Parsley is a common culinary herb found growing in household gardens. The two most familiar cultivars are curly-leaved parsley (Petroselinum crispum crispum) and the flat-leaved ‘Italian’ parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum). When eaten regularly parsley is a nutritive tonic containing minerals such as iron, potassium, manganese and copper, as well as B-vitamins, vitamin C, E and K. It also contains a considerable amount of the antioxidant lycopene.

Parsley is also a medicinal herb known for its strong effect on the urinary system. The herb’s traditional use is as a diuretic for treating oedema due to excess fluid,  as well as urinary complaints such as gravel in the urine, kidney stones and uric acid (gout). It is particularly good for treating painful urination caused by chronic inflammation with sudden urging and itching in the urethra; however, in treating an underlying case of benign prostatic hyperplasia we generally use nettle and saw palmetto instead. It also has mild antimicrobial activity and Maud Grieve tells us that parsley root was made into a strong decoction  by British troops during the First World War who used it to treat most kidney ailments that arose as a complication from dysentery.^1–3

The seeds are carminative and antispasmodic in activity due to their apiol content, and are therefore useful for treating dyspepsia and colic with incarcerated gas. While not a well-researched herb, the flavonoid apigenin has been found to inhibit Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the case of stomach ulcers.⁴

Treatment with parsley, as well as other indicated herbs such as garlic, turmeric, green tea, ginger, oregano and slippery elm, is a much gentler approach than ‘triple therapy’ which utilises antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl) to treat an ulcer. This kind of treatment usually produces a lingering imbalance of gut bacteria (dysbiosis) and other side-effects if the course is repeated several times.⁵ For example, antibiotic treatment resulted in a stubborn case of ‘hives’ in one patient, and left the underlying anxiety untreated, which was the original cause of the ulcer. Stress in fact inhibits protective secretions of mucus and the antibody IgA, preparing the way for a breach of the mucosa. This is a process outlined a long time ago in the conservative medical journals by a professor Walter Cannon, whose work spawned the field of psycho-neuroendocrinology, and parsley has even been found protective against stress-induced mucosal damage in rodents.^6,7

Interestingly, the experimental rodent model has also produced confirmation of parsley’s antidiabetic activity. An aqueous preparation reduced body weight (diuretic activity), reduced plasma glucose, and increased plasma insulin. The weight of the pancreas and size of the islets of Langerhans also increased under treatment.⁸

Thomas Bartram enlarges on the properties of parsley calling it a gastric tonic, uterine tonic, brain tonic and glandular tonic which can activate both the thyroid and the adrenals. In addition, he says that its high mineral content makes it useful for strengthening the hair, nails and skin.⁹ Considering its broad tonic effect, it is not surprising that Grieve tells us parsley wine was once used as an aphrodisiac.

Parsley is usually eaten in small amounts as a garnish on pasta or salads, but it is a good addition to dishes where the quantity make it a valuable iron tonic. Tabouli and pesto are examples of dishes rich in parsley that can easily be made on a regular basis. Pesto is made by putting a bunch each of basil and parsley in a blender, together with a several cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice, olive oil and some nuts or sesame seeds.

Disclaimer: this article is intended for the purpose of general education only, and is not a substitute for a diagnosis, treatment advice, or a prescription given in a consultation with a qualified physician.

References:

1.         Grieve M. A Modern Herbal. London: Tiger Books International; 1994.

2.         Farzaei MH, Abbasabadi Z, Ardekani MRS, Rahimi R, Farzaei F. Parsley: a review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biological activities. J Tradit Chin Med Chung Tsa Chih Ying Wen Pan 2013;33:815–26.

3.         Boericke W. Pocket Manual Of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, c. 1927. Delhi: Indian Books & Periodical Publishers; 2007.

4.         O’Mahony R, Al-Khtheeri H, Weerasekera D, et al. Bactericidal and anti-adhesive properties of culinary and medicinal plants against Helicobacter pylori. World J Gastroenterol 2005;11:7499–507.

5.         Hawrelak JA, Myers SP. The causes of intestinal dysbiosis: a review. Altern Med Rev J Clin Ther 2004;9:180–97.

6.         Cannon W. The Wisdom Of The Body. Cannon. New York: WW Norton & Company; 1963.

7.         Akıncı A, Eşrefoğlu M, Taşlıdere E, Ateş B. Petroselinum Crispum is Effective in Reducing Stress-Induced Gastric Oxidative Damage. Balk Med J 2017;34:53–9.

8.         Abou Khalil NS, Abou-Elhamd AS, Wasfy SIA, El Mileegy IMH, Hamed MY, Ageely HM. Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Impacts of Desert Date (Balanites aegyptiaca) and Parsley (Petroselinum sativum) Aqueous Extracts: Lessons from Experimental Rats. J Diabetes Res 2016;2016:8408326.

9.         Bartram T. Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine. New York: Marlowe & Company; 1998.