High blood pressure also is known as hypertension. If your blood pressure is not well controlled, you are at higher risk to develop complications like stroke, kidney damage and heart diseases. Parsley, scientifically known as Petrosalinum sativum, is an annual herb native to Mediterranean regions, commonly used as a culinary herb. Although limited, some research studies found parsley beneficial for controlling high blood pressure. You should always consult your health-care provider before using parsley for a medical condition.
About Parsley
Parsley has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb for various ailments, including kidney problems, digestive complaints, painful menses, prostate conditions, skin parasites, anemia, arthritis, cancer and as an aphrodisiac, indicates Drugs.com. Parsley oil is derived from its roots, seeds and leaves and contain the active ingredients apiol and myristicin, as well as vitamin A and other nutrients. Parsley can be consumed as a culinary herb, and is also available as an over the counter supplement in extract, powder or oil form.
Research
According to the results of a study published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" in October, 2007, parsley has been shown to work as an anti-hypertensive agent in a similar way diuretics work. The diuretics are a group of conventional anti-hypertension drugs that act by increasing the elimination of water and salt from the body and thus lowering blood pressure. Beside parsley, this study also found that herbs like fennel, roselle and elderberry have diuretic qualities, as well. Although parsley showed the ability to reduce blood pressure, the authors noted larger studies are needed to fully confirm these findings. Drugs.com also indicates that parsley has been researched and showed diuretic effects in animal studies. However, there is a lack of clinical data in humans that show these benefits.
Warnings
You should use parsley from grocery stores, rather than picking it up by yourself. Wild parsley looks similar to three other herbs: small hemlock, poison parsley and water hemlock. All are poisonous and can cause diarrhea, paralysis, convulsions and even death, warns Drugs.com.
Considerations
Consult a qualified health-care professional to find out if parsley supplements may help to improve your blood pressure. A healthy diet like the DASH plan is also recommended by the National Institutes of health to help you achieve and maintain healthy blood pressure. Keep in mind that parsley should not be used to replace any anti-hypertension drugs recommended by your doctor. Parsley is not approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manage high blood pressure.
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