Overview

Since ancient times, many health care providers and individuals have been utilizing one of the lesser-known herbs as a way to treat many different problems of the body. Today, individuals most commonly use celery seed as a diuretic. Additionally, it is useful as a treatment for Urinary Tract Infections. This is because there are also anti-bacterial ingredients within celery seed, which make it ideal for this purpose. However, celery seed has been used for many different things over time, including treatments for Colds and the Flu, for water retention, and for Arthritis relief, as well as for particular problems involving the spleen or liver.

There have also been studies on animals, which seem to suggest to scientists that celery seed may have a few more advantages, as well. For example, it may lower Blood pressure and cholesterol. Some reports even claim that celery seed can help in protecting the liver from harmful elements such as acetaminophen, an over-the-counter medicine for pain relief. If acetaminophen is taken in too large of a quantity, it can damage the liver. The studies suggest that celery seed may be able to balance this problem; however, these studies are not scientifically proven effective in humans.

Plant Description

Many people may not be aware of what this herb looks like in its natural and raw form. This is because the herb itself is not widely used, since many people are simply unaware of its existence and its advantages. However, if one were to look at the plant, it is very unassuming in nature. Most people are aware of the celery plant, but not the celery seeds. These small, circular seeds are found in the flower of the celery plant, ranging in depth of color, but generally brown in nature. Celery seeds are described as having a pleasant smell for the most part, but also may be slightly bitter. The seed is typically grown in France and India, in many cases.

What’s It Made of?

The seeds contain many different types of chemicals that are helpful to the body. They are small, but very capable and powerful when used to treat certain human and animal health problems. Some of the different substances found within celery seeds include flavonoids, linoleic Acid, different volatile oils, and coumarins. These different chemicals help make the celery seed a potent and effective treatment for specific ailments and problems.

Available Forms

Celery seed is available in many different forms. Many people appreciate being able to add celery seed or celery seed extract to soups that have a creamy or rich base, in order to add more flavor or the taste of celery, without the crunch of the plant itself. Celery seeds can be found fresh, but most people will find them dried in the spices aisle at a grocery store. Certain stores will also carry the herb in a capsule or tablet form, perfect for easy consumption by individuals who do not want to cook with it, but who simply want to ingest the herb in order to get the benefits of the herb. The capsules are typically filled with the oil of the celery seed, which has the same benefits. It is also available in extract form, which has the active and beneficial ingredients of the celery seed extracted from the seed itself by utilizing the properties of either alcohol or glycerin.

How to Take It

Depending on how the individual wants to take celery seed, there are a number of different options. It can be baked in food or used as a spice in a culinary creation. Celery seed can also be taken orally in its capsule or tablet form. Oil of celery seed, or celery seed extract, can also be used in meal preparation or orally ingested. How a person decides to take celery seed is based on personal preference and what the purpose is in using the herb. For example, if an individual were using celery seed as a flavoring for food, then obviously they would want and need to use celery seed in a form best suited for achieving the desired flavor.

Precautions

There are certain precautions that an individual needs to take in order to make sure there are no complications, unnecessary risks, or reactions that might take place. While many people would advise talking to a health care professional prior to incorporating any additional medicine into a diet, some people may simply want to be aware of the risks that could come from taking the medicine, before even talking with their doctor.

It is important that individuals not eat celery seeds that have been designated for planting or growing celery plants. This is because these seeds may have been treated with a pesticide or fungicide, which could trigger alarming reactions within the human body. Since celery seed may cause Muscle contractions within the Uterus, it is important that pregnant women not take celery seed while they are anticipating the arrival of a baby. Sunscreen should also not be used on the skin of individuals that are taking celery seed, since there are incidences that have been reported of people using celery seed being more sensitive to UV rays. This is because some of the ingredients within celery seed, called photodermatitis, can increase the sensitivity of the skin to light from the sun. In addition, some people are also allergic to celery seed.

Possible Interactions

To the best of the knowledge of the scientific community, there are no interactions that have been reported between the use of celery seed and other forms of medication. However, people who are already taking diuretics are advised to first consult their physician prior to ingesting celery seed, since the herb itself is also a diuretic. There are also reports of celery seed being capable of thinning out blood. Because of this, if individuals are taking blood-thinning medication, it is important to not use celery seed unless discussions with a doctor or health care professional have taken place prior to the use of the herb.