The essential oil of celery seed is derived from the celery plant, scientifically known as Apium graveolens from the Umbelliferae plant family. Celery is not just a vegetable used for salads and stir-fries, but it is a revered herb to the Chinese as early as in the 5th century and is even widely used in the Indian Ayurvedic medicinal area.

Not only that, celery was held in high and sacred regard during the Greek era. In fact, it was believed that celery was used in the tomb of the famous Pharaoh Tutankhamun and mentioned in the works of the great and famous Roman encyclopaedist, Aulus Cornelius Celsus!

All these examples mentioned attest to the high medicinal value of celery and the essential oil derived from its plant, so let’s find out more about what celery seed essential oil can do to benefit our health!

Health Benefits of Celery Seed Essential Oil:

1. Excellent Detoxification Agent

Celery seed oil can actually help in detoxification processes of the body as it facilitates the elimination of toxins and other harmful substances out of the body. With the presence of natural chemical constituents that makes it a diuretic agent, celery seed oil facilitates the increased frequency and quantity of urine to remove out excess fats, salts, bile, uric acid and urea.

It ultimately seeks to stimulate the kidneys to remove such excess and toxic substances, which in turn helps to prevent the formation and growth of kidney stones, gravel and bladder stones as well. As such, it stimulates the cleansing of the kidneys to ensure its smooth functioning and maintenance.

Not only that, celery seed essential oil can also help to cleanse the liver. As the liver is the main organ involved in detoxification, it is often the first organ to get adversely affected if detoxification is not carried out properly and there is a buildup or accumulation of such harmful substances.

As such, celery oil works to protect the liver through its antihepatotoxic effects, as seen in a 1995 research study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. The study revealed how the oil exhibited protective effects on the liver, proving it to be useful ally in the protection of the liver.

How to Use it: You can create a massage blend using celery seed essential oil and a carrier oil such as coconut or rosehip oil and proceed to gently massage it onto the abdominal area to stimulate detoxification. Alternatively, you can also add about 5-6 drops of the oil into a tub of warm, bathing water and soak inside for a few minutes.

2. Offers Pain Relief

Celery seed oil is also a potent anti-inflammatory agent, as it seeks to provide a natural remedy for conditions associated with pain and discomfort such as arthritis, rheumatism, gout or even muscular aches after an intense workout session. It seeks to alleviate the pain from stiff, weak joints and aching muscles.

Because it facilitates detoxification in your body, it helps to offer some pain relief to these conditions that are partly due to a buildup of such unwanted substances in the bloodstream. It soothes inflamed muscles and it is helpful in dealing with the discomforts that comes with aged joints as well.

For example, a 2007 research study published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology found that celery seed extract is able to inhibit nitric oxide, one of the inflammatory mediators, and curb its enzyme expression, thereby eradicating it from the bodily system. As such, celery seed oil exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity during the experiment.

How to Use it: You can mix about 5 drops of the celery seed oil with 2.5ml of olive oil and gently massage it onto the affected areas. Alternatively, you can add about 3 drops of the oil into a tub of warm, bathing water for a relaxing foot bath to reduce inflammation.

3. Potent Antihypertensive Agent

Celery seed oil also contains useful constituents and compounds that helps you to lower hypertension levels and decrease blood pressure levels to a healthy level. This is done through stimulating a relaxant effect on the central nervous system and the expansion of blood vessels to reduce the pressure build-up.

A 2013 study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine found that celery seed oil contains antihypertensive and relaxant effects that makes it a therapeutic agent to help regulate blood pressure levels and lower hypertension levels. This is especially important because it will serve to prevent and mitigate the risks of incurring diseases such as cardiovascular illnesses and even stroke.

Since it has calming and sedative properties, it is also great for people who are facing much stress, tension and anxiety in their lives as it seeks to instill a sense of peace and tranquility within you and emotionally uplifts your spirits. The presence of limonene also acts as a mild tranquilizer as it facilitates peaceful and a good night’s sleep, hence making it a useful ally for those who have difficulty falling asleep at night!

How to Use it: You can add a few drops of the oil into a diffuser or vaporizer and proceed to inhale the warm and sweet aroma as it engulfs you.

4. Improves Digestive Health

The essential oil of celery seed is also great for ensuring proper digestion and smooth maintenance of the digestive organs. It is a stomachic, thus allowing for the proper secretion of digestive juices and enzymes that helps in the proper breakdown of the nutrients found in the food that we consume. As such, it greatly assists in preventing digestion-related problems such as indigestion, flatulence, poor appetite and diarrhea.

Moreover, celery seed oil contains potent antibacterial and antimicrobial attributes, thus preventing a range of bacterial strains from growing and forms a defense shield around the stomach and intestinal linings.

