MCWtrainer

This was posted by SIZE and I thought it was a really good read so here is his post on the topic...

Celery for Blood pressure

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I posted this at AM but I thought some of you may be interested in it here also. This is the abbreviated version. The article in its entirety can be found at AM. Personally, I am always concerned with my health. One of my concerns in particular is blood pressure control. 3nB, a compound found in celery, yields a positive effect on blood pressure. It is a long read, but I think it is worth it. Please note that some of the article also discusses some other benefits of celery.

CELERY EXTRACT

Introduction
Celery is a member of the Umbelliferous family along with carrots, parsley, and fennel. The modern celery originated from wild celery native to the Mediterranean where its seeds were once highly valued as a medicine. Like many other folk medicines, modern research is upholding the medicinal value of this common plant. In particular, scientists are evaluating the most powerful of the healing factors of celery, a compound known as 3-n-butylphthalide or 3nB for short.

What is 3nB?
3nB is a compound that is unique to celery and is responsible for the characteristic flavor and odor of celery. 3nB was discovered as the active component of celery in response to investigations by researchers seeking to explain some of the medicinal effects of celery including the lowering of blood pressure and the relief of arthritis. 3nB first drew significant scientific attention when researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center identified it as the factor in celery responsible for the blood pressure lowering effect of celery.1 The research was prompted by one of the researcher's father, who after eating a quarter-pound of celery every day for one week observed his blood pressure dropped from 158 over 96 to a normal reading of 118 over 82. Subsequent animal studies found that a very small amount of 3nB lowered blood pressure by 12 to 14% and also lowered cholesterol by about 7%.

How does 3nB lower blood pressure?
The blood pressure lowering effect of 3nB appears to be a result of several effects. First of all, let me explain exactly what blood pressure refers to. It refers to the force with which your blood flows through the vessels. High blood pressure is usually the result of too much fluid there is in your blood and how flexible or resistant your blood vessels are. Retention of sodium (salt) leads to increase fluid volume in the blood while hardening of the arteries and the hormones released during stress lead to loss of flexibility or constriction of blood flow. If you put your thumb over a garden hose, the pressure against your thumb and the resultant pressure of the flow of water out of the hose can be reduced by either turning down the faucet (reducing the fluid volume) or by letting more water flow out the end of the hose (dilating the vessel). In treating high blood pressure, doctors usually prescribed diuretics (water pills) to reduce the fluid volume and vasodilators to relax the arteries to reduce the resistance of blood flow or beta-blockers to turn down the pumping action of the heart. 3nB appears to help lower blood pressure by both acting as a diuretic and vasodilator through impacting the production of prostaglandins (discussed below) as well as acting in a similar manner to drugs known as calcium-channel blockers.2 3nB has also been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the formation of arterial plaque in experimental studies (animal and test tube studies).3,4 This effect may increase the elasticity of the blood vessels and also lead to lower blood pressure readings. 3nB also appears to promote some effects on areas and systems of the brain that control vascular resistance.
The benefit of celery extract in high blood pressure is its apparent safety and the fact that it has a very unusual mechanism of action as a diuretic. Most diuretics change the ratio of sodium to potassium in the blood and as a result dangerous side effects can occur as a result of either too much potassium or sodium. In contrast, celery extract acts as a diuretic but does not alter the ratio of sodium to potassium in the blood.

The research on the blood pressure lowering effect of celery and celery extracts is quite preliminary, but I think it is certainly worth the effort to give it a try as some people have noted significant reductions. What research will probably show is that some people with high blood pressure will respond to celery extract while others will not. This occurrence is not unusual as physicians treating high blood pressure will tell you that there is a similar phenomena with conventional drugs used in high blood pressure.

Another real advantage of celery extract over conventional drugs used in high blood pressure is that the drugs lower blood flow to the brain. While this effect is helpful in reducing the likelihood of stroke, it often leaves people taking these drugs feeling tired, depressed, dizzy, and forgetful. Celery extract on the other hand has actually been shown to not only help prevent stroke in animal studies, but also improve blood flow as well and act to protect the brain and enhance energy production with the brain in a similar manner to Ginkgo biloba extract.5-8 It has produced dramatic recovery in neurological and brain function in animals in studies that simulate a stroke.6-10 It has also been shown to significantly increase lifespan in animal studies.11

How much celery or celery extract should I take for high blood pressure?
My recommendation is to either consume 8 ribs of celery per day or take a celery extract standardized to contain 85% 3nB and other celery phthalides at a dosage of 75 to 150 mg twice daily.

What other effects have been noted with 3nB?
3nB has shown tremendous promise as an anti-cancer phytonutrient and detoxification aid in an experimental animal model,12 but it is its use as a pain reliever in arthritis, fibromyalgia, and gout that is getting most of the attention.
A celery extract standardized to contain 85% 3nB and other celery phthalides has been evaluated in the treatment of "rheumatism"– the general term used for arthritic and muscular aches and pain.13,14 In these studies efficacy was evaluated by well-established clinical protocols used to measure the effectiveness of conventional drugs used in arthritis and muscular pain. This protocol allows objective measures of clinical pain that can be assessed statistically and for individual comparisons. Due to the chronic, fluctuating nature of rheumatism, the design of the study was a longitudinal study. This sort of study compares the results achieved when using the active substance to a time when it is not used.

