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Herbs & Cultures
Image of Celery

Europe · Food · № 61

Apium graveolens

Region
Europe
Origin
Mediterranean and western Asia; now grown worldwide. Apium graveolens
Sanskrit
Ajmoda
Traditions
Ancient Egyptian medicine, Ayurveda, Western herbal medicine, Folk magic and herbal magic
4 traditionsImage: MPF · CC BY-SA 4.0

Food · Europe

Celery

Apium graveolens

Vegetable and spice. The seed was traditionally used for gout, joint complaints and as a diuretic. Convincing clinical evidence is lacking.

Safety notes

Celery is a well-known allergen. Avoid seed products in pregnancy or kidney disease. May increase sensitivity to sunlight.

Preparation

Eaten as a vegetable; the seed as spice, tea or extract. No dosage is given here.

Use in traditions

Ody describes celery seed in Western herbalism for rheumatic complaints; Ayurveda also uses the seed (ajmoda). In ancient Egypt and Greece the plant was used in garlands and grave goods.

Applications

Use by tradition

How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.

Herbal medicine worldwide

Attributed effects

Antirheumatic, calming, urinary antiseptic, diuretic, carminative, lowers blood pressure; for arthritis, gout, high blood pressure, urinary infections.

Preparation and amount

Tea of 2 tsp celery seed (with 1 tsp lignum vitae) per cup for rheumatoid arthritis and gout; root and seed tincture as a diuretic; up to 20 drops of oil in 1 tsp olive oil as massage; foot bath with 15 drops of oil for gout; juice of the whole plant; oil and high doses of seed not in pregnancy.

Ways to prepare herbs
Tea (infusion)TinctureSteam and bathPowder and kitchen
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