ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe to our Newsletter:
Healthy Diet Plans >>  Health Food >>  Chervil Health Benefits

Information on Chervil


The herb chervil is from the Parsley family of herbs and is used in food regularly. This plant or herb is widely used in French cuisine along with other herbs like thyme, rosemary and basil. Chervil is used as a garnish and carries a taste of licorice or aniseed. Chervil is also known as cicily, sweet cicily or gourmet’s parsley. Though the herb originated in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, it gained popularity through the French.

Nutrient Content:

In 100 grams of dried chervil, there are about 230 calories, of which 6 per cent is total fat, dietary fiber is 11.3 grams, protein is 23.2 grams, and of course, it has no cholesterol.

It is a great herb to include in your everyday meals.

Health Benefits of Chervil


The herb has strong anti inflammatory properties that make it a favorite in home remedies. Chervil has many health and medicinal benefits.
  • The herb can be used to cure hiccups. 
  • It can be used in diet to lower blood pressure or as an aid for digestion and as a mild stimulant.
  • This herb is a great source for minerals like magnesium, selenium, potassium, manganese, calcium and many vitamins including vitamin B. Chervil is also a good source of vitamin C and beta carotene.
  • These combat free radicals and increase antioxidants which helps in boosting the metabolism and improving immunity.
  • Its diuretic properties make it a good herb to have during menstruation.
  • It is also beneficial for people who suffer from kidney disorders, bladder disorders and cystitis.
  • Chervil combined with celery is very effective for cystitis.

Digestive Problems:

Chervil also has a good amount of fiber, so eating large quantities of chervil is good for digestion. Chervil alleviates stomach pain and other digestive problems, including internal and external allergy inflammations.

Skin Treatment:

  • Chervil leaves are also very beneficial if you suffer from eczema and aggravated acne.
  • The medicinal properties of chervil make it a favored ingredient in lotions and cleansers.
  • Due to its effectiveness in skin treatments, this herb is also used in creams for hemorrhoids and varicose veins.
  • Chervil juice taken at periodic intervals can improve and heal the skin from injuries and scars.
  • The herb is helpful even for liver problems.
  • Its anti-inflammatory properties make effective for treating common cold and flu as well.
  • The medicinal benefits and uses of the chervil leaves include using them in a poultice to remedy for aching joints.

Pregnancy:

It is also known to reduce cellulite. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it safe even for pregnant women. Sometimes pregnant women are also given a bath in its infusion so that their bodies can gently absorb chervil’s herbal properties. This has been debated in some medical circles, so be sure to consult your doctor before you use it during your pregnancy.

Chervil Leaves Nutrition Benefits

  • Consuming chervil is definitely good for you but even just using various forms of chervil leaves can be beneficial too.
  • Dried chervil leaves along with dried flowers make very fragrant additions in potpourri.
  • Leaves soaked in vinegar can cure hiccups and this cure has even found a mention in ancient remedy texts.
  • It is important to remember that despite its many benefits, you need to consult a doctor before taking it frequently.

Nutritional Benefits of Chervil Tea


Chervil tea also has tremendous benefits.
  • It can soothe irritated eyes.
  • Drinking it fresh regulates the blood and removes the impurities.
  • Strong chervil tea made from fresh or dried leaves can ease the discomfort of insect bites and cuts.
  • Applying the tea as part of a face mask can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve elasticity of the skin. Cotton balls soaked in chervil tea can also reduce redness and swollen eyes. All you need to do is, put these tea-soaked cotton balls over your eyes for ten minutes.
  • To relieve constipation, steep chervil leaves in hot water and drink the tea to ease the discomfort.
  • The tea also helps reduce hypertension and blood pressure or related issues.
  • Including chervil tea and the herb chervil as a part of your everyday diet can lead to a longer life.
  • A tonic of watercress, dandelion and chervil is often drunk to face a winter without falling ill.

How to Use Chervil Tea

Adding chervil leaves to food preparations at the beginning can make these leaves go bitter and in turn make the dish bitter. Therefore these herbs are best added at the end of cooking the dish or as a garnish. The addition of these leaves in salad dressings, marinades and rubs is a good idea to improve flavors. You can use chervil by chopping the fresh herb in to omelets or in to your salad, as a garnish on soups, stews, pastas and especially on homemade potato salad where you can substitute chervil for parsley or dill.  You can also add the herb to white wine vinegar to use as a readymade dressing or mix the herb with butter to use on grilled seafood, especially fish.  You can also use the leaves as a stuffing for chicken or fish before baking them.

How to Use Chervil?

While this herb is often used in salads, the benefits of chervil also make it a favorite in different home remedies. In terms of flavor, it is rather mild and therefore works best when combined with other herbs. There is a plain and curly version of chervil. The plain variety has more flavor. The longer you store the herb after plucking it, the more the flavor reduces. If you want to retain the flavor of chervil, you should dry the herb and use the dried chervil in different preparations instead of trying to keep it fresh. Dry the herb quickly in an oven or mix it with butter and freeze the butter. These are some of the ways to use the flavor of chervil despite not having access to the fresh herb. It is essentially a summer plant and can be germinated to survive winter.

Submitted on January 16, 2014