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Celery is a plant comprising an
herb and its seed that are both used for culinary and medicinal uses.
Celery Seed is the dried fruit of Apium graviolens, a biennial in the
parsley family. It was cultivated in the Mediterranean region since at
least 3000 years. It is related, but not identical, to the vegetable
celery plant. It common name is Smallage or Marsh Water Parsley, Garden
Celery, Wild Celery. Its Arabic name is Karafs.
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Uses
Celery seeds have many medicinal uses. Its actions include anti-rheumatic,
anti-inflammatory, diuretic, carminative, anti-spasmodic and nervine
(promoting restfulness and sleep). It is also useful in hysteria.
Celery Seeds find their main use in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis
and gout. Celery Seed is most often taken to aid in the maintenance of
healthy joints. It is suitable for anyone who wishes to reduce the
degeneration of body joints that commonly occurs with age.
Celery Seed can also ease joint discomfort that occurs due to inflammation
and is, in fact, mainly used for the relief of symptoms of such conditions
as arthritis, rheumatism and gout. They are especially useful in
rheumatoid arthritis where there is an associated mental depression. Their
diuretic action is obviously involved in rheumatic conditions, but Celery
Seeds are also used as a urinary antiseptic, largely because of the
volatile oil, apiol.
Culinary uses:
The brown, characteristically aromatic, pungent seed is used in salads,
soups, stews, vegetable dishes, meat dishes, and celery salt (a mixture of
table salt and ground celery seed).
The essential oil and oleoresin of celery seed are used as a flavoring or
fragrance in perfumes, and cosmetics, such as soaps, creams, and lotions.
The odor is produced by the anhydrides, sedanoid, and sedanomic. It is
administered as an Infusion; pour a cup of boiling water onto l-2
teaspoonfuls of freshly crushed seeds. Leave to infuse for l0-l5 minutes.
This should be drunk three times a day.
Celery seed is generally recognized as safe for human consumption as a
spice, natural seasoning, and plant extract/essential oil. Used in
pickling, vegetables, salad dressings, breads, soups, and tomato items.
Celery seed is used in celery salt, pickling and curry spice blends, and
the ethnic cuisines of Germany, Italy, Russia, and the Orient. Celery Seed
is useful for adding a celery flavor to foods when the "crunch" of celery
is not desired.
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