History
of parsley
Parsley has a long
history of herbal and medicinal use. It is difficult to locate the precise
origin of parsley because it has not always looked as it does presently. Originating
in the Mediterranean, the Greeks were using parsley before written history.
According to ancient Greek mythology, parsley came from Archemorus, and was
therefore associated with death. Parsley was then hung on tombs and even worn
as crowns during Greek games similar to the Olympics. Romans also used parsley
in death rituals, sprinkling bodies with the herb to help squelch the smell.
Despite the several uses for parsley, Greeks did not eat the herb. They would,
however, plant parsley as a border to gardens and use it to feed horses. Parsley
is mentioned often throughout history, and not only for its culinary and
medicinal properties. The early Greeks made crowns of parsley to bestow upon
the winners of the Nemena and Isthmian sports games, in the same manner that
bay wreaths honored the Olympians. Parsley is used in the Hebrew celebration of
Passover as a symbol of spring and rebirth. In medieval times parsley was
surrounded by much superstition, one belief being that the long germination
period for the seeds was due to them having to travel to hell and back seven times
before sprouting. Superstitious farmers would refuse to transplant parsley and
some were even too afraid to grow it at all. Long ago, parsley was believed to
counteract poisons because the smell could overpower that of garlic. Although
parsley was frequently used as a medicinal treatment, it was not used as a
spice until the middle ages in Europe. Charlemagne is known to have had parsley
grown as a spice, and even had parsley seeds used to flavor cheese. Among those
medicinal purposes includes treatment for urinary tract problems, bronchitis,
and digestive disorders. Modern science has proven that parsley does, in fact,
have some healing qualities. Parsley is rich in vitamins and minerals,
particularly vitamins A and C, and compounds that clear toxins from the body.
It also reduces inflammations, contains histamine inhibitors and is a free
radical scavenger. Commercially, oil from the seeds is used to scent Oriental
style perfumes and colognes. Because of the high chlorophyll content, it acts
as a great breath freshener. Scientists have even isolated a compound, apiol,
which is now used in medications to treat kidney ailments and kidney stones.
Give full
answers to the questions.
- Is it easy to locate the
precise origin of parsley?
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- Who used parsley before the
written history?
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- What did Romans spread the
dead with parsley for?
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- Did ancient people eat
parsley?
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- What does parsley symbolize in
the celebration of Passover?
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- Why medieval farmers were
afraid of parsley?
___________________________________________________________________________________________
- What was the main reason for
parsley to counteract poisons?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- Who was the first to use
parsley as a spice?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
- What diseases are treated by
parsley?
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- Why is parsley a good breath
freshener?
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