In ancient Rome and Greece, parsley sprigs were braided into garlands
and wreaths to give to partygoers with the belief that the parsley
would allow them to better hold their liquor. Throughout Europe, parsley
was associated with marriage, birth and death and was therefore a part
of many marriage ceremonies, birth rituals and funerals for centuries.
In Germany, folk healers would tell women to wash their faces with
parsley water or tea for clearer skin. Parsley tea could also be used as
a hair rinse to make dark hair shinier and smoother. Powdered parsley
seeds were brewed in lard and then applied to the scalp in order to
stave off head lice. In Cambridgeshire, a salve of pounded parsley and
hen’s fat was marketed to heal chapped hands. Women were often
instructed to eat parsley regularly, for it helps to lessen body odors
and sweetens breath.
Today, parsley is recognized for its rich nutritional benefits and
its diverse functions. The leaves contain large quantities of vitamins
A, B and C, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorous and potassium, and
because of this, it is used to help stimulate the appetite and the
digestive system, making it an ideal dietary supplement for anemics or
people recovering from long illnesses. Parsley roots and seeds are
consumed to cleanse the blood, kidneys and bladder and to expel excess
water from the body. When taken with other herbs, parsley can even help
relieve rheumatism and gout. Parsley can be applied to insect bites and
stings to ease the pain, and it can also be used to treat light burns,
milk knots and swelling. A tea made from the herb is still given to
nursing mothers to wean her child and stop the flow of milk.
So the next time you find parsley on the side of your plate, remember
that it’s so much more than just a garnish to brush off and discard.
You may not need it to ward off rabies or treat appendicitis, but you
can at least use it to freshen your breath.
Read More: Essential Herbal Wisdom: A Complete Exploration of 50 Remarkable Herbs by Nancy Arrowsmith
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