References:

1.Le QT and Elliott WJ: Hypotensive and hypocholesterolemic effects of celery oil may be due to BuPh. Clin Res 1991;39:173A.
2.Tsi D and Tan BKH: Cardiovascular pharmacology of 3-n-butylphthalide in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Phytotherapy Research 1997;11:576-82.
3.Le QT and Elliott WJ: Dose-response relationship of blood pressure and serum cholesterol to 3-n-butylphthalide, a component of celery oil. Clin Res 1991;39:750A.
4.Mimura Y, Kobayashi S, Naitoh T, Kimura I and Kimura M: The structure-activity relationship between synthetic butylidenephthalide derivatives regarding the competence and progression of inhibition in primary cultures proliferation of mouse aorta smooth muscle cells. Biol Pharm Bull 1995;18:1203-6.
5.Yu SR, Gao NN, Li LL, Wang ZY, Chen Y and Wang WN: The protective effect of 3-butyl phthalide on rat brain cells. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao 1988;23:656-61.
6.Chong ZZ and Feng YP: dl-3-n-butylphthalide improves regional cerebral blood flow after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage in rats. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao 1999;20:509-12.
7.Chong ZZ and Feng YP: dl-3-n-butylphthalide attenuates reperfusion-induced blood-brain barrier damage after focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao 1999;20:696-700.
8.Yan CH, Feng YP and Zhang JT: Effects of dl-3-n-butylphthalide on regional cerebral blood flow in right middle cerebral artery occlusion rats. Chung Kuo Yao Li Hsueh Pao 1998;19:117-20.
9.Lin JF and Feng YP: Effect of dl-3-n-butylphthalide on delayed neuronal damage after focal cerebral ischemia and intrasynaptosomes calcium in rats. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao 1996;31:166-70.
10.Liu XG and Feng YP: Protective effect of dl-3-n-butylphthalide on ischemic neurological damage and abnormal behavior in rats subjected to focal ischemia. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao 1995;30:896-903.
11.Zhang LY and Feng YP: Effect of dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP) on life span and neurological deficit in SHRsp rats. Yao Hsueh Hsueh Pao 1996;31:18-23.
12.Zheng G, Kenney PM, Zhang J and Lam KT: Chemoprevention of benzopyrene-induced forestomach cancer in mice by natural phthalides from celery oil. Nutr Cancer 1993;19:77-86.
13.Soundararajan S and Daunter B: Ajvine: Pilot biomedical study for pain relief in rheumatic pain. School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 1991-92.
14.Venkat S, Soundararajan S, Daunter B and Madhusudhan S. Use of Ayurvedic medicine in the treatment of rheumatic illness. Department of Orthopaedics, Kovai Medical Center and Hospitals, Coimbatore, India, 1995

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CELERY SEED

Throughout much of history, celery and celery seed has been used mainly as homeopathic and medicinal herbs. Not until relatively recent history has celery been used for culinary purposes. The flavor of celery is somewhat herbal and astringent, but it has a succulent, crisp texture. Because of its low-calorie count, celery is a favorite diet food.

Celery Seed Benefits

Celery seeds are mainly used in connection with rheumatism, arthritis, and gout. They are especially useful in rheumatoid arthritis where there is an associated mental depression. Additional benefits of celery include the following:

Lowers Blood Pressure and Cholesterol - in one study, at the University of Chicago, lab animals who were given a daily dose of a compound extracted from celery seed experienced a 12 percent reduction in their blood pressure over a four-week period. The same study indicated it may reduce artery-clogging cholesterol. A traditional Vietnamese remedy for high blood pressure.

Healthy Joints - celery has been used and suggested as an alternative therapy for Arthritis, rheumatism, and gout. Celery seed is most often taken to aid in the maintenance of healthy joints. Celery seeds have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling and pain around the joints. It is suitable for anyone who wishes to reduce the degeneration of body joints that commonly occurs with age. Celery seed can also ease joint discomfort that occurs due to inflammation and is, in fact, mainly used for the relief of symptoms of conditions such as arthritis.

Antiseptic Properties - celery seed has an antiseptic property that makes it useful to the health of the urinary tract and a diuretic property to help relieve fluid retention - Celery seed aids in the elimination of uric acid. These properties can prove useful in cases of bladder disorders, cystitis, and kidney disorders. Celery seed helps with urinary tract infection in women.

Acts as A Diuretic - the herb contains a diuretic substance that also benefits arthritis and gout patients, as it helps to flush away the uric acid crystals that build up around the joints. Celery helps shed water weight.

Menstrual Discomfort - celery also promotes the onset of menstruation.

Anxiety - celery seed can help soothe the nerves and relieve pain.

Aids Digestion - Consuming celery seed in food also aids in the digestion of protein.

Cancer Agents - contains eight different families of anti-cancer compounds, such as phthalides and polyacetylenes, that detoxify carcinogens, especially cigarette smoke.

Nutritional Content of Celery

Celery contains the following chemical compounds and nutrients:
Amino acids
Boron
Calcium
Choline
Essential fatty acids
Folate
Inositol
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Phosphorous
Potassium
Selenium
Sulfur
Zinc
Vitamins A
Vitamins B1
Vitamins B2
Vitamins B3
Vitamins B5
Vitamins B6
Vitamins C
Vitamins E
Vitamins K

Usage and Dosage

As a dietary supplement, take 3 capsules 3 times a day, preferably before meals.

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Some links...

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsHerbs/CelerySeedch.html

http://www.raysahelian.com/celeryseed.html

Click Here for more info.

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