Apium Graveolens

• Botanical Name(s): Apium Graveolens

• Popular Name(s): Celery, Celery Seeds, Smallage, Garden Celery, Wild Celery, and Marsh Parsely

• Parts Used: The whole plant is used, including the roots, seeds and oil.

• Habitat: Grows wild in salty soils of North and South America, Europe and Africa.

Description: It is an aromatic biennial with bulbous fleshy roots and solid grooved stems, pinnate divided leaves, up to 50 cm long. Gray-brown seeds follow umbels of green-white flowers.

Uses: Celery is used externally to combat fungal infections and to battle tumors. The furocoumarins contained in celery are typically used for their stomachic, carminative, diuretic and emmenagogue properties. As a salad vegetable or made into a tea, celery can be helpful also in clearing up skin problems. A decoction of the seeds can be used for bronchitis, rheumatism and as a sedative for nervousness.

More familiar as a vegetable than as a medicine, celery find its main use in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and gout. Containing apiol, the seeds are also used as a urinary antiseptic. Celery is a good cleansing, diuretic herb, and the seeds are used specifically for arthritic complaints where there is an accumulation of waste products. The seeds also have a reputation as a carminative with a mild tranquilizing effect. The stems are less significant medicinally.

Main Properties: Anti-rheumatic, antispasmodic, diuretic, urinary antiseptic. Celery seed has historically been reputed as a folk medicine for treating flatulence and indigestion, also as a diuretic, antispasmodic, and aphrodisiac. Primary uses included treatment of asthma, bronchitis, and rheumatism.Ancient herb - Records show that celery has been cultivated for at least 3,000 years, notably in pharaonic Egypt, and it was known in China in the 5th century BC. Throughout history, celery has been used as a food, and at various times both the whole plant and the seeds have been taken medicinally.

Cleansing properties - Today, the seeds are used for treating rheumatic conditions and gout. They help the kidneys dispose of urates and other unwanted waste products, as well as working to reduce acidity in the body as a whole. The celery seeds are useful in arthritis, helping to detoxify the body and improve the circulation of blood to the muscles and joints. Diuretic - Celery seeds have a mildly diuretic and significantly antiseptic action. They are an effective treatment for cystitis, helping to disinfect the bladder and urinary tubules.

Nutritious drink elery and organic carrot juice make a nutritious, cleansing drink that is good for many chronic illnesses. Other medical uses- Altitude sickness, Glue ear, Stomach cancer. Celery seeds are beneficial for chest problems such as asthma and bronchitis, and, when used in combination with other herbs, help to reduce blood pressure.