David L. Hoffmann BSc Hons MNIMHApium graveolens
Umbelliferae
Names: Smallage
Habitat: Cultivated widely. The wild variety grows in marshy places.
Collection: The seeds should be collected when ripe in the autumn.
Part Used: Dried ripe fruits.
Constituents:
- Volatile oil, containing d-limonene, with[[alpha]]-selinene, santalol, [[alpha]]- and [[beta]]-eudesmol, dihydrocarvone.
- Phthalides; mainly 3-n-butylphthalide, ligustilide, sedanolide, and sedanenolide.
- Coumarins; bergapten, isoimperatorin, isopimpinellin, apiumoside &celeroside.
- Flavonoids; apiin and apigenin
- Fixed oil, fatty acids.
Actions: Anti-rheumatic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, carminative, anti-spasmodic, nervine.
Indications: Celery Seeds find their main use in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis 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 they are also used as a urinary antiseptic, largely because of the volatile oil apiol.
Combinations: In rheumatic conditions they combine well with Bogbean. They appear to work better in combination with Dandelion.
Preparations & Dosage: 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.
Tincture; 1-4 ml three times a day
Hyla Cass MD
Daniel Redwood DC