Wild Celery (wild kintsay in tagalog)

(Apium graveolens) Part used: Root, seeds. Properties: Carminative, diuretic, nervine, stimulant, tonic. What it affects: Kidneys, bladder and nerves.

Preparation and amount: Decoction (root, seeds): Simmer 5-15 min. Take 1 oz. 3 times daily. Fluid extract: Take 10-30 drops as needed. Essential oil: Take 1-2 drops 2 times daily. Powder: Take 4-10 #0 capsules 3 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, wild celery is good for arthritis, gout and kidney problems. It acts as a diuretic, anti-oxidant and sedative. It reduces blood pressure, relieves muscle spasms and improves appetite. A decoction of celery seed is useful for incontinence of urine, dropsy, rheumatism, neuralgia, and to aid in ridding the body of excess acid. It can be used for gout, tendencies toward overweight, flatulence, chronic pulmonary catarrh and deficiency diseases. The root can be eaten raw or made into broth, to treat kidney ailments and rheumatism. It also promotes the onset of menstruation. When eaten as a salad vegetable or made into a tea, it will help clear up skin problems.

Warning: During pregnancy, the seeds of wild celery should not be used, nor large amounts of the herb. It is a strong diuretic and should not be used when acute kidney problems exist (but moderate use is all right when kidney problems are not chronic).