Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
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- Digestive
- 2 conditions
- Licensed photo
Overview
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is an annual or biennial herb up to about 1 ft (30 cm), with an erect stem, bright green compound leaves (plain or curly), and clusters of small white flowers. Known as a diuretic and a significant source of vitamins and minerals (e.g., A, C, E, and iron), parsley supports healthy fluid balance and is a staple culinary herb.
Traditional uses & properties
Nutritive & Diuretic: Helps flush out excess fluids, beneficial for rheumatic complaints, gout, and mild hypertension; leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals. Carminative & Digestive Aid: Eases flatulence, bloating, and can settle mild stomach upset. Menstrual Support: May stimulate delayed menstruation and relieve associated cramps (avoid if pregnant). Antigalactagogue: Known to help dry up breast milk if needed.
Traditional preparations
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person.
Eat parsley leaves raw or cooked to help with indigestion.
Safety & precautions
Uterine Stimulant: Avoid in large amounts during pregnancy. Kidney Issues: Excess seed use can be toxic and is not recommended if you have kidney disease. Breastfeeding: Parsley can reduce milk supply.
Drug & food interactions
A single case reports lithium toxicity in a patient who took a herbal diuretic containing parsley, among many other ingredients. A patient taking warfarin had an increase in his INR when he stopped taking a regular supplement containing various vitamin K-containing plants, including parsley.
- Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)
- The interaction between parsley and paracetamol (acetaminophen) is based on experimental evidence only.
- Warfarin and related drugs
- A man had a rise in his INR after stopping taking a herbal nutritional supplement (Nature’s Life Greens), which contained a number of plants including parsley. A 72-year-old man stabilised on warfarin was found to have an INR of 4.43 at a routine clinic visit, which was increased from 3.07 six weeks previously. The patient had stopped taking a herbal product Nature’s Life Greens that month because he did not have enough money to buy it. He had been taking it for the past 7 years as a vitamin supplement because he had previously been instructed to limit his intake of green leafy vegetables. He was eventually restabilised on warfarin and the same nutritional product.
- Herbal medicines
- No interactions found.
- Pentobarbital
- The interaction between parsley and pentobarbital is based on experimental evidence only.
- Aminophenazone
- The interaction between parsley and aminophenazone is based on experimental evidence only.
- Food
- No interactions found. Parsley is commonly used in food.
- Lithium
- A woman developed lithium toxicity after taking a herbal diuretic.
These entries keep the wording of the reference they come from, and three phrases mean three different things. "No interactions found" means the source looked for reports of that pairing and found none. "No data found" means nothing has been published either way. "Based on experimental evidence only" means the effect has been seen in a laboratory or animal study but not in people - a reason for caution, not a report of harm.
Habitat
Originally native to Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, parsley is now cultivated globally. Leaves can be picked fresh from spring to autumn, with seeds gathered once ripened.
Traditionally used for
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Frequently asked questions
What is Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) traditionally used for?
Traditional sources describe Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) as follows: Nutritive & Diuretic: Helps flush out excess fluids, beneficial for rheumatic complaints, gout, and mild hypertension; leaves are rich in vitamins and minerals. Carminative & Digestive Aid: Eases flatulence, bloating, and can settle mild stomach upset. Menstrual Support: May stimulate delayed menstruation and relieve associated cramps (avoid if pregnant). Antigalactagogue: Known to help dry up breast milk if needed.
How is Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) prepared?
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person. Indigestion: Eat parsley leaves raw or cooked to help with indigestion.
What safety cautions apply to Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)?
Uterine Stimulant: Avoid in large amounts during pregnancy. Kidney Issues: Excess seed use can be toxic and is not recommended if you have kidney disease. Breastfeeding: Parsley can reduce milk supply.
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