This is a surprise to me, but I was experimenting a few days ago with dried Parsley.  I bought a big ole bottle of dried Parsley flakes a while ago, and while I do use it on food, there is (was) a lot of it.  So I thought I should make a tea rinse with some of it the same way I do with the Lemon Balm, Nettle or Horsetail I got from mountainroseherbs.

The first thing I noticed when running my hands through my hair the next day is that I didn’t get nearly the same amount of natural “shedding” I usually get when I skip over my wash day.

NOTE: When I get a bit lazy or a bit busy and have to move my wash day to a later day, I at least spritz it at night with an astringent herbal tea (Hibiscus, Lemon balm, Cleavers or any tea with astringent or detoxifying properties).

So I started to research what properties are inherent in Parsley (Petroselinum Crispum)  to make this possible, at least for me.

Apparently, not only does it make your hair shine (like so many other herbal rinses) but it’s also a “superfood”… although it may be a little ‘Rodney Dangerfield’ in the amount of respect it gets for its qualities in hair concoctions.

The herb itself is high in Vitamin K (helps improve with the elasticity of the skin), Vitamin A (helps immune system)⁽²⁾ and Vitamin C (collagen production)⁽¹⁾

It is also high in alkalinity with some reports putting it’s pH at or around 9. It’s a great source of chlorophyll and its full of antioxidants like luteolin (destroys free radicals). Not to mention its anti inflammatory powers inside the body are also part of its benefits.

When eating enough of it, you get minerals like calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and copper.  But, again,  what about on your hair?

I honestly don’t know what specifically it is, but it’s one of those herbs — along with rosemary and peppermint — which are really good for dark/black, hair.

The oil of the Parsley has been used for hair loss and to improve hair growth.⁽³⁾ Some folk have even rubbed crushed the leaves into a bald spot to stimulate growth.

The fresh stuff can be made into a paste and used as a conditioner by blending it with a small amount of water.  Work the parsley paste into hair and let it sit for 30min to 1 hour. Rinse out without shampooing again.

NOTE: The curly variety of Parsley is higher in myristicin ⁽⁵⁾

If you want to find this herb online at places like mountainroseherb ⁽⁴⁾, you’ll find both Parsley leaf and Parsley root.  Both the leaf and the root have the same essential oil, but you’ll find a higher concentration in the root itself.

You can use either the root or the leaf to make a tea or an extract.

Related:
1 http://superfoodprofiles.com/eating-parsley-healthy-skin-hair
2 http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/6-health-benefits-of-parsley.html
3 link removed
4 http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/parsley.php
5 http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Gardening/diggin-it/2010/1119/Parsley-the-last-herb-of-fall