This plant comes from the Mediterranean, where it can still be found in the wild state. There is a legend explaining the name of the plant. In accordance with her, the plant was found on stony soils and the ancient Greeks therefore called it "petroselinon", that is, literally "on a stone growing" (from the word "petr", which means in Greek "stone, rock"). Well, we are already familiar with a simpler version of the name - parsley. Parsley or PETROSELINUM CRISPUM is root and leaf. It is at the root parsley that the root is most developed, while in the leaf variety it is thin and inexpressive. Specialists-botanists describe the shape of the root of parsley as: vertical, fusiform, fleshy. Color - yellowish-white, so sometimes in old books about potions and drugs, and culinary recipes, there is its second name "white root". The fragrance is defined as firm and spicy, the taste is marked as sweetish.
Parsley and all parts of the plant have a rich composition of biologically active substances. It is this "bouquet" of components that determines the broadest healing properties. But, if you want to get the maximum amount of useful substances from the roots of this plant, then you should follow the rules of their procurement and storage. At the same time it is important to comply with the deadlines and methods of harvesting. Prepare the roots of parsley for therapeutic use in the spring, if the plant is harvested second year of life, or in August-September, then the content of useful substances is high. An interesting recommendation in the preparation of medicinal plants will be the consideration of the lunar cycles. The root of parsley is better collected in the third and first phase of the moon, since it is believed that the amount of energy and trace elements in this period is the largest. But, unfortunately, the medicinal value of plant raw materials can be destroyed if the drying conditions are not observed. Drying the collected material, if there are no special conditions, must be carried out in a warm, well-ventilated room, avoiding sunlight. This is especially important in connection with the presence of essential oils in the root of parsley.
Consider the composition of the components of parsley, its root and useful properties in more detail. So, the composition of essential oil includes 1-apinene, allyltetramethoxybenzene, bergapten, coumarin, apion and myristicin. Apiol and myristicin as constituents of essential oil have the property of causing increased uterine contractions. Therefore, there is a warning on the use of parsley in pregnant women. In addition to essential oils, the root of parsley contains protein, sugars, amino acids, organic acids and other compounds.
In the plant, including the roots, many mineral substances have been found (calcium and magnesium, manganese and potassium, copper and iron, zinc, chromium, iodine and others), vitamins of different groups. In the root and other parts of parsley, there is an apion (has a pronounced diuretic effect). This glycoside helps to remove uric acid salts from the body, which is important for gout and joint diseases.
Useful properties of parsley and, in particular, its roots are known from ancient times. Even the ancient Greeks and Romans not only collected it, but also specially cultivated for medicinal purposes. And all the famous doctor Ibn Sina noted that "parsley opens clogs, sweats perspiration, calms pains, dissolves tumors at the beginning of their formation, helps with coughing, embarrassment and difficulty in breathing, it is useful for the liver and spleen, it erupts with its dissolving property" .
In which cases is it useful to eat the root of parsley? The list of conditions is quite extensive: violations of the intestine (spasms and flatulence), gastritis with high acidity, cardiac edema, asthenic conditions and heart defects (decompensated), inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, painful menstruation and violations of the female cycle, prostatitis. Effectively applying the root of parsley in diseases of the upper respiratory tract, coughing, liver problems and metabolism. With poor appetite, the root of parsley is recommended to be used fresh. There are indications of relief from insect bites to relieve itching, but this is more the case with freshly cut leaves of the plant.
The root of parsley is used to whiten the skin, prevent the appearance and removal of freckles, remove dark pigment spots. More precise results are obtained in these cases in mixtures with lemon juice. In connection with the external application of the root of parsley, it should be borne in mind that some plants, including parsley (namely root), cause photo-burns.
Now you know everything about the root of parsley, the beneficial properties of this simple at first glance plant, which is a regular on our beds with you.