Celery Seed Extract

Celery seed extract is helpful in the treatment of gout, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Celery has potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. It is generally safer than conventional anti-inflammatory drugs because of its gastro-protective characteristics. Many people use celery seed extract for lowering uric acid levels and getting relief from pain.

ABOUT HERB

Chemical Constituents

Celery contains 1.5 to 3% volatile oil, ascorbate, choline, coumarins, flavonoids, furocoumarins and phenolic compounds. Some active constituents are given in table along with their main action.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Celery Seed Extract has following healing properties.

1. Anti-inflammatory
2. Anti-arthritic
3. Gastro-protective
4. Hepato-protective
5. Liver stimulant
6. Digestive stimulant
7. Appetizer
8. Anti-hypertensive
9. Lowers cholesterol
10. Diuretic
11. Spasmolytic
12. Nervine
13. Mild sedative
14. Galactagogue
15. Anti-bacterial
16. Carminative

THERAPEUTIC INDICATIONS

Celery Seed Extract is helpful in following health conditions.

HEALTH BENEFITS & MEDICINAL USES

Celery seed extract has medicinal importance in lowering blood pressure, alleviating inflammation and helping in joint pains. Here are some health benefits and clinical uses of celery seed extract.

HEART HEALTH

High blood pressure

Celery seed extract lowers blood pressure because of alpha linoleic acid, apiol, isoquercitin and terpinen-4-ol. Alpha linoleic acid has hypotensive properties. Apiol and terpinen-4-ol have diuretic properties and isoquercitin has both diuretic as well hypotensive properties. The calcium content present in celery seed also plays a significant role in lowering blood pressure.

According to study, standardized celery seed extract might have no effect on people with normal blood pressure, but it may reduce blood pressure in hypertensive people. The study findings have revealed that systolic and diastolic blood pressure decrease significantly in people taking celery seed extract. (1, 2)

Celery seed extract is second natural product after rauvolfia serpentina, which can reduce blood pressure significantly in hypertensive people.

Congestive heart failure

However, celery seed might not directly help in congestive heart failure, but it has mild diuretic property and anti-hypertensive characteristic. Hypertension is one of cause of congestive heart failure and celery seed extract can help lowering blood pressure as discussed above. (3)

High cholesterol or serum lipids

Celery seed extract reduces serum lipid levels. The regular use of celery extract significantly lowers the cholesterol level and increases the HDL levels (high-density lipoprotein). Studies also show that celery has significant hypolipidemic effects. (4, 5, 6)

JOINT, MUSCLE & BONES

Fibromyalgia and Muscle spasms

There are two main compounds umbelliferone and Alpha-linoleic acid present in celery extract, which have shown anti-inflammatory, Spasmolytic and analgesic effects. The calcium present in celery can also reduce muscle spasms by relaxing muscles. It can also help patients with fibromyalgia. Celery seed extract can play a significant role in management of fibromyalgia with following herbs.

Other supplements include zinc, vitamin D and magnesium, which can potentiate the effects of celery seed and above herbs to treat fibromyalgia.

Frozen shoulder or adhesive capsulitis

Due to anti-inflammatory effects, celery extract reduces inflammation of shoulder joint capsule and provides relief from pain and stiffness.

Ayurveda considers celery as a potent AMA (Adhesive toxins) remover. According to ayurveda, AMA is a main cause of frozen shoulder, which thickens and tightens the joint capsule. Thus, it restricts shoulder joint movement and results in initially pain and then stiffness of the joint.

Celery can remove these AMA toxins accumulated in the joints and improves movability of the joints.

Gout or raised uric acid level

Celery seed extract is widely used to treat gout and reduce uric acid levels. 3000 mg of celery seeds provides 250 mg standardized celery extract. It is available in capsule form and consumed with warm water for lowering the uric acid and getting relief from pain. The celery helps lowering uric acid due to its diuretic property.

Some herbalists also suggest that celery might correct the issue with uric acid excretion. It might not affect the uric acid production, so you might need other herbs to correct metabolism in the body.

Osteoarthritis

Due to anti-arthritic property, celery can help people with osteoarthritis and reduce joint inflammation. You might also need herbs like ashwagandha, mulethi and turmeric (Curcuma Longa) to get better results.

Rheumatoid arthritis

In ayurvedic medicine, celery seeds are a drug of choice for rheumatoid arthritis. Ajmodadi churna is an ayurvedic formulation, which contains celery seeds as a main ingredient.

The concept of using celery seed extract is based on the AMA science. AMA is an accumulated toxin, which causes stiffness, heaviness and many other symptoms. Celery seeds act on the accumulated toxins and help removing them from joints. This results in reduction in pain and stiffness and improves movements of joints.

DOSAGE

You can take celery extract 250 mg to 500 mg twice a day. It might require 3 months for best results in gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Pain will start reducing gradually from the second week onward in most of patients with osteoarthritis and gouty arthritis.

Celery seed extract is also available in capsule and tablet form. The dosage varies from one to two tablets twice a day, but dosage should not exceed more than 1.5 grams per day.

CAUTION & SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects

1. Lightheadedness
2. Slowed breathing
3. Slow heartbeat
4. Tiredness

Lightheadedness is a common side effect observed with celery seed extract, but other list adverse effects are very rare with normal dosage of celery extract.

Allergic reaction to celery seed extract

In some people, celery can cause allergic reaction. The most common symptoms of celery allergy are:

1. Itching
2. Hives
3. Skin rashes
4. Trouble breathing
5. Chest congestion
6. Tongue swelling
7. Swelling of lips
8. Throat irritation and swelling

PREGNANCY & BREASTFEEDING

Pregnancy

Celery seeds, oil and extract can result in bleeding during pregnancy, so it is LIKELY UNSAFE.

NOTE

Celery stalks are POSSIBLY SAFE in food amount due to their nutritious content, but you should not use celery extract during pregnancy.

Moderation amount of celery stalks during pregnancy can also help in constipation due to its fiber content, but it can make you pee more than usual due to its diuretic property. Therefore, consider this point before using celery in your food during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding

Celery has Galactagogue property, which means it can help producing or increasing breast milk. In India, it is used with jaggery and cumin seeds to improve breast milk supply during breastfeeding. Therefore, celery might be POSSIBLY SAFE in breastfeeding.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Celery and celery seed extract is contraindicated in following cases:

1. Celery allergy or allergic reaction to any alkaloid present in celery
2. You should not take celery seed extract along with medicines such as Levothyroxine, Lithium and others as explained below in drug interactions.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

There are no drug interactions reported with celery, but it might interact with your medicines, so consult your physician.

The following medicines might interact with celery.

1. Levothyroxine: Celery might decrease the potency of levothyroxine, but this is not yet well-established fact.
2. Lithium: Celery seed extract might increase the lithium level in the body by interfering with its excretion.
3. Photosensitizing drugs: Celery seed extract might interact with Photosensitizing drugs, which might result in sunlight hypersensitivity.
4. CNS depressants: Medicines act on central nervous system might interact with celery seed extract, which might cause excessive drowsiness and sleepiness.

Although medical science has not yet studied and documented the drug interaction with celery seed extracts.   Therefore, you should stay at safer side and avoid celery extract along with above drugs.