Celery Seed Oil
Celery is a popular culinary herb that is often grown with other vegetables in the garden. This annual plant is a member of the Apiaceae plant family. It is indigenous to Eurasia and is found growing in the wild in many coastal areas. The celery leaves can be described as a thick mass of leaves overlapping each other. These leaves have ribbed petioles. Celery seed oil is extracted from celery seeds which are found in the flowers. These seeds are small in size and tan to dark brown in color. Celery seeds have a strong, warm and a pleasant aroma with a pungent flavor. Celery seeds are often used as an aromatic agent, flavoring agent or as a condiment in many food varieties. A known fact is that the celery seeds are the actual fruits of this plant. These seeds contain flavonoids, volatile oils, linoleic acid and coumarins. All these constituents together make celery seed oil a significant curative. The celery seed essential oil is extracted from the seeds either by using steam distillation method or crushing method. The market demand for celery oil is increasing day by day for its persistent aroma and medicinal properties. The main source for this pervasive odor is the presence of two special lactones named 3-n-butyl-4,5-dihydrophthalide and 3-n-butylphthalide.
Latin name: Apium graveolens
Alternative names: Garden Celery, Marsh Parsley, Smallage, Sellerie, Wild Celery.
Celery is found growing in the wild in the marshlands and is also cultivated in many parts of the world in temperate climatic conditions. It requires moist soil and full sunlight. It can also manage to grow in partial shade. Celery plant is generally cultivated by using the seeds. The seeds are sown during the spring season and harvesting is done in the middle of summer up to the start of the fall season. Celery contains isoimperatorin, alpha-linolenic-acid, linoleic acid, beta-eudesmol, p-cymene, boron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, chlorophyll, silicon, coumarins, sodium, flavonoids, sulphur, iron, 3-N-butyl-phthalide, isoquercitrin, limonene, Vitamin A, phosphorus, volatile oils, potash, guaiacol, umbelliferone, sodium, terpinene-4-ol, petroselinic acid, Vitamin C, myristic acid, Vitamin B, palmitic and stearic acids. This oil also has stimulant, alkaline, tonic, anti-bacterial, antispasmodic, carminative, sedative, anti-rheumatic, nervine, antiseptic, hypotensive, aphrodisiac, emenagogue, appetizer, diuretic and calminative properties.
Uses: Celery seed oil is a celebrated remedy for treating arthritis, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis and for strengthening the muscles. Certain health conditions like cold, influenza, bronchitis, indigestion, gout, flatulence, lack of appetite, anxiety, nervousness, depression, neuralgia, hysteria, chronic pulmonary catarrh, kidney infections, cystitis, liver damage, muscular spasms and spleen disorders are treated with the power of celery seed oil. Celery seed oil is also used as an intestinal antiseptic and for stimulating the function of the excretory system.
