Parsley contains a lot of vitamin C, myristicin, omega-12 fatty acids, furanocoumarins and apiol.
Immoral plant
Phenylpropanes strongly increase the urinary excretion, as has been known since ancient times and used the herb for bladder and kidney disease. Apiol, especially found in the seeds, improves the circulation of the abdomen. So it has a positive effect on menstrual problems, but also abortive. Men were given it for prostate and erectile dysfunction. That’s how the saying came about: ‘Parsley helps the man to mount a horse’. The second half of the saying ‘… and the woman under the ground’ came from the fact that parsley seeds were used as an abortive remedy. But many women bleed to death. Until the modern age, women seemed to use the herb against unwanted pregnancies, because even in 1989 an Italian woman died in an abortion attempt with parsley sauce. Pregnant women should not eat too much parsley.
Medieval Medicine
Above all, the effect of better blood circulation of the abdomen let medieval herbalist turn up to the top form. Parsley was considered an aphrodisiac witch herb, one blended the roots in air fresheners and love potions and prepared a salad from the herb for men, if one did not become pregnant due to lack of interest of the spouse. Hence the former name ‘stand salad’ for parsley. Also the streets where prostitutes operated their craft, which often used the parsley as an abortifacient, were called ‘parsley alleys’.
Hildegard’s Heartsherb
The wise Hildegard von Bingen found quite different advantages: “Who suffers in the heart or in the spleen or of pain in the side, cook the parsley in wine, adding a little wine vinegar and plenty of honey and filter through a cloth. He often drinks the heart wine prepared this way and it heals him.” Hildegard’s heart wine is still considered to be a universal heart remedy in herbal medicine. Heart pain, the effects of heart attacks, heart valve defects and other conditions are said to be alleviated.
Delicious vitamin supplier
Otherwise, there are hardly any complaints against which parsley does not help. Over the centuries they have been used for loss of appetite, indigestion, flatulence, constipation, bad breath, spring fatigue, gout, rheumatism, bladder stones and inflammation, kidney stones. In addition to high blood pressure, earache, depression, fatigue, hangover, menopausal symptoms, to induce labor, in insect bites, against dandruff and ulcers. Above all, it is a popular herbal plant in our kitchens. Parsley does our body good in the form of vitamin C, zinc and tannins.
Gardeners hand cream
to use for dry and cracked hands.
Ingredients
- 1 handful of parsley leaves
- 100 ml / 3.5 fl oz of almond oil
- 10 g / 0,35 oz of cocoa butter
- 10 g / 0,35 oz of beeswax or carnauba wax (vegan alternative)
Preparation
- Chop the parsley and heat with almond oil in a water bath for at least 60 minutes, but never bring to a boil; then strain
- Fill the parsley oil in an airtight screw jar until further use
- Melt the parsley oil with beeswax/carnauba wax in a water bath, turn off the heat and stir in the cocoa butter
- Mix cold and pour into ointment jar
- Add 3 drops of essential oil (such as white rose, rockrose or chamomile) as needed during the cold-stirring
Application
Apply the ointment in the evening as the parsley contains furanocoumarine, which can cause redness and irritation to sensitive people in contact with sunlight.
Tip: The parsley oil is also suitable for make-up removal.
Parsley eye and refreshment water
for tired eyes and refreshment after hot days
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of parsley
- 1 cup of hot, no longer boiling water
Preparation
- Chop the parsley, pour hot water over it
- Allow cooling, then strain and fill into a screw cap
Application
For eye care dip cotton pads into the parsley water and place on closed eyes. To refresh after hot days, add parsley water to a spray bottle and generously spray the face and décolleté.
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