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Limited evidenceGeneral health

Parsley Leaf

A culinary herb with a long history as a diuretic. The renal and diuretic claims come from rodent studies and traditional practice; no controlled human trial supports them.

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What the science says

  • Diuretic and kidney stone use Limited evidence

    Reviews of parsley's pharmacology and of botanical medicines for the urinary tract describe diuretic and antilithiatic activity demonstrated in rats, attributed to apiol and myristicin altering sodium and potassium handling. There is no human trial measuring urine output or stone recurrence with parsley.

  • Antioxidant and renoprotective effects in animals Limited evidence

    A review of parsley for renal health collects animal studies showing protection against experimentally induced kidney injury. These are preclinical models at doses far above culinary intake, and none has been tested in people.

Dosage & safety

Studied doseNo studied human dose. Capsules typically supply 400–500 mg of dried leaf one to three times daily; as a tea, 2 g of dried leaf per cup is the traditional preparation.
SafetySafe as a food. Concentrated leaf and especially parsley seed oil are a different matter: apiol and myristicin are uterine stimulants, so medicinal doses must be avoided in pregnancy. Parsley is high in vitamin K, which matters for anyone on warfarin, and contains furocoumarins that can cause photosensitivity. Avoid medicinal doses in kidney disease.

How to take it

TimingTiming does not matter; medicinal use is usually two or three times a day.
With food?Take with food, which also blunts the stomach irritation from concentrated leaf.
Worth knowingParsley as a garnish or in tabbouleh is fine; the pregnancy and kidney warnings apply to concentrated capsules and especially seed oil, which is a different product entirely.

Interactions

With medications

  • warfarin

    Parsley is high in vitamin K, so medicinal doses can lower INR and reduce anticoagulation. keep intake steady rather than starting and stopping, and tell your anticoagulation clinic

  • diuretics

    Additive fluid and electrolyte loss from parsley's traditional diuretic action. talk to your doctor before combining

  • lithium

    A diuretic effect can reduce lithium clearance and raise blood levels. do not combine without lithium level monitoring

Well-established interactions only — this is not a complete list. Always tell your doctor and pharmacist what you take.

Frequently asked questions

Does parsley leaf work as a natural diuretic?

Parsley leaf's diuretic and anti-kidney-stone activity has only been shown in rats; no human trial has measured urine output or stone recurrence. The evidence is limited.

Is parsley supplement safe in pregnancy?

No, not at medicinal doses: apiol and myristicin in concentrated parsley leaf and especially parsley seed oil are uterine stimulants. Parsley as a food or garnish is fine.

Can you take parsley capsules with warfarin?

Parsley leaf is high in vitamin K, so medicinal doses can lower INR and reduce anticoagulation with warfarin. Keep your intake steady rather than starting and stopping, and tell your anticoagulation clinic.

How much parsley leaf per day?

There is no studied human dose of parsley leaf. Capsules typically supply 400–500 mg of dried leaf one to three times daily, and the traditional tea uses 2 g of dried leaf per cup.

Scientific references

Related in General health

Herbal medicines: what the evidence says (335)