Celery seedCelery seed | Apium graveolens
general characteristics
general characteristics
Celery is a member of the Apiaceae family (along with carrot, parsnip and similar) and needs little description as it is so well known. Whilst the fleshy stems and root and leaves are also edible and medicinal, we are talking mainly here about the medicinal properties and uses of the seeds.
Wild celery (the distant relative of modern celery) hails from the Mediterranean region but is bitter and acrid to taste. The celery we eat today has been cultivated specifically for a gentler flavour. It is biennial (completes it life cycle over 2 years), flowering June to September in its second year and prefers to grow in damper ground. Modern celery will happily grow in rich garden soil.
Celery seed dried herb and tincture are available to buy in our herbal shop.
harvesting and preparation
harvesting and preparation
It is important that you don't eat celery seed from a seed packet as they may well contain pesticides and fungicides. Use organic celery seeds wherever possible, grown for medicinal use.
If growing the celery yourself, wait for the flower heads to dry. When they are, shake the heads into a paper bag to collect the seeds. Allow to dry out on a tray and store in an airtight jar out of direct sunlight.
Celery seed dried herb and tincture are available to buy in our herbal shop.
therapeutic actions and uses
therapeutic actions and uses
The whole celery plant is rich in antioxidants, however the seeds are richest in essential oils, anti-inflammatory, blood pressure lowering and blood thinning agents as well as antioxidants and omega oils. In older days they where a prime remedt for diseases of the liver and spleen.dosage and cautions
dosage and cautions
* Avoid using celery seeds during pregnancy due to their stimulating action on the uterus.
* Avoid celery seed if you have chronic kidney disease or kidney inflammation as the oils can irritate kidney tissue.
* Use caution if taking prescribed medications, especially blood pressure or blood thinning or clotting medications.
* Celery can produce an allergic reaction in those sensitive to the carrot family or birch tree or mugwort pollens.
* Celery seeds can very occasionally produce photo-sensitivity in some people. Stay out of the sun or cover up when using celery seed if the skin over-reacts to sunlight.
*Celery seeds work particularly well (especially for cleansing and as a diuretic) when combined with dandelion root or leaves.
Adult
Tincture: 2.5 ml up to 5 ml, 3 times daily.
Dried seed in tea form: 1/2 -1 teaspoon of crushed seeds per cup, up to 3 cups daily. Simmer gently to extract the most from the seed, cover to preserve the volatile oils and drink immediately. You can also just crush a teaspoon of the seeds and add boiling water and allow to infuse for 10 minutes before drinking.
Eat several sticks of celery daily to gain from its medicinal actions, at least 4 sticks a day seems to be effective for lowering blood pressure. The leaves and grated roots can also be eaten and are delicious. You can also add a stick of celery to your daily juice to gain its medicinal benefits.
Grind the seeds and add them to sea salt for a tasty and medicinal condiment, especially useful for those restricting their salt intake due to high blood pressure issues.
Children
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