Parsley has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Healers used its leaves, seeds and roots to treat a slew of ailments, including bruises, insect bites, amenorrhea, allergies, gout and gastrointestinal disorders. Plus, parsley stimulates the appetite and supports healthy liver and kidney functions for better detoxification.

Read on for tips on how to use the herb to make remedies.

Leaves
Parsley leaves should be harvested only when you're ready to use them. They're best eaten during the first year, largely because most of the plant's energy goes to the development of its stems, flower and seeds during its second year of growth. This is why parsley leaves tend to be small and mildly bitter during the second year.

Just half a cup of fresh parsley provides over 500 percent of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for vitamin K and over 50 percent of the RDA for vitamin C. Vitamin K helps the body absorbs calcium and regulates blood clotting, while vitamin C fortifies immunity and protects cells from free radical damage.

Parsley also has an antihistamine effect, which makes parsley a particularly healthy addition to the diets of people who frequently suffer from allergies or hives.

In traditional medicine, parsley leaves are used to make a poultice for bruises and insect bites or stings. Simply crush fresh parsley leaves and apply them liberally to the affected area to speed up healing.