Herb Of The Day Coriander Benefits of Coriander Scientific name: Coriandrum sativum Family: Umbelliferae (Parsley family) Parts used: fruit/seed, root, leaf (cilantro) Taste: pungent Energetics: warming, drying, aromatic Plant Properties: antispasmodic, carminative, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, diuretic, antioxidant Plant Uses: culinary, gas, bloating, belching, hiccups, diarrhea, indigestion, anodyne, modulate blood sugar, UTIs, high blood pressure, optimize cholesterol levels Plant Preparations: culinary, tea, pastilles, formulated with bitter herbs, curries, compress Cilantro vs. Coriander The Coriandrum sativum plant produces two distinct kinds of culinary and medicinal herbs. The leaves are commonly referred to as cilantro. They are aromatic and cooling in nature and have a decidedly different taste than the seeds. The fruit of the Coriandrum sativum plant are referred to as coriander seeds. They have a pungent taste that is warming and drying. Coriander seeds are a medicinal plant and a common culinary spice. This article focuses on coriander seeds. History Coriander is reputably one of the oldest known medicinal spices and it has been used for at least 7,000 years. The spice was found in the tomb of King Tutankhamen (Mars) and the seeds were mentioned in the Bible. The seeds were a common ingredient in love potions in the middle ages and it was an official medicine in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia from 1820 until 1980. During WWII the seeds were covered in sugar and sold as candy. They have also been used in a similar manner for kids with tummy aches. Coriander has a long history of use for preserving meat and it was often combined with vinegar for these purposes. Corned beef is a popular example of coriander spiced meat. Coriander seeds are used in distilling spirits, notably the French Chartreuse. It is also a common ingredient in Belgian beers. People in the US eat more than 900,000 pounds of coriander a year, most of which is found in meats such as sausages and also pastries and sweets. (Aggarwal) It’s almost impossible to use too much coriander. (In North American cuisine, some recipes call for it by the cupful!) In fact, coriander can fix a lot of errors in cooking. If you’ve gone too heavy on a particular spice in a dish, add the same amount of ground coriander, which should correct the flavor. This works particularly well when you’ve overdone a strong spice such as clove or cinnamon. Healing Spices Medicinal Use Coriander is a fairly straightforward herb but it does have a few surprising uses. For digestion… It is best known as a carminative herb. It has a pungent taste that is warming and drying, which makes it a perfect match for damp and cold digestive problems. Signs of damp and cold digestion include frequent bloating, belching, a heavy feeling in the abdomen, a cold feeling in the abdomen, loose stools with undigested food, a thick white tongue coating, scallops on the side of the tongue and fatigue. Coriander is an important corrigent herb. Corrigent herbs are added in small amounts to formulas to help balance them. Sometimes they are used to improve the flavor of a formula. Coriander is often added to bitter formulas to improve the taste. It is often added to laxative formulas to prevent the griping caused by herbs like senna and rhubarb. Regulate blood sugar… Coriander seeds have a mild effect on blood sugar levels and could be part of a larger protocol to help regulate blood sugar levels. For heart health… Coriander seeds have numerous benefits for the heart. They have been shown to lower blood pressure, optimize cholesterol levels and they are strongly antioxidant, which can support heart health. For infections… Coriander is a mild antimicrobial herb. It’s been shown to be effective against fungal infections like candida. It’s also both diuretic and antimicrobial, making it a great herb for urinary tract infections. I’ve seen many references to coriander being used for cold and flu symptoms. Being a pungent spice we can surmise it would be beneficial for wind/cold fevers and mucus congestion. I have not found any contemporary references to herbalists regularly using coriander for colds and the flu. For cancer… Coriander has been studied for its ability to prevent cancer. Promising results have been shown for preventing colon cancer. Another interesting study showed the roots as having strong antioxidant activity that could “prevent oxidative stress-related diseases”.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 19:37:24 +0000
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