What is celery seed?

Celery seed comes from the dried fruit of the Apium graveolens plant, which is commonly known as celery. It is a popular spice used in various cuisines for flavoring dishes, but it also has medicinal properties.

How does it work?

Celery seed contains several compounds, including volatile oils, flavonoids, and antioxidants, that have anti-inflammatory and diuretic effects. These properties make it useful for treating conditions such as arthritis, gout, and high blood pressure.

What are the active ingredients that are important for its medicinal properties?

The active ingredients in celery seed that are important for its medicinal properties include apigenin, luteolin, and kaempferol, which are flavonoids with anti-inflammatory effects, and 3-n-butylphthalide, a volatile oil that has been shown to lower blood pressure.

What forms does celery seed come in?

Celery seed is available in various forms, including whole seeds, ground powder, capsules, and liquid extracts.

When was celery seed first used for medicinal purposes?

Celery has been used as a medicinal plant for centuries, and its seeds have been used in traditional medicine to treat various conditions. The ancient Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans all used celery to treat ailments such as joint pain, liver and spleen diseases, and urinary tract infections.

What does Celery Seed help with?

Celery seed is the small dried seed of the celery plant. It is used in Mediterranean, Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal traditions. People take it as a capsule extract, a tea, or a ground spice.

• High blood pressure
  Early evidence — small human trials of a standard celery seed extract, sizes and doses not recorded in this file. In human trials using a standard celery seed extract, people had lower blood pressure readings after several weeks. Both the top and bottom numbers went down. Our file does not record how many people took part, or the dose used.
  Evidence grade C · Traditional tier T3
• Gout and high uric acid
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use in several herbal systems; no human trial on file. Herbalists in more than one tradition have used celery seed for gout. The proposed idea is that the kidneys clear more uric acid, before it forms crystals in joints. That idea fits how uric acid leaves the body, but no human trial is on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Joint pain and stiffness
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — lab work on plant compounds only; no human trial on file. Celery seed holds two flavonoids, apigenin and luteolin. In lab studies, these compounds calmed inflammation signals. No human trial of celery seed for joint pain or arthritis is on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Water retention and puffiness
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use as a mild diuretic; no human trial on file. Celery seed is described in herbal texts as a gentle diuretic. That means it is said to make the kidneys release more fluid. This comes from tradition, not from a trial, and we hold no human study on puffiness or bloating.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Muscle spasms and cramps
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — lab work on phthalide compounds only; no human trial on file. Celery seed holds compounds called phthalides. In lab studies, phthalides relaxed muscle you do not control by choice. No human trial on cramps is on file, including gut cramps or period cramps.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Urinary tract infections
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use plus reported germ-slowing action in the lab; no human trial on file. Traditional use is to flush the urinary tract and slow bacteria. No human trial of celery seed for a UTI is on file. Herbal sources place it alongside medical care, not in place of it.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Gas, bloating and indigestion
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use only; no human trial on file. Celery seed has long been used as a carminative, which means a herb for trapped gas. Tradition holds that it relaxes the smooth muscle of the gut. We hold no human trial for bloating or indigestion.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Mild stress and worry
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — lab work on apigenin only; no human trial on file. Apigenin, found in celery seed, showed calming action in lab studies. Researchers suggest it may act on GABA pathways, a calming brain system, but that is lab-level work. Herbal sources call any effect mild and supportive, and no human trial is on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3
• Kidney stone prevention
  Long traditional use · not yet tested in trials — traditional use as a kidney tonic; no human trial on file. Herbalists have long used celery seed as a kidney tonic. The proposed idea is that more urine flow helps wash out mineral deposits. No human trial on stone prevention is on file.
  Evidence grade insufficient · Traditional tier T3

What Celery Seed has not been shown to do

• No study on file shows celery seed can replace blood pressure medicine.
• No human trial on file shows it lowers uric acid or shortens a gout attack.
• No human trial on file shows it eases arthritis pain or joint stiffness.
• It has not been shown to clear a urinary tract infection on its own.
• It has not been shown to treat an anxiety disorder; reported effects are mild and supportive.
• No human trial on file shows it stops kidney stones from forming.

How to read this:

Each use above carries its own grade. A and B mean good human trials back it. C means the human studies are small or mixed. D means the human evidence is weak or clashing. Insufficient means there is no human study on file, only lab work or tradition. This page reports what studies found. It is a reference, not medical advice, and it lists options rather than telling you what to take. Talk with your doctor, above all if you take blood pressure pills, water pills, or blood thinners.

What can it help prevent?

1. Cardiovascular disease
2. Cancer
3. Osteoporosis
4. Alzheimer's disease
5. Inflammatory bowel disease
6. Type 2 diabetes
7. Liver and kidney disease
8. Urinary tract infections

Which foods are rich in it?

1. Pickles and relishes
2. Salad dressings
3. Meat seasonings
4. Soups and stews
5. Vegetable dishes

What are possible side effects?

Celery seed is generally well-tolerated and safe when consumed in small amounts as a spice or supplement. However, some people may experience allergic reactions or digestive upset, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

What's the recommended daily dose?

The recommended daily dose of celery seed varies depending on the form and concentration of the product. As a spice, it can be used liberally in cooking. As a supplement, the typical dose ranges from 500 mg to 1,500 mg per day.

Warnings:

Avoid taking celery seed extracts and supplements if you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Some research has shown that celery seed may be dangerous in pregnant women because it may cause miscarriage when taken in large doses.

Some people may be allergic to birch pollen a certain fungus that is commonly found in the plant.

People with active kidney inflammation should not take celery seed.

People with low blood pressure should use caution when considering taking celery seed as a supplement.

Some of the chemicals in celery stems and seeds can cause the skin to become very sensitive to the sun's UV rays. Use sunscreen or sunblock lotions.

DO NOT take celery seeds from a gardening packet. These seeds have usually been treated with chemicals.

How many days does it take to work?

The time it takes for celery seed to take effect varies depending on the condition being treated and the individual's response to the treatment. In some cases, relief may be felt within a few hours, while in other cases it may take several weeks of consistent use to see results.

What time of day is best to take it?

There is no specific time of day that is best to take celery seed. It is generally recommended to take it with a meal to improve absorption.

Is it best to take it with or without food?

It is best to take celery seed with food to improve absorption and prevent stomach upset.