Unrecognized and untreated hypertension, or high blood pressure, can cause deadly and progressive damage to your blood vessels, kidneys, heart, eyes and brain. Treatment for high blood pressure can start with dietary changes, including reduced sodium, weight loss, regular exercise and stress reduction. Sometimes, however, more aggressive medical intervention is needed. Health professionals recommend parsley for its blood pressure-lowering properties. Consult your physician if you are considering taking a dietary supplement such as parsley to control your blood pressure.
Types of Parsley
Parsley is a small, flowering plant native to the Mediterranean, but grown throughout Europe and North Africa. Parsley's scientific name is Petroselinum crispum or Petroselinum sativum. Some parsley products may list the names Apium crispum or Apium petroselinum as well. Italian flat-leaf and Hamburg parsley are special cultures of Petroselinum crispum. Japanese parsley, or Cryptotaenia japonica, resembles parsley, but is not related or used as an ingredient in parsley supplements. Fresh parsley is used as a food garnish, flavoring herb and breath freshener.
How Parsley Works
Parsley has been shown to lower blood pressure in animals and humans. A 2009 study published in the Brazilian journal "Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia" found that parsley extracts lowered blood pressure in mice. Parsley lowers blood pressure through its diuretic action. A 2002 "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" animal study showed that parsley increased the elimination of sodium, potassium and fluid by the kidneys. A 2007 review published in the "Journal of Ethnopharmacology" called parsley a "promising" diuretic, and a 2007 report by the European Food Safety Authority recommended parsley herb and root for diuretic purposes.
Parsley Supplements
You can get parsley's blood-pressure or diuretic benefits by eating fresh parsley sprigs raw or cooked. Parsley dietary supplements may contain parsley leaf, root, seeds or oil. Dried parsley leaf is packaged as a powder, tea or extract. Parsley oil contains a group of phytochemicals known as flavonoids that are believed to have diuretic and blood pressure-lowering activity. Dietary supplements containing parsley fruit, oil, extract or seeds have the highest amounts of flavonoids.
Parsley Safety
Parsley contains several naturally occurring chemicals that are toxic if taken in large doses. For example, parsley contains apiole, which can cause abortions by stimulating the muscles of the uterus. Myristicin is a another potentially toxic parsley constituent. High amounts of myristicin can cause hallucinations and altered behavior. Both myristicin and apiole can harm the liver as well. Parsley is also high in oxalic acid, which can combine with calcium in the kidneys and form kidney stones. Avoid parsley supplements if you have a history of kidney stones and are on an oxalate-restrictive diet.
References
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Diuretic effect and mechanism of action of parsley; Sawsan Ibrahim Kreydiyyeh and Julnar Usta; March 2002
- "Journal of Ethnopharmacology"; Herbal medicines as diuretics: a review of the scientific evidence; C.I. Wright, et al.; October 2007
- "Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia"; Diuretic and hipotensive activity of aqueous extract of parsley seeds (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm.) in rats; Kleber Eduardo de Campos, et al,; January/March 2009
- European Food Safety Authority; Study on the assessment of plants/herbs, plant/herb extracts and their naturally or synthetically produced components as 'additives' for use in animal production.; C. Franz, et al.; December 7, 2009
- "Journal of Toxicology - Clinical Toxicology"; Herbal infusions used for induced abortion; C. Ciganda and A. Laborde; 2003
- UMMC; Kidney stones - Prevention; July 2009
