What is Celery? Celery is a biennial herbaceous plant that is most commonly found in ditches and salty marshes. They are native to the coasts of Northern and Western Europe and are characterized by the creamy white flowers that occur densely. The famed celery seeds are also quite distinctive in shape being ovoid to almost globose in shape. How Was Celery Used in the Past? Celery took its place on center stage when the Greeks used it to make a kind of award in the early athletic games, much like laurels were used. But by the middle ages, the Europeans had already introduced celery both in food as well as medicines. While the stalks of celery make delicious food, the seeds contain substances of medicinal value. Celery has traditionally been used to treat nervousness, anxiety and insomnia. It is a healthy addition to your daily diet because it contains Vitamin A, B C and B-Complex. In the late 19th century when celery tonics and elixirs began appearing commercially, celery seeds were crushed and added to liberal quantities of alcohol. They were mainly sold as a strong diuretic that can solve problems of the kidney, urinary bladder and urinary tract. There were claims of the effectiveness of the herb to relieve pain caused by arthritis and rheumatism. The essential oils derived from celery are supposed to have mild sedative effects. Since celery stalks contain a lot of fiber, they are also of great use in detox diets and are a great favorite among people who want to lose weight. Benefits of Celery Celery contains a lot of beneficial substances. Medicinally, the herbal uses of celery include the treatment of arthritis. Its calming effect is of particular use in case of hysteria, nervous tension and headaches caused by stress. The juice from the seeds has been known to reduce blood pressure. In some studies, the juice has also been shown to help reduce tumors in rats. Celery is a strong diuretic. While this is good, care must be taken to take in a lot of potassium (found in plenty in bananas) while taking celery for medicinal purposes. Because of its high fiber content, celery may cause minor irritations in the stomach and some symptoms of diarrhea. But this will soon go away if you stick to dosages prescribed by a doctor. Since pregnant women should not take diuretics, they should be careful with celery. Some patients have also experienced allergic reactions, like anaphylaxis. Research also indicates that if the plant is damaged, it may even contain carcinogenic substances. The product is available in the form of tablets and capsules filled with oil. Excessive intake of the oil may cause depression. Although there is no proof, celery is also known to reduce or lower the concentration of uric acid in the blood. This helps people suffering from painful and debilitating symptoms like gout. In folk medicine, celery seeds were used to treat heart problems, gas, hypertension, arthritis and inflammation. Growing Celery Celery is easy to cultivate and grows to 18-25 inches in height. Celery likes well drained, fertile soil that has lots of organic matter. You must supply the roots with enough nutrients because celery is a poor forager.
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