Parsley Overview

Parsley is a culinary herb used in many types of cooking and as a nearly universal adornment to restaurant food. Originally a native plant of the Mediterranean region, parsley is grown today throughout the world. It is a nutritious food, providing dietary calcium , iron , carotenes, ascorbic acid , and vitamin A . ¹ Parsley's traditional use for inducing menstruation may be explained by evidence that apiol and myristicin, two substances contained in parsley, stimulate contractions of the uterus. ² Indeed, extracted apiol has been tried for the purpose of causing abortions.

A tea made from the "fruits" or seeds of parsley is also a traditional remedy for colic , indigestion , and intestinal gas . ³

The usual dose of parsley leaf or root is 6 g of dried plant per day, consumed in 3 doses of 2 g, each steeped in 150 ml of water. Extract of parsley leaf and root are made at a ratio of 1 g of plant to 1 ml of liquid, and used at a dose of 2 ml 3 times daily. Tea made from parsley seeds is used at a lower dosage of 2 to 3 g per day, using 1 g of seed per cup of tea. ⁴

1. . Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 1991: Parsley monograph
2. Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 1991: Parsley monograph.
3. Review of Natural Products. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 1991: Parsley monograph
4. Gruenwald J. PDR for Herbal Medicine. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics; 1998:1023-1024.