Parsley Root
Medicinal parts of parsley include: the oil extracted from the parsley fruits, the dried, separated schizocarp, the fresh or dried aerial parts, the dried underground parts, and the whole fresh plant at the beginnng of the flowering season.
Qualities: sweet, a bit pungent, warm, moist, nourishing, restoring, dissolving
Constituents: proteins 20%, flavonoid apiin, essential oil (incl. apiol, bergapten, myristicin, phellandrene, menthatriene, isopropenylmethylbenzene), fixed oil (incl. petroselinic acid), coumarins, terpenes, phthalides, mucilage, resin, starch, iron, calcium, phosphorus, manganese, volatile alkaloid traces, inositol, sulphur vitamins C and K, B-carotene
Tropism: blood, fluids, stomach, liver, kidneys, uterus
Ground: all krases, biotypes and constitutions
Uses
1. Tonifies digestive Qi, promotes absorption and relieves fatigue; reduces liver congestion and relieves fullness:
stomach and intestines (Spleen) Qi deficiency:appetite and weight loss, fatigue, loose stool MALABSORPTION SYNDROME, ANOREXIA, malnutrition, metabolic acidosis
liver Qi stagnation: right flank pain, epigastric distension, indigestion LIVER CONGESTION with DYSPEPSIA, jaundice
2. Enriches liver Yin, nourishes the blood and relieves fatigue; increases estrogen and promotes menstruation
Liver Yin deficiency: stamina loss, introversion, weight loss, low resistance METABOLIC DEFICIENCIES
blood deficiency: fatigue, pale complexion and eyelids, nails, dizziness ANEMIA, mineral depletion
uterus blood deficiency: delayed or stopped menstruation, fatigue AMENORRHEA, ESTROGEN DEFICIENCY disorders (incl. menopause, PMS with dry skin, irritability, depression) HAIR LOSS
3. Promotes Urination, Drains Fluid Congestion and Relieves Edema; Resolves Toxicosis, Harmonizes urination and Dissolves Stones
liver and kidney fluid contestion: general water retention, fatigue, scanty or painful urination
EDEMA, DYSURIA, ANURIA
kidney Qi stagnation with metabolic toxicosis: skin rashes, fetid stool, fatigue, urinary irritation
HYPERURICEMIA, GOUT, URINARY AND GALL STONES
4. Promotes Tissue Repair: Promotes Lactation
FRACTURES
INSUFFICIENT BREAST MILK
NOTES - HOLMES
The uses of this gentle, yet, deeply healing root go back beyond recorded history. With its sweet, moist and warm qualities, its nutrient-rich constituents and its major use for digestive conditions, we may define Parsley root as an excellent digestive restorative remedy. Promoting intestinal absorption and liver assimilation and storage, the root, in Chinese terms, strengthens the Spleen and enriches Liver Yin. As a result, deficiencies with malabsorption, weight loss and fatigue are comprehensively treated.
Like many remedies, Parsley root has been considered an emmenagogue in the past,a label that should be used carefully if at all. Why? Because the causes of amenorrhea are varied, and each require different fundamental treatments. As MILLS (1986) rightly points out, many remedies were considered to bring on the moons because they were frankly abortifacient -- pregnancy being a large cause of amenorrhea in the past. Menstruation may cease due to a number of internal disharmonies. If Qi stagnation is the cause, then menstruation is obstructed through retention. If blood deficiency is the cause, menstruation is unavailable through insufficiency. If Qi constraint is the cause, the menses are obstructed through spasm. The type of herbal remedy used in the three cases is entirely different.
Using Parsley Root, Radix Petroselini, we can nourish and restore uterine blood. Using the seed, Fructus Petroselini, we can relax uterine tone. Using either we can stimulate uterine function. Parsley is compassionate to women because it treats three major types of functional menstrual delay exceptionally well.
Along with the roots of Fennel, Asparagus, Broom and Celery, Parsley root belongs to GALEN'S Five Opening Roots -- i.e., those used to drain fluids downward and promote urination. In this sense, Parsley is an eliminant that significantly improves all forms of edema. Also, like Celery, the root is an altering remedy that promotes detoxification through improved kidney activity and by pulling wastes from the blood and so indirectly from the tissues. The essential oil is most active in this respect and explains its benefits in chronic metabolic toxicosis conditions.
The Physiomedical Dispensatory by William Cook, M.D., 1869
This plant possesses a small quantity of a pleasant volatile oil, upon which depend the culinary merits of the leaves. The root is the chief medicinal part. It is fleshy, fusiform, several inches in length, sweetish and aromatic to the taste, and of a pleasant odor. It yields its properties to water and alcohol. Its power is impaired by drying and by age.
Properties and Uses: The root is an agreeable, aromatic, relaxant, and mild stimulant. Its chief power is expended upon the kidneys; and a little of its action may be felt upon the skin. It greatly increases the flow of urine; and may easily be made to exhaust the kidneys, which is too often done by such persistent diuretics as this. In ordinary suppressions of the urine, it is a reliable article; and gives relief in strangury, aching in the back, hysteria, and similar cases, where deficient excretion of urine is much concerned. It is better adapted to recent than chronic cases; and may be given even when sub-acute inflammation of the kidneys is present. It has been highly praised in dropsy, and will no doubt give temporary relief to the effusion; but as this malady depends so much less upon the kidneys than is generally supposed, any treatment that relies too largely upon forcing diuretics, is quite sure to fail. (See Diuretics. ) In these cases, parsley root may be used in moderation with other suitable agents. The leaves are reputed good,
as a fomentation, in bruises, swelled breasts, and enlarged glands. The oil has been obtained, and is used in lieu of the root– two drops, three times day. The infusion, made by adding a pint of hot water to an ounce of the fresh root, is the usual mode of employing the article; and one ounce of this may be given at intervals of from two to four hours. The green root may also be eaten.