Short Course on Celery Seed

Traditional Uses for Celery Seed

Celery has purportedly been cultivated for around 3000 years, notably during the New Kingdom of Egypt around 1000 BC, and in China since the 5th Century BC. Celery has been known in the Mediterranean for millennia. In the classical Greek era, celery was considered to be sacred. The plant was a symbol of fertility, and athletes would occasionally don crowns of celery. Homer mentioned celery in his works. Although Diosocorides purportedly mentioned it, details are lacking.

Only during the Middle Ages did celery begin to be cultivated on a much larger scale. Across several systems of medicine celery was historically used as a diuretic and to treat arthritis, colds, flu and digestive complaints.

Ayurveda: Celery seed is used in India as a nerve stimulant as well as a tonic. Apium graveolens is also purportedly used for arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, colic, gout, hepatitis and rheumatism. However, it is unclear what part of the plant is used. It also may be used as an anticonvulsant, anti-inflammatory, aphrodisiac, carminative, diuretic, emmenagogue, sedative and tranquilizer.

Chinese: Celery seed has supposedly been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat dizziness.

European: Celery seed oil was purportedly used in 19th Century Britain for the treatment of rheumatism. The German Commission E indicates that celery preparations are used for gastrointestinal issues, rheumatism, exhaustion, gout, loss of appetite, weight loss from malnutrition, and as a diuretic and stimulant.

Modern (Western) Herbal Medicine: Although celery seed is typically not considered to be well-known in Western herbal medicine, American botanist Dr. James A. Duke recommends celery seed or celery plant as a preventative anti-inflammatory agent.

Persian: Celery seed is considered a diuretic in Iran.

For more information about celery seed, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

References
1.Natural Standard: The Authority on Integrative Medicine. www.naturalstandard.com

http://www.depsyl.com

http://back2basicnutrition.com

http://bionutritionalresearch.olhblogspace.com