C
(1; APA; KAB); Catarrh (f; KAB); Cholecystosis (f; PH2); Colic (f; DEP; MBB; WO2); Condyloma
(f; JLH); Congestion (f; JFM); Convulsion (1; APA; KAP; MPI; PH2); Corn (f; CRC; JLH); Cough
(f; KAB; PH2); Cramp (1; CRC; KAP; PED; WO2); Cystosis (1; APA; CAN; FNF; MBB);
Depression (f; CAN; PED); Diabetes (f; APA; MAM); Dysmenorrhea (f; APA; JFM); Dyspepsia
(f; APA); Dysuria (f; KAB); Edema (f; JFM); Enterosis (f; KAB); Epilepsy (1; PNC; WO2); Fatigue
(f; PH2); Felon (f; CRC; JLH); Fever (f; FEL; KAB); Fungus (1; PH2; PNC); Gallstone (f; PHR);
Gas (1; CRC; FNF; JFM; KAB; PNC; WO2); Gout (1; CAN; FNF; MBB; MPI; PH2); Hepatosis
(f; APA; CRC; DEP; JLH); Hiccup (f; KAB); High Blood Pressure (2; APA; CRC; FNF; MAM;
PNC); High Cholesterol (1; APA); Hyperglycemia (1; APA; CAN; FNF); Impostume (f; JLH);
Induration (f; CRC; JLH); Infection (1; PH2; PNC); Inflammation (1; APA; FNF; KAB; PNC);
Insomnia (1; APA; CRC; FNF; PED; PNC); Jaundice (f; JFM); Kidney Stone (f; PHR); Lumbago
(f; CRC); Malaria (f; FEL); Mycosis (1; PH2; PNC); Nausea (f; KAB); Nephrosis (f; APA; PH2);
Nervousness (1; APA; CRC; KAP; PED; PHR; PNC; WO2); Obesity (f; APA); Ophthalmia (f;
KAB); Ovary (f; PH2); Pain (1; FEL; FNF; KAB; PED); Proctosis (f; KAB); Pulmonosis (f; JFM);
Rheumatism (1; CAN; CRC; FEL; FNF; MPI; PED; PH2; PNC); Rhinosis (f; KAB); Scabies (f;
KAB); Schistosoma (1; SPI); Scirrhus (f; JLH); Sore (f; CRC); Splenosis (f; CRC; DEP; JLH;
KAB; WO2); Sting (f; KAB); Stomachache (f; CRC; JFM); Stone (f; DEP; PHR; PH2); Stress (1;
APA); Swelling (1; CAN; FNF; MBB); Toothache (f; KAB); Tumor (1; APA; CRC; JLH); Uterosis
(f; JFM); UTI (1; CAN; FNF); Water Retention (2; APA; CAN; FNF; KAB); Wen (f; JLH); Whitlow
(f; CRC; JLH).
Dosages (Celery) — 200 g root boiled in 500 g water taking 1 cup every 3 hours as antigalactic
(JFM); 1–2 leaves for colic (DEP); 1–4 g powdered seed (KAP; PNC); 1–2 tsp seed/cup water
(APA); 1–2 g dry seed (PED); 2 g dry seed:10 ml alcohol/10 ml water (PED); 1 g mashed
seed/cup hot water (PH2); 1.75 tsp crushed seed/cup water (APA); 0.05–0.1 ml (PNC); 0.5–1
tsp tincture to 3 ×/day (APA; WIC); 0.3–1.5 ml liquid extract (PNC); 0.3–1.2 ml liquid extract
(1:1 in 60% alcohol) 3 ×/day (CAN); 0.5–2 g or by decoction 1:5, 3 ×/day (CAN); 2 (500 mg)
capsules (450 mg celery extract StX to contain at least 9.9 mg volatile oil in 50 mg synergistic
base of whole celery seed powder) 2 ×/day, before meals (NH). Often standardized to 2.2%
volatile oil.
Contraindications, Interactions, and Side Effects (Celery) — Class 2b[5], 2d. Individuals
with renal disorders should use with caution. Commission E reports potential allergenicity,
including anaphylactic shock. Photosensitizing. Contains phototoxic furanocoumarins (AHP).
CAN cautions that the furanocoumarins may cause phototoxicity and dermatosis. Still, they
summarize that no side effects or toxicity are documented for celery seed. Photosensitivity
reactions have been reported as a result of external contact with celery stems. Even anaphylactic
reactions are reported following oral ingestion of the stems. Archives of Dermatology (1990)
reported severe phototoxicity in a woman consuming celeriac and then going to a tanning
parlor. The new Herbal PDR (Gruenwald et al., 1998) notes that levels of phototoxic furano-
coumarins can rise 200-fold under storage conditions, especially if the root is fungally or yeast
infected (PHR). No side effects, toxicity documented for celery fruit (CAN). Persons with
kidney problems should be cautious. The drug is contraindicated in inflammation of the kidneys,
since apiaceous EOs may increase the inflammation as a result of epithelial irritation. Con-
traindicated during pregnancy (uterotonic activity demonstrated for the EO (CAN)). Celeryseed
oil abortifacient (JFM). Oil, though stated to be nonirritant, nonphototoxic, and nonsensitizing
in humans, is also reported to have uterotonic activity; the seeds are said to affect the menstrual
cycle and even to be abortifacient (CAN). There’s a rare allergy, Birch-Celery Syndrome;
people sensitive to birch or mugwort (watch out moxibustionists) pollen may have an immediate
reaction just eating celery or taking celery seed products. “Hazards and/or side effects not
known for proper therapeutic dosages” (PH2) (But, regrettably, it doesn’t give those therapeutic
dosage levels.) So far, in my 5.5 years on celery seed extract, I have not knowingly suffered