Parsley is a very well known herb that is used all around the world for its flavor in various types of cuisine. The plant itself is small and delicate, with fanned out leaves and barely there flowering heads that form a crown atop the plant. It is found all around the world because it’s cultivated for culinary applications, but grows naturally in the Mediterranean which likely explains it’s prolific use in that part of the world. Sadly, parsley is often subjected to being used merely as a garnish, where its important nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, beta carotene, folic acid, antioxidants, flavonoids and vitamin A are completely wasted. Luckily, a resurgence in interest in natural medicine is restoring parsley to its once former glory, and the benefits of parsley tea for health are again being explored with some promising results.
Some of the best known medicinal use of parsley comes from the Cherokee Indian Native American tribe who became aware of the plant’s numerous benefits after learning of them from European settlers to the area. They proceeded to use the plant for a wide range of health problems, many of them associated with the urinary system. Ideally, the benefits of parsley tea are best exploited when the whole, fresh plant is available. Leaves, stems and root pieces are all linked to positive health benefits anecdotally. The dried herb is much less desirable for using in a parsley tea recipe, but will work if the fresh plant is not available. Many herbal tea recipes use dried herbs, but documented literally strongly urges the use of the fresh plant. To make the tea, one heaping teaspoon of freshly chopped herb can be added to one cup of boiling water that has been removed from the heat. The mixture should be steeped for about twenty minutes before straining and enjoying. The benefits of parsley tea, ten of which can be found below, may be enhanced if the beverage is enjoyed a couple of times a day over a period of one week.
1. Urinary Tract Infections
Parsley is considered a natural diuretic, and this is likely the reason why it’s been so long associated with the urinary system. The thought behind this though largely unproven is that by improving urine flow, the course of infection can be shortened and symptoms made less apparent.
2. Kidney Stones
The benefits of parsley tea are clearly linked to urinary health, and some believe that this is furthered in that a reduction in kidney stone recurrence may be enjoyed by those who use the herb. There is little scientific evidence to support this theory although the plant is generally accepted to have diuretic properties.
3. Menstrual Problems
Parsley has been referred to in herbal medicine as an agent that can bring about uterine contractions, and as such is not ever recommended in medicinal amounts for women who are pregnant. However, these effects on the female reproductive system may have positive attributes including improved menstrual flow.
4. Anemia
The nutritional content of parsley is quite substantial and it’s an excellent source of iron. As a result, the benefits of parsley tea may include an improvement in condition in people who are anemic, a health problem that is characterized by a lack of iron in the bloodstream.
5. Osteoporosis
More research will be needed to fully evaluate the role parsley may have in people with osteoporosis. However, it’s again the nutrition content of the plant that has led to this link. Both boron and fluoride are present in great quantities in parsley, both elements which have been associated with protection against thinning bones.
6. Digestive Assistance
It’s not entirely clear just how parsley may positively impact the digestive tract, but for hundreds of years the plant has been linked to digestive problems. This is mostly related to a reduction in intestinal gases, a phenomenon supposedly possible with the use of parsley. It’s been suggested that gas found in the intestines and stomach may be reduced with the benefits of parsley tea.
7. Liver Problems
The supposed cleansing actions associated with parsley are probably the basis for the claims that the herbal remedy may have uses in maintaining healthy liver function. More research will be needed to validate these claims which are supported by the herb’s long use as a treatment for various conditions involving the liver, such as jaundice.
