The use of celery supplements as medicine dates back centuries. Hippocrates believed it calmed the nerves, and as far back as 30 AD, they were using celery to relieve pain. Today, celery seeds are often labelled as a blood purifier, helping to support kidney and bladder function, and subsequently the elimination of toxins through urine.

Medicinal Benefits of Celery Supplements

Celery is a mild diuretic often used to decrease uric acid levels in the body to help gout. It is also commonly used to relieve inflammation caused by rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. Celery juice is also well known for its ability to lower blood pressure.

Celery supplements are commonly recommended for weight loss, as it is low in calories, while higher in dietary fibre. It is also a good source of minerals like calcium, sodium, and chlorine. Because of its mineral content, it is often used to reduce acidity and restore electrolytes in the body. There is some research to suggest that celery may be beneficial in psoriasis (with caution), as certain constituents have been shown to increase photosensitivity under UV radiation.

Types of Celery Supplements

While you can eat celery, you would have to eat a lot of celery to reap any therapeutic benefits it offers. You can juice celery to help increase your concentration of nutrients from this vegetable, or you can consume a celery supplement like a tincture, which is pure and potent and offers a therapeutic dose. 

Celery seed extract supplements are also available in capsule form and are often included in gout, blood pressure and circulation formulas. There is no proven effective dose for celery extract in adults. 

Cautions & Potential Side Effects

Allergies to celery are quite common and can be severe enough to cause an anaphylactic reaction. Cooking does not decrease the allergic potential of this plant, which contains an allergen which closely resembles birch pollen.

Consult your healthcare provider to determine which dosage is right for you. Celery is considered safe in food amounts. Individuals taking celery-based supplements or high celery content in the diet need to use caution if also taking medication to lower blood pressure, including diuretics, as well as blood thinning medication due to possible additive effects. Celery ingestion or contact with essential oils can increase photosensitivity. Subsequent UV radiation exposure has been known to cause phytodermatitis.