Overview

Parsley is an herb. In foods and beverages, parsley is widely used as a garnish, condiment, food, and flavoring. In manufacturing, parsley seed oil is used as a fragrance in soaps, cosmetics, and perfumes. The leaf, seed, and root are used to make medicine.

Some people use parsley for conditions such as bladder infections (UTIs), kidney stones (nephrolithiasis), gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, constipation, skin conditions, and many others. But there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

How does it work ?

Parsley might help stimulate the appetite, improve digestion, increase urine production, reduce spasms, and increase menstrual flow.

Uses & Effectiveness ?

We currently have no information for PARSLEY overview.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Parsley is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in amounts commonly found in food. Parsley is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken as medicine, short-term. In some people, parsley can cause allergic skin reactions. But consuming very large amounts of parsley is LIKELY UNSAFE, and can cause other side effects like anemia and liver or kidney problems.

When applied to the skin: Applying parsley seed oil directly to the skin is LIKELY UNSAFE. It can cause the skin to become extra sensitive to the sun and cause a rash. There isn't enough reliable information to know if applying parsley root and leaf to the skin is safe or what the side effects might be.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Parsley is LIKELY SAFE when consumed in amounts commonly found in food. Parsley is POSSIBLY SAFE for most adults when taken as medicine, short-term. In some people, parsley can cause allergic skin reactions. But consuming very large amounts of parsley is LIKELY UNSAFE, and can cause other side effects like anemia and liver or kidney problems.

When applied to the skin: Applying parsley seed oil directly to the skin is LIKELY UNSAFE. It can cause the skin to become extra sensitive to the sun and cause a rash. There isn't enough reliable information to know if applying parsley root and leaf to the skin is safe or what the side effects might be.

Pregnancy: It is LIKELY SAFE to consume parsley in food amounts. But parsley in larger medicinal amounts is LIKELY UNSAFE to take during pregnancy. Parsley has been used to cause an abortion and to start menstrual flow. In addition, some research suggests that taking large doses of parsley with other herbs during the first three months of pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects. If you are pregnant, stick with using only the amount of parsley typically found in food.

Breast-feeding: It is LIKELY SAFE to consume parsley in food amounts. There isn't enough reliable information to know if parsley in larger medicinal amounts is safe to use when breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick with the amounts found in foods.

Bleeding disorders: Parsley might slow blood clotting. In theory, taking parsley might increase the risk of bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Diabetes: Parsley might lower blood sugar levels. Watch for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and monitor your blood sugar carefully if you have diabetes and use parsley.

Fluid retention (edema): There is a concern that parsley might cause the body to hold onto sodium (salt), and this increases water retention.

High blood pressure: There is a concern that parsley might cause the body to hold onto sodium (salt), and this could make high blood pressure worse.

Kidney disease: Don't take parsley if you have kidney disease. Parsley contains chemicals that can make kidney disease worse.

Surgery: Parsley might lower blood glucose levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgical procedures. Stop using parsley at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions ?

    Moderate Interaction

    Be cautious with this combination

  • Warfarin (Coumadin) interacts with PARSLEY

    Warfarin (Coumadin) is taken to thin the blood and slow blood clotting. Large amounts of parsley leaf might increase blood clotting. Taking parsley along with warfarin might decrease how well warfarin (Coumadin) works to thin the blood.

  • Water pills (Diuretic drugs) interacts with PARSLEY

    Parsley seems to work like a "water pill" by causing the body to lose water. Taking parsley along with other "water pills" might cause the body to lose too much water. Losing too much water can cause you to be dizzy and your blood pressure to go too low.

    Some "water pills" include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium), and others.

  • Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with PARSLEY

    Parsley might lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking medicinal amounts of parsley along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medications might need to be changed. Some medications for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

  • Pentobarbital (Nembutal) interacts with PARSLEY

    Parsley juice might increase the amount of time pentobarbital stays in the body. Taking parsley along with pentobarbital might increase the effects and side effects from pentobarbital.

  • Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) interacts with PARSLEY

    Some medications are changed and broken down by the liver. Parsley might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some medications. Taking parsley along with some medications that are broken down by the liver can increase the effects and side effects of some medications. Before taking parsley talk to your healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.

    Some medications that are changed by the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), haloperidol (Haldol), ondansetron (Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, others), and others.

  • Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs) interacts with PARSLEY

    Parsley might slow blood clotting. Taking parsley along with medications that also slow clotting might increase the chances of bruising and bleeding.

    Some anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta) diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

  • Sirolimus (Rapamune) interacts with PARSLEY

    Large amounts of parsley juice might increase levels of sirolimus in the body. This could increase the effects and side effects of sirolimus.

    Minor Interaction

    Be watchful with this combination

  • Aspirin interacts with PARSLEY

    Some people are allergic to parsley. Aspirin might increase your sensitivity to parsley if you are allergic to parsley. This has only been reported in one person. But to be on the safe side, if you are allergic to parsley do not take aspirin and eat parsley.

Dosing

The appropriate dose of parsley depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for parsley. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
© Therapeutic Research Faculty 2020.