Macroscopic identification
Parsley is a clump-forming biennial to about a 1 ft (0.3 m) tall and twice as wide. It has bright green multi-compound curly or flat leaves. The leaflets are finely divided and held at the end of long stems and the whole plant has a rounded, mound-like shape. In its second summer, parsley sends up stalks with compound umbels of small yellow flowers.
Parts used
Leaves, root and (rarely) fruits
Pharmacological action: diuretic, expectorant, emmanogogue, and carminative, anti-spasmodic, hypotensive.
Indications: hypertension, menstrual irregularities
Photochemical
Parsley contains sugar, starch, essential oil and a glucoside substance called apiin or appin and an alkaloid. Apiol is the essential oil of parsley. It is green liquid distilled from root. There are three cultivated varieties, which in part differ by their chemisms. Var. latifolium (broad-leaved) and var. crispum (curly-leaved) are grown for their leaves, and var. tuberosum is grown for its root The essential oils of leaves and root show approximately the same composition. The main components (10?30%) are myristicin, limonene and 1,3,8-p-menthatriene; minor components are mono- and sesquiterpenes. The curly varieties (var. crispum) tend to be richer in myristicin, but contain much less essential oil than var. latifolium (0.01 and 0.04%, respectively). A third chemical race shows allyl tetramethoxy benzene (55 to 75%), which can also appear in apiol-dominated oils (up to 20%).
Therapeutic classification index
- Skin: Parsley is useful in malaria
- Nutrition and metabolism: A source of multivitamin and minerals
- Genito-urinary system: Apiol is advised in ammenorhea and dysmenorrhea. It is useful in arrested menstruation.
Parsley an excellent source of minerals
Parsley is the richest vegetable-herb source of Potassium ? the muscle mineral. Potassium foods stimulate the kidneys to eliminate poisonous waste matter, they also help to preserve proper alkalinity of the blood and body fluids and they promote a healthy skin condition. Parsley is also an excellent source of the following nutrients: Magnesium ? and the mineral Calcium are required in combination for proper nerve and heart functioning, daily use of Parsley is one of the best nerve medicines. Parsley is an excellent food for development of healthy blood due to the abundant supply of the three main blood-building nutrients: iron, copper and manganese, they are termed as the "blood builders". Copper foods protect the lungs from disease and they promote regular heart action and absorption of vitamin C. Manganese is termed as the "memory mineral" as it helps to nourish the nervous system and brain, stimulating the transmission of impulses between nerves and their associated muscles.
Parsley an excellent source of vitamins
Parsley is also an excellent source of vitamin A ? healthy skin, prevention of disease and reduction of infection, these B group vitamins are also dominant: B1 ? "the vitamin of courage," B2 ? "the youth vitamin" and B3 ? "the morale vitamin". Regular use of Parsley is one of the best ways to restore the body to a state of physical and mental strength and positive resistance to numerous degenerative disorders. Freshly make vegetable juices are always enhanced with a handful of fresh Parsley that will be about one ounce of juice. Parsley prevents disease. Parsley is also the best vegetable ? herb source of the mineral iron and vitamin C. These two nutrients work in combination to incinerate waste matter within the body. The mineral Iron transports oxygen to every cell of the body and vitamin C are essential for protection from colds and viruses.
Role of parsley in controlling blood pressure
Parsley is the richest vegetable-herb source of Potassium ? the muscle mineral. Potassium foods stimulate the kidneys to eliminate poisonous waste matter; they also help to preserve proper alkalinity of the blood and body fluids. It helps to maintain the blood vessels, particularly the capillaries and arterial system in healthy condition.
Dose: powder-3-6g
Capsule Parsley contains pure and concentrated Parsley.
Dosage: one capsule twice a day
Package size: 60 capsules.
References:
- Dr.KM Nadkarni, The Indian Materia Medica, Vol.I, pg 934
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