Celery seed is a potent and delicious spice, used in recipes ranging from curries to salad dressings.
The celery plant is slender and stands about 2 - 3 feet tall. It has 3 - 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.
Celery seeds contain several substances including volatile oils; flavonoids, antioxidants that give plants their colors and may protect cells from damage; coumarins, chemicals that help thin the blood; and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid.
Medicinally used:
Celery seed is used mostly as a diuretic, meaning it helps your body get rid of too much water by increasing urine output.
Celery seed is also sometimes used for treating arthritis and gout, and to help reduce muscle spasms, calm the nerves, and reduce inflammation.
Because there have been so few studies of celery seed, researchers don’t really know whether it interacts with other herbs and medications.
