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I remind you that the information provided in this series is for information purposes only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, neither is it to be construed as such. It does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment where required. Consult a doctor for medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.
Also, while every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, you are strongly advised to take responsibility and do your own research.
In the previous article, we looked at the popular Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) plant which has a wide variety of internal and external uses.
In this article, we are going to look at the Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) herb.
About the herb and its characteristics
Cilantro is a very fast-growing annual herb which can be grown just about anywhere. It is a relative of the carrot family and is sometimes called “Chinese parsley” and “Coriander”.
The leaves, stem and seeds of the plant are all used.
It has a very strong unique odor with a tart lemon/lime-like taste, and is relied on heavily for Mexican, Asian, and Caribbean cuisine.
When it comes to the taste, you either love it or hate it.
Those who hate it