Overview

Celery seed has been used as medicine for thousands of years in the Eastern world. During ancient times, Indian Ayurvedic medicine used celery seed to treat colds, flu, water retention, poor digestion, different types of arthritis, and certain diseases of the liver and spleen.

Today, celery seed is used mostly as a diuretic, meaning it helps your body eliminate water by increasing urine output. Celery seed is also used for:

• Treating arthritis and gout
• Helping reduce muscle spasms
• Calming the nerves
• Reducing inflammation
• Lowering blood pressure

There are no human scientific studies that show whether celery seed helps treat these conditions or any others. Studies do show that celery seed acts as a mosquito repellent.

A few animal studies suggest that celery seed extracts may help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as protect the liver from damaging substances such as high doses of the pain reliever acetaminophen (Tylenol). But again, researchers do not know whether those effects apply to humans.

Researchers have found that people who eat a diet rich in lutein, found in celery, spinach, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, oranges, carrots, and greens, were less likely to develop colorectal cancer. However, celery was just one part of their diet. So it could be celery, another food, or some combination of foods that lowered their risk of cancer.

Plant description

The celery plant is slender and stands about 2 to 3 feet tall. It has 3 to 5 segmented leaves and flowers with small white petals. Celery seeds, which are found in the flowers, are very small, tan to dark brown, and have a strong, pleasant smell.

What is it Made of?

Celery seeds contain several substances, including:

• Volatile oils
• Flavonoids, which are antioxidants that give plants their colors and may protect cells from damage
• Coumarins, chemicals that help thin the blood
• Linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid

Available forms

Celery seeds are available as:

• Fresh or dried seeds
• Tablets
• Capsules filled with celery seed oil
• Celery seed extract

How to take it

Pediatric

Scientists have not studied celery seeds in children, so it is not recommended for use in children under 18.

Adult

The dose depends on what you are taking it for and which form you are taking, such as celery seed oil capsules or tablets, extract, or whole celery seeds. Ask your doctor to help you determine the right dose.

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. However, herbs can have side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, you should take herbs under the supervision of a health care provider.

Pregnant women should not use celery seed because it may lead to uterine bleeding and muscle contractions in the uterus, which could cause miscarriage.

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 people who are allergic to birch pollen may also be allergic to celery seed.

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.

Possible interactions

Few studies have investigated celery seed, so researchers do not really know whether it interacts with other herbs and medications. However, people who take the following medicines should ask their doctors before taking celery seed.

Lithium: Celery seed may alter how this medication is excreted in the body.

Thyroid medications: Celery seed may interact with thyroid medications.

Diuretics (water pills): Celery seed acts as a diuretic. So it could make the effects of other diuretics stronger and raise the risk of dehydration.

Blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants and antiplatelets): Celery seed contains chemicals that may thin the blood. This could make the effects of blood thinners stronger and raise the risk of bleeding. Blood thinners include aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and clopidogrel (Plavix).

Other medications: Celery seed may interact with lithium, thyroid medications, and sedatives.

Supporting Research

Ahmed B, Alam T, Varshney M, Khan SA. Hepatoprotective activity of two plants belonging to the Apiaceae and the Euphorbiaceae family. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002 Mar;79(3):313-6.

Al-Howiriny T, Alsheikh A, Alqasoumi S, Al-Yahya M, ElTahir K, Rafatullah S. Gastric antiulcer, antisecretory and cytoprotective properties of celery (Apium graveolens) in rats. Pharm Biol. 2010 Jul;48(7):786-93.

Atta AH, Alkofahi A. Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of some Jordanian medicinal plant extracts. J Ethnopharmacol. 1998;60:117-124.

Banerjee S, Sharma R, Kale RK, Rao AR. Influence of certain essential oils on carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes and acid-soluble sulfhydryls in mouse liver. Nutr Cancer. 1994;21:263-269. Abstract.

Boffa MJ, Gilmour E, Ead RD. Case report. Celery soup causing severe phototoxicity during PUVA therapy [letter]. Br J Dermatol. 1996;135(2):334.

Cheung MC, Lin LY, Yu TH, Peng RY. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity of mountian celery seed essential oils. J Agric Food Chem. 2008;56(11):3997-4003.

Choochote W. et al., Potential of crude seed extract of celery, Apium graveolens L., against the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae). J Vector Ecol. 2004;29(2):340-6.

Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2000;57(13):1221-1227.

Ko FN, Huang TF, Teng CM. Vasodilatory action mechanisms of apigenin isolated from Apium graveolens in rat thoracic aorta. Biochim Biophys Acta. November 14; 1991;1115:69-74.

Miller L. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1988;158(20):2200-2211.

Moghadam MH, Imenshahidi M, Mohajeri SA. Antihypertensive effect of celery seed on rat blood pressure in chronic administration. J Med Food. 2013;16(6):558-63.

Singh A, Handa SS. Hepatoprotective activity of Apium graveolens and Hygrophila auriculata against paracetamol and thioacetamide intoxication in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 1995;49:119-126.

Slattery ML, Benson J, Curtin K, Ma K-N, Schaeffer D, Potter JD. Carotenoids and colon cancer. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;71:575-582.

Sultana S, Ahmed S, Jahangir T, Sharma S. Inhibitory effect of celery seeds extract on chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis: modulation of cell proliferation, metabolism and altered hepatic foci development. Cancer Lett. 2005;221(1):11-20.

Teng CM, Lee LG, Ko SN, et al. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by apigenin from Apium graveolens. Asia Pac J Pharmacol. 1985;3:85.

Tsi D, Das NP, Tan BK. Effects of aqueous celery (Apium graveolens) extract on lipid parameters of rats fed a high fat diet. Planta Med. 1995;61:18-21.

Tuetun B, et al., Mosquito repellency of the seeds of celery (Apium graveolens L.). Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2004;98(4):407-17.

Zheng GQ, Kenney PM, Zhang J, Lam LK. Chemoprevention of benzo[a]pyrene-induced forestomach cancer in mice by natural phthalides from celery seed oil. Nutr Cancer. 1993;19:77-86.

Zhou Y, Taylor B, Smith TJ, Liu ZP, Clench M, Davies NW, Rainsford KD. A novel compound from celery seed with a bactericidal effect against Helicobacter pylori. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2009 Aug;61(8):1067-77.