Botanical Index No. 226

Celery

apium graveolens

Medicinal Actions

Analgesic, Anthelminthic, Antiaggregant, Antialzheimeran, Antiarthritic, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticonvulsant, Antidepressant, Antidiabetic, Antiedemic, Antiepileptic, Antigalactic, Antiinflammatory, Antioxidant, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Antitumor, Astringent, Carminative, Cercaricide, Choleretic, Depurative, Digestive, Diuretic, Emmenagogue, Fungicide, Hepatoprotective, Hypoglycemic, Hypotensive, Lipolytic, Neurotonic, Sedative, Stimulant, Stomachic, Tonic, Urinary Antiseptic, Uterotonic, Colic, antiedemic, antiinflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypotensive, choleretic, bacteriostatic

Primary Conditions Treated

Abortifacient Aperitif Aphrodisiac Cancer Nervine Tranquilizer Alzheimer’s Amenorrhea Anasarca Anorexia Anxiety Arthrosis Ascites Asthma Bacteria Bronchosis breast eye feet liver penis spleen stomach testis uterus vulva Cardiopathy Catarrh Cholecystosis Condyloma Congestion Convulsion Corn Cough Cramp Cystosis Depression Diabetes Dysmenorrhea Dyspepsia Dysuria Edema Enterosis Epilepsy Fatigue Felon Fever Fungus Gallstone Gas Gout Hepatosis Hiccup High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Hyperglycemia Impostume Induration Infection Inflammation Insomnia Jaundice Kidney Stone Lumbago Malaria Mycosis Nausea Nephrosis Nervousness Obesity Ophthalmia Ovary Pain Proctosis Pulmonosis Rheumatism Rhinosis Scabies Schistosoma Scirrhus Sore Splenosis Sting Stomachache Stone Stress Swelling Toothache Tumor Uterosis UTI Water Retention Wen Whitlow prevention of the gout crisis chemotactic effect cercaricidal activity of the cercaria of Schistosoma mansoni

General Dosage

200 g root boiled in 500 g water taking 1 cup every 3 hours as antigalactic; 1–2 leaves for colic; 1–4 g powdered seed; 1–2 tsp seed/cup water; 1–2 g dry seed; 2 g dry seed:10 ml alcohol/10 ml water; 1 g mashed seed/cup hot water; 1.75 tsp crushed seed/cup water; 0.05–0.1 ml; 0.5–1 tsp tincture to 3 ×/day; 0.3–1.5 ml liquid extract; 0.3–1.2 ml liquid extract 3 ×/day; 0.5–2 g or by decoction 1:5, 3 ×/day; 2 capsules 2 ×/day, before meals. Often standardized to 2.2% volatile oil. So far, in my 5.5 years on celery seed extract, I have not knowingly suffered any side effects from the 2–4 capsules or tablets I take a day, every day, without fail, for the prevention of the gout crisis.

Safety & Contraindications

Class 2b[5], 2d. Individuals with renal disorders should use with caution. Commission E reports potential allergenicity, including anaphylactic shock. Photosensitizing. Contains phototoxic furanocoumarins. CAN cautions that the furanocoumarins may cause phototoxicity and dermatosis. Still, they summarize that no side effects or toxicity are documented for celery seed. Photosensitivity reactions have been reported as a result of external contact with celery stems. Even anaphylactic reactions are reported following oral ingestion of the stems. Archives of Dermatology reported severe phototoxicity in a woman consuming celeriac and then going to a tanning parlor. The new Herbal PDR notes that levels of phototoxic furanocoumarins can rise 200-fold under storage conditions, especially if the root is fungally or yeast infected. No side effects, toxicity documented for celery fruit. Persons with kidney problems should be cautious. The drug is contraindicated in inflammation of the kidneys, since apiaceous EOs may increase the inflammation as a result of epithelial irritation. Contraindicated during pregnancy). Celeryseed oil abortifacient. Oil, though stated to be nonirritant, nonphototoxic, and nonsensitizing in humans, is also reported to have uterotonic activity; the seeds are said to affect the menstrual cycle and even to be abortifacient. There’s a rare allergy, Birch-Celery Syndrome; people sensitive to birch or mugwort pollen may have an immediate reaction just eating celery or taking celery seed products. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” So far, in my 5.5 years on celery seed extract, I have not knowingly suffered umented for celery fruit. Persons with kidney problems should be cautious. The drug is contraindicated in inflammation of the kidneys, since apiaceous EOs may increase the inflammation as a result of epithelial irritation. Contraindicated during pregnancy). Celeryseed oil abortifacient. Oil, though stated to be nonirritant, nonphototoxic, and nonsensitizing in humans, is also reported to have uterotonic activity; the seeds are said to affect the menstrual cycle and even to be abortifacient. There’s a rare allergy, Birch-Celery Syndrome; people sensitive to birch or mugwort pollen may have an immediate reaction just eating celery or taking celery seed products. “Hazards and/or side effects not known for proper therapeutic dosages” So far, in my 5.5 years on celery seed extract, I have not knowingly suffered any side effects from the 2–4 capsules or tablets I take a day, every day, without fail, for the prevention of the gout crisis. Celery herb, seed, and root unapproved for therapeutic application, as far as Germany’s Commission E is concerned.

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