic dosages of parsley should not be taken during pregnancy since it stimulates the uterus, but it is prescribed in folk medicine to be used after childbirth to help with contracting the uterus and to help with lactation.
Although the essential oil derived from parsley is not readily available, it should NOT be used in isolation or by an unskilled health practitioner, since it can be extremely toxic and cause liver and kidney damage as well as nerve inflammation.
This brings us to a point that needs to be reiterated - just because a compound is natural, does not mean that the unchecked use of it would be safe. As with all things in life, moderation should be the keyword, and ANY herbal compound should be used for its indicated purpose, in safe amounts and in a controlled way. If you are EVER in ANY doubt, rather err on the side of caution and first discuss it with your health practitioner.
There seems to be a general misconception that because a pill or potion is made from
natural materials, including herbs, that it would be safe to use (or abuse) it.
Nightshade is natural, but is indeed deadly - but we do not need to look at such an extreme example to start seeing the difference.
My Mother used to warn us against the word "too" . Too much, too little, too soon, too late and too casual etc…. and this is exactly true when dealing with
herbs and herbal compounds.
Herbs are powerful, and although some misguided people still insist that they cannot achieve much, the fact is that they can be used successfully in a variety of cases, and in most cases have less side effects than other remedies. However, in saying this, care must be taken in the way that the herbal remedies are prepared, how they are taken by the person concerned and the general health of the individual must also be taken into account.
People should therefore ensure that they have the knowledge to self-medicate, and be objective enough to consult their health practitioner when in doubt.
People also need to take responsibility for their own actions.
It is ludicrous for an obese person to sue a hamburger company for their weight problem, or for another to file suit against a drug company after abusing or taking medication incorrectly.
When it comes to using herbal remedies you have to be responsible, as the incorrect use of such preparations can only be blamed on yourself.
Take the herb comfrey as example. When used as a tea in moderation, for a very short period of time, it can be greatly beneficial to help damaged bones, ligaments and tissue. Yet it can cause liver damage, as it contains
pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are liver toxins, which can poison the liver if abused or used for extended periods.
The question should then be asked - should a person discard a very useful tool just because it can be dangerous if used incorrectly??
Not all herbs have such dramatic side effects as that of comfrey - and a large amount of them work gently to achieve their magic, yet, people should not be lulled into a false sense of security, just because a capsule or cream is classified as herbal or natural.
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