Originally from the Mediterranean basin, celery or a similar plant form was cultivated for medicinal purposes as early as 850 B.C. Its medicinal properties, primarily attributed to the volatile oils present, especially in the seeds, were utilized by Ayurvedic physicians in ancient times to treat conditions like colds, flu, water retention, poor digestion, arthritis, liver, and spleen ailments. Early Egyptian tombs have even been found adorned with woven garlands of wild celery.