For example, a 2010 research study carried out by researchers from the College of Pharmacy of the King Saud University in Saudi Arabia evaluated the anti-gastric ulcer activity of celery extract and they found that it can significantly protect the stomach and inhibit the growth of painful ulcers.

Another 2013 study carried out by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of University of Monastir located in Tunisia found that the celery seed oil exhibited strong inhibitory attitudes against the bacteria E.coli, thus protecting the stomach and intestines from such dangerous and harmful microbes.

How to Use it: You can create a massage blend by adding 3 drops of the celery seed oil with 1.5ml of coconut oil and gently massage it onto your abdominal area.

5. Powerful Insecticide Agent

Celery seed oil also acts as a powerful insect repellent agent as it possesses much antibacterial and antifungal compounds. It helps to kill off mosquitoes and wards them away from your homes. This is helpful because more often than not, such mosquitoes and insects are the harbinger of diseases so it is crucial to keep your surrounding home and work environment free of such pesky and unwanted creepy crawlies.

In fact, a 2004 research study published in the Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology found that the celery seed extracts are able to offer protection against the adult Aedes aegypti mosquito and a wide range of other mosquito species, when applied onto the skins of human volunteers as an insect repellent agent. What is good is that the oil is non-sensitive and non-irritant, as it did not seem to cause any skin irritation on the volunteers during the duration of the experience and 3 months after the end of the study.

Therefore, this demonstrates how celery seed oil can serve as a potent, all-natural insecticide and repellent to ward off these unwanted guests, as opposed to the commercial repellents available in the market which might be dangerous.

How to Use it: You can diffuse the oil in a diffuser or vaporizer and let the aromatic wafts keep such unwanted creatures out of your houses. Alternatively, you can add a few drops of the oil in a spritz bottle containing water and proceed to spray on countertops, sinks and other surfaces to prevent mosquitoes and other insects from entering.

If you are looking to use it as a form of insect repellent to be applied on your hands and legs, simply mix 2 drops of the oil with 1ml of jojoba oil or add it onto your skin care cream or lotion.

6. Promotes Menstrual Relief

Celery seed oil is also a useful ally for women who experience pain and discomforts which are associated with their menstrual cycle. It helps to ease cramps and offers pain relief from the monthly menstrual cramps, and helps to alleviate symptoms of fatigue and nausea.

Moreover, it ensures the regular cycle of menstruation, as it stimulates menstruation and prevents obstruction of the menstrual flow out from the uterus.

This is important because then, it will help to mitigate the risks of incurring uterine problems and diseases as it ensures the proper maintenance and overall health of the uterus. Additionally, its antioxidant properties helps to reduce the risks of ovarian and breast cancer, although more research needs to be done in this area.

How to Use it: By diluting 5 drops of the celery seed oil with 2.5ml of sesame or coconut oil, you can proceed to gently massage it onto your lower abdominal area to provide some ease and relief from your menstrual problems.

Safety Precautions:

• Do not ingest celery seed essential oil.

• If you are pregnant or nursing, it is wise to avoid this oil and consult your doctor first because it is known to induce menstruation.

• If you have pre-existing medical conditions and are under the medication of prescribed drugs, do consult your doctor first for advice before using celery seed essential oil as a form of treatment. This is especially for those who have low blood pressure since this oil is known to reduce blood pressure levels even more.

• Always dilute celery seed oil with a carrier oil before topical application onto the skin.

• Do a skin patch test first to ensure there are no sensitive, allergic or irritable reactions on skin.

• Keep out of reach from small children and avoid the eyes as well as mucus membranes.

References:

Singh A, Handa SS, “Hepatoprotective activity of Apium graveolens and Hygrophila auriculata against paracetamol and thioacetamide intoxication in rats”, Journal of Ethnopharmacology (1995); 49(3)

Mencherini T, et al., “An extract of Apium graveolens var. Dulce leaves: structure of the major constituent, apiin, and its anti-inflammatory properties” The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology (2007); 59(6)

Vergara-Galicia Jorge, et al., “Vasorelaxant activity of extracts obtained from Apium graveolens: Possible source for vasorelaxant molecules isolation with potential antihypertensive effect”, Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine (2013); 3(10)

Al-Howiriny T, et al., “Gastric antiulcer, antisecretory and cytoprotective properties of celery (Apium graveolens) in rats”, Pharmaceutical Biology (2010); 48(7)

Baananou S, et al., “Antiulcerogenic and antibacterial activities of Apium graveolens essential oil and extract”, Natural Product Research (2013); 27(12)

Tuetun B, et al., “Mosquito repellency of the seeds of celery (Apium graveolens L.)” Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology (2004); 98(4)