Dried Herb & Tea

Parsley

Petroselinum crispum

T Traditional use

Parsley herb is traditionally used as a tea to flush the urinary tract. Avoid more than food amounts in pregnancy, and never take parsley essential oil.

Liver, Kidney & Urinary
Parsley
Pregnancy⚠ Avoid
BreastfeedingUnknown
ChildrenUnknown
Drug interactionsInteraction reported
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At a glance

Parsley is one of the most widely used kitchen herbs. Germany's Commission E approved the dried herb for flushing the urinary tract by increasing urine flow and for preventing kidney gravel. No clinical trials support this use. Food amounts are considered safe; high doses, the seed and the essential oil carry risks.

Parts used: herb (leaves and stems)
Key constituents: Essential oil (apiole, myristicin), Flavonoids (apigenin), Furanocoumarins

Updated: October 24, 2026

Sources and research limitations appear below. The existence of a source does not mean every use has been clinically verified.

What is it used for?

  • T Traditional use

    Traditional use: Documents traditional use, not clinical efficacy or safety for everyone.

    How do we rate evidence levels? →

    Germany's Commission E traditionally approved dried parsley herb, taken with plenty of fluid, for flushing the urinary tract in urinary complaints and for preventing kidney gravel. No clinical trials confirm this use, and EMA and ESCOP have not assessed it. [1]

How is it used?

Tea

Dried parsley herb is prepared as a tea. Drink at least 2 litres of fluid a day during use.

Amount: 6 g dried herb per day

[1]

Safety & interactions

  • Avoid more than food amounts in pregnancy; high doses, the seed and the essential oil may stimulate menstruation and cause miscarriage.
  • Do not use it for flushing if you have inflammatory kidney disease or oedema caused by heart or kidney failure.
  • Never take parsley essential oil by mouth; it contains apiole and myristicin, and headache, convulsions and kidney damage have been reported.
  • Its furanocoumarins can cause sun sensitivity and phototoxic skin reactions.
  • Cross-allergy is possible in people allergic to celery, carrot, fennel or other plants of the carrot family.
  • See a doctor if there is blood in the urine, fever, pain or burning when urinating.
[1][2]

Drug interactions

Drug interactions
Medicine / substanceEffectSeverity
SirolimusParsley may increase blood levels of sirolimus. If you take this drug after an organ transplant, ask your doctor before using medicinal amounts of parsley products. [2]Moderate

Side effects

  • Rare allergic reactions
  • Sun sensitivity and phototoxic skin reactions
  • Headache, convulsions and kidney damage after swallowing the essential oil

⚕ When to see a doctor

  • If high fever, shortness of breath or purulent/bloody phlegm develops
  • If symptoms do not improve within 1–2 weeks or worsen
  • If severe abdominal pain, jaundice, rash or allergic reaction occurs

Frequently asked questions

Is parsley tea a diuretic?

Germany's Commission E traditionally approved parsley herb for flushing the urinary tract. Clinical trials have not confirmed this effect, and it should not be used with kidney inflammation or oedema.

Can I eat parsley while pregnant?

Normal amounts in food are considered safe. Avoid amounts above food use, regular high-dose parsley courses, the seed and the essential oil during pregnancy.

Can parsley bring on a period?

High doses of parsley, its seed and its oil are traditionally known to stimulate menstruation and can cause miscarriage. Using it for this purpose is not safe; see a doctor if your period is late.

Does parsley help pass kidney stones?

The Commission E use aims to prevent kidney gravel, not to pass existing stones. No clinical trials show this; see a doctor for kidney stone symptoms.

Does parsley help with dark skin spots?

Only one small study has looked at melasma. The evidence is not enough to make a recommendation.

Sources

Source type is not an efficacy rating. A monograph may document traditional use or safety. Claim numbers link to the relevant source; the access date does not indicate professional approval.

  1. Petroselini herbaAltmeyers Enzyklopädie — Naturheilkunde · 2025 · Reference bookSource accessed:
  2. ParsleyDrugs.com — Natural Products (Wolters Kluwer) · 2026 · Reference bookSource accessed:

Cite This Page

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum). Herbadex — Doğal Şifa Rehberi (2026). https://herbadex.com/en/herb/parsley/

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