Parsley packs a huge medicinal punch
Parsley is a well-known herb usually used for cooking everything from soup to chicken dishes. This plant, packed with vitamins and minerals, is more than just a garnish. It can be used for a number of medicinal and personal-care purposes as well. The ancient Greeks held parsley in such high regard they often bordered gardens with it, according to the Web site of author Margaret Grieve. It exists in numerous types, including plain-leaved, "crispum" or curled-leaved, "Hamburg" or broadleaved, and celery-leaved. The most common type is the curl-leaved, which comes in nearly four dozen varieties.
Instructions
1. Chew a few parsley leaves right off the plant instead of chewing gum for fresh breath. Gum often has empty calories and excess sugar. Parsley is an excellent natural breath freshener because of its high chlorophyll content.
2. Use a parsley paste to help with skin ailments like rashes and bug bites. Make a paste by pounding the leaves and mixing them with a little water. You can also add a little oatmeal to the mixture for improved consistency.
3. Use parsley oil to cure a case of head lice. You can make parsley oil by combining roughly four ounces of the herb (or two ounces dried) with a pint of olive, safflower or any pure vegetable oil. Heat the mixture gently, uncovered, for around an hour. Once it's cooled, strain it, bottle it and cap it tightly.
4. Cure digestive ailments as well as conditions such as kidney stones, bladder infections, and jaundice with parsley teas, as has been done for centuries. To make the tea, place the herbs in a pot and add boiling water. Cover and let it steep for roughly five minutes. Once the tea seems strong enough for your liking, strain the leaves and drink up.
5. Make parsley into a capsule like any other vitamin. After completely drying the leaves, use a mortar and pestle, blender or coffee grinder to grind them into a fine powder. You can purchase moderately priced empty capsules and capsule machines at your local health food store.
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