The Stone Breaker

I’m going to tell you about a mistake I made only once in my life as a naturopath, and that I will never make again. It was at the beginning of my practice, on a Saturday morning when I was experimenting with pure juices. I had three large bunches of parsley, a brand new juicer, and the enthusiasm of a beginner.

Do you want to assess your level of colloid toxemia? Take the colloid toxemia questionnaire and discover my article on hepatic detoxification.

Bioactive molecules

Parsley’s apiol directly stimulates nephrons and increases diuresis to promote the elimination of oxalate and uric acid crystals; its old name “stonebind” says it all¹. Myristicin potentiates this diuretic action and stimulates the production of hepatic glutathione-S-transferase². Vitamin C in parsley (190 mg/100 g, 4 times that of oranges) protects nephrons from oxidative stress³. This is the MOST concentrated juice in the repertoire: never more than 60 ml per day in pure form⁴.

Apiol and myristicin are the two most active compounds in parsley juice. Apiol is a phenylpropanoid that directly stimulates nephrons (functional units of the kidney), increases diuresis and promotes the elimination of nitrogenous waste. This is what makes parsley a powerful diuretic, and it is also what makes it potentially dangerous at high doses: excessive renal stimulation can cause inflammation of the nephrons. This is why the limit is set at 6 centiliters. Myristicin, also present in nutmeg, has an emmenagogue action and can trigger uterine contractions. Parsley is therefore formally contraindicated in pregnant women.

Concentrated parsley contains three active molecules. Apigenin, a major flavonoid, exerts an anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic action by binding to GABA receptors in the brain (Viola et al., ‘Apigenin, a Component of Matricaria Recutita Flowers, Is a Central Benzodiazepine Receptor Ligand,’ Planta Medica 61, no. 3 (1995): 213-216). Myristicin, a volatile terpene, stimulates the production of glutathione-S-transferase, a key enzyme in hepatic detoxification. Parsley is also the most concentrated plant source of vitamin C (133 mg/100g, or 4 times more than orange) and vitamin K1 (1640 mcg/100g, or 2000% of the RDA).

Parsley is the most nutrient-dense concentrate of all common vegetables: 190 mg vitamin C, 6.2 mg iron, 1.07 mg zinc per 100g. Never exceed 60 ml per day. Always dilute in at least 5 times its volume of carrot.

The most nutrient-dense concentrate: 190 mg vitamin C, 6.2 mg iron, 1.07 mg zinc per 100g. Never exceed 60 ml per day (uterine stimulation). Always dilute in at least 5 volumes of carrot. A micro-juice that makes a macro-difference.

Table of key micronutrients

Micronutrient	Primary role
Apiol	Renal stimulation, powerful diuretic
Myristicin	Adrenal tonic, corticosteroid stimulation
Vitamin C	Major antioxidant, immune cofactor
Vitamin K1	Coagulation, calcium metabolism
Organic iron	Oxygen transport, red blood cell formation
Folic acid (B9)	Cell division, DNA synthesis

Preparation with a juicer

Ingredients:

• 2 peeled lemons
• 1 bunch of fresh parsley
• 1/2 black radish
• 1 green apple

This is the MOST concentrated juice in the juice repertoire. NEVER more than 6 cl per day in pure form. Always dilute in carrot, celery or lettuce juice. Flat parsley is richer in active compounds than curly parsley.

What I personally think

Parsley is a powerful litholytic: apiol and myristicin increase diuresis and promote the elimination of oxalate and uric acid crystals. Its old name “stonebind” says it all. But be careful: parsley is so powerful that it can dislodge kidney or gallstones that then move through the ducts. If the stone is too large, it can get blocked and cause a colic. Start with 2 cl per day, increase very slowly (maximum 6 cl pure), and cut with water or carrot juice. Contraindicated in pregnant women (myristicin is emmenagogue). If you have known stones, consult your naturopath before starting.

My recommended juicer

For this recipe, I use the Hurom H80-ST. Cold pressing preserves all the enzymes, vitamins and phytonutrients that the heat from a centrifuge would destroy.

Promo code: francoisbenavente20 for -20% on everything at Hurom.

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To go further

Related articles

• Hepatic detoxification
• Toxemia: the underlying cause of disease

Test yourself

• Questionnaire: Colloid toxemia
• Questionnaire: Vitality and toxemia

Complementary recipes

• The Morning Detox
• The Digestive
• The Green Calcium
• The Anti-inflammatory
• The Morning-After Party Juice

Go further

• All my health questionnaires
• My naturopathy shop
• Naturopathy consultation by video
• My Living Juices ebook