Hypotensive Dietary Therapy – Celery
Hypotensive Dietary Therapy – Celery
Traditional Chinese medicine holds the concept of "food as medicine," meaning many medicinal substances are also food items with therapeutic and nourishing effects, even suggesting that dietary supplementation is better than medicinal treatment. Ancient Chinese medical systems included a specialty called "Food Physician," which managed dietary hygiene and cooking. Below are recipes using celery, known for its ability to lower blood pressure. Celery is considered a primary choice in treating hypertension and its complications.
Celery is a crisp, aromatic vegetable, not only a top-tier household vegetable but also possessing pharmacological and therapeutic value. Reports from various regions over the years have indicated celery's efficacy in treating hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases, and nephritis. Typically, only the stalks are consumed, while leaves and roots are discarded. However, for cardiovascular patients, it is best to wash and use the roots, stems, and leaves together. Celery, also known as parsley, belongs to the Umbelliferae family and comes in two types: water celery and dry celery, with dry celery being more commonly used medicinally. It has a sweet, cool taste and is non-toxic. It enters the lung, stomach, and liver meridians. It contains apiol, volatile oils, mannitol, cyclohexanehexol, niacin, etc., with functions including diuresis, antispasmodic effects, clearing dampness in the stomach, and relieving heat irritability in the chest. The "Qianjin. Food Therapy" states it "strengthens muscles and tendons, removes latent heat, and treats five types of jaundice." The "Bencao Shiyi" considers it effective for "removing hypertension symptoms." Modern medicine recognizes celery’s ability to lower blood pressure and blood lipids.
Below are several hypotensive recipes:
Celery and Red Date Soup: Besides treating hypertension, this soup can also help with acute icteric hepatitis and cystitis. Use 200–400 grams of celery and 50–100 grams of red dates, simmer into a soup, and consume in divided doses. If not during celery season, dried celery heads (150–250 grams) combined with red dates boiled into water also yield therapeutic effects. Fresh Celery and Apple Juice: Helps lower blood pressure, soothes the liver, calms nerves, relieves spasms, harmonizes the stomach, stops vomiting, and promotes urination. Suitable for hypertensive patients experiencing dizziness, headaches, facial flushing, and mental excitability. Use 250 grams of fresh celery and 1–2 apples. Blanch celery in boiling water for 2 minutes, chop finely, mix with freshly squeezed apple juice, drink one cup twice daily. Celery Root Stewed with Lotus Root: Commonly used for lowering blood pressure, calming the mind, and inducing tranquility. Use 60 grams of celery root and 6 lotus roots; stew together in a clay pot and drink the liquid. (Source: MaiBo Health Information)