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Now grown worldwide, Parsley originated somewhere in the Mediterranean region. The Ancient Greeks employed it in their funeral rites, fashioning it into wreaths for their tombs. Ironically, this most widely used of kitchen herbs was never used for cooking in Ancient Greece. Instead, it was held sacred and reserved for the realms of the dead. From Greece, Parsley spread across the Roman Empire and eventually throughout Europe. The curled-leafed variety, "crispum" was mentioned by the Roman historian Pliny. Others varieties have been known since at least the 18th century.
In folk medicine, Parsley has also been used to treat stomach and intestinal disorders, jaundice, water retention, and failure to menstruate. Its effectiveness for these ailments has not, however, been scientifically proven. Juice pressed from fresh Parsley is a folk remedy for insect bites.
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