Parsley History

Parsley is a common decoration on plates in restaurants. The high chlorophyll content of this herb makes it a natural breath deodorizer. It is also full of vitamin C.

Death

Parsley was used in funeral rituals in ancient Greece. The Greeks associated parsley with their mythology. When serpents devoured the Greek hero Archemorus, parsley sprang up where his blood soaked into the ground. The Greeks used parsley to honor and deodorize the dead.

Athletes

The Greeks placed parsley in wreaths that were given to winners at athletic games. They believed that the hero Hercules chose to be honored with a parsley garland.

Horses

Ancient Greeks also fed racehorses parsley because it was believed that the herb would give horses stamina in order to win.

Herbal Medicine

Parsley moved into herbal medicine during the middles ages. It was taken as a treatment for any illness associated with the kidney or liver.

More Medicine

Since the middles ages parsley has been used as a medicine for plague, asthma, dropsy, jaundice and to aid digestion.

References

• Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Rodale Press, 1998

Resources

• PennState Dept. of Horticulture: Parsley