Active components:

The main components are:

Amino acids: lysine.

Acids: Ascorbic (Vitamin C); folic, nicotinic (it plants), oleic, palmitic, petroselinic (seed)

Essential oil rich in: apiole (leaves and especially seeds) furocoumarins: bergapten and xanthotoxin (mainly in the tender buds), alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, beta - cariofilene, beta-phelandrene, myrcene (seed)

Alkaloids: myristicin.

-rutin (leaves)

-fats (especially in the seed)

-fibers (plant)

- Minerals: potassium, calcium, match, phosphorus, iron, zinc, ...etc. (plant)

Medicinal properties:

Internal use

- Carminative,tonic and digestive: It favours digestion, contributes to expel the flatulence and opens the appetite. Very appropriate in intestinal spasms. (Infusion of a small spoonful of seeds for each cup of water. 2 cups a day) (in the event of inappetence take a cup of the infusion half hour before the meals)

- Diuretic: It is one of the best diuretics because of the the action of the apiole that favours the elimination of corporal liquids, being very appropriate in cases of gallstones, kidney stones, obesity, rheumatic and heart illnesses, associated with the accumulation of water in the body. ( Take 3 spoonfuls of juice a day, obtained when mashing the plant or buy it in a specialized store)

- Emenagoge: It favours the menstruation and alleviates the pains associated with it. The influence of the myristicin and of the apiole are responsible for this property. In superior doses to those allowed, both are toxic ( See toxicity) (Decoction 25 gr. of root for half a liter of water during 10 minutes. Take a cup a day.)

External use

- Eyewash :It alleviates the irritations of the tired eyes ( Squeeze the tender plant and apply some juice with a gauze on the eyes)

- Vulnerary:It diminishes the pains ( Apply a cataplasm with the juice diluted in alcohol on the area where the pains are presented) The ascorbic acid and the zinc are responsible for this property.

- Relaxing: Pour an infusion of a couple of liters of water with 50 gr. of fruits in the water of the bath) This will produce a remarkable effect of relax to our body.

- Galactofuge: To stop the excess of production of milk in nursing mothers (Squeeze the tender plant and apply some juice with a gauze on the chests)

- Halitosis: You can combat bad breath or halitosis chewing some leaves of parsley.

- Lice and crabs: (Decoction of the dried plant. Wash the affected parts to keep off flies and crabs.)

- Skin spots: It has bleaching properties, so it is ideal for clearing skin blemishes of any kind. (Crush a sprig of parsley and apply the juice with a gauze on freckles, spots produced by the sun, etc.)

Other uses

Seasoning: Eaten fresh, parsley is ideal to give favour to many dishes from soups, to vegetables, salads, meats... .In the same way way seeds and dry roots are used as species.

Toxicity: The essential oil, mainly for their composition in apiole, myristicine, bergapten and xanthotoxin. The apiole, in appropriate dose, acts as emenagoge, facilitating the menses and avoiding the pains associated to it . In superior quantities to those allowed (more than 10 drops of essence a day) it is abortive. In higher dose it produces intoxication of the liver, circulatory paralysis and death, preceded of diarrhoea, vomiting , alteration of the heart rhythm ..etc. in the event of not producing the death, the lesions on the liver and the kidneys are important.

Essential oil should not be used during the pregnancy!

Another toxic component of the essential oil is the myristicine, a narcotic that affects to the central nervous system, and that can produce convulsions.

The xanthotoxin and the bergapten are especially phototoxic that react in contact with the light, in very sunny atmospheres specially in high mountain, producing lesions in the skin.

Given the danger that supposes the ingestion of the essential oil, it is recommended not to use this product, taking advantage of the rest of preparations to get the beneficial effects of this plant.

Picking -up and storing: Roots will be picked up at the beginning of spring , leaves at the beginning of summer and seeds at the beginning of autumn. Roots and leaves should be dried off in the shade, although it is better not to dry the second. The first ones should be kept in hermetic recipients in a dark place; the leaves should be eaten fresh. Seeds must be dried off in the sun and stored in a hermetic recipient in a fresh and shady place.

More information about natural medicine in the listing above.