Wild celery is an essential ingredient in all broths and depurative recipes, and onion, nettle, cabbage, and lemon. The oil obtained from celery seeds and roots is said to be aphrodisiac.
Wild Cherry Scientific Facts
- Other names: Garden celery, celery.
- French: Celery.
- Spanish: Apio.
- Environment: Wild celery grows in salty soils along the European coastline. The plant is cultivated worldwide.
- Description: Biennial plant of the Umbelliferae family, growing from 30 to 90 cm high, with an upright, channeled stem, dark green leaves, and peculiar aroma.
- Parts of the plant used medicinally: The leaves, roots, and fruits.
Healing Properties and Uses
The entire plant contains essential oil, which acts on the kidneys, glycoquinines, a glycoside (apiin), coumarin, and oleoresin, and nitrogenous substances and vitamins B and C. These are its properties:
- Diuretic and depurative. It promotes the elimination of urine, and with it, that of toxic metabolic waste, such as urea and uric acid. Font Quer said that celery “makes anybody urinate.” It is recommended for those people suffering from any degree of renal insufficiency, gout, or arthritis, and urinary lithiasis (kidney stones). It is also a mild febrifuge.
- Appetizer and invigorating. It gives a sensation of vitality and well-being. Wild celery juice is beneficial when used as a general invigorating and remineralizer mixed lemon juice, tomato and carrots. It is recommended for people experiencing exhaustion or nervous depression.
Wild celery is an excellent herbal remedy for kidney problems, gout, and arthritis. It acts as a sedative, antioxidant, and diuretic. It can reduce blood pressure, muscle spasms, and enhance appetite. A decoction of the seeds can treat dropsy, incontinence of urine, neuralgia, and rheumatism and helps rid the body of excess acid. It can also be used for chronic pulmonary catarrh and deficiency diseases, flatulence, weight control, and gout.
You can eat the root raw or make it into a broth, which can treat the same problems. The entire plant can be utilized to treat rheumatism and kidney ailments. It can also stimulate the onset of menstruation. Wild celery consumed as a tea or salad vegetable will help clear skin conditions.
How to use Wild Celery
- Salads. Leaves and stems are eaten raw together with other vegetables.
- Broth. Celery, and onion, are essential ingredients in any depurative broth, which is prepared by boiling both vegetables and other ones.
- Infusion
- Decoction with root.
- Fresh juice from leaves and stems, obtained with the electric blender. Its diuretic and depurative effects are enhanced when mixed with lemon juice.
Decoction (root, seeds): Simmer for five to fifteen minutes. Take one ounce three times daily. Fluid Extract: Take ten to thirty drops as needed. Essential oil: Take one to two drops three times daily. Powder: Take four to ten #0 capsules three times daily.
WARNING! Pregnant women must abstain from celery since it can lead to uterine contractions. Also, they should not consume the seeds or excess amounts of the plant. Because of its strong diuretic properties, it should not be used by people with acute kidney problems. However, mild use is ok if chronic kidney issues are not present.
REFERENCES
- George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. “Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants.” George D. Pamplona-Roger, M.D. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Ed. Francesc X. Gelabert. vols. 2 San Fernando de Henares: Editorial Safeliz, 2000. 562. Print.
- Vance Ferrell Harold M. Cherne, M.D. The Natural Remedies Encyclopedia [Book]. – Altamont, TN: Harvestime Books, 2010. – Vol. Seventh Edition: 7: pp. 142, 143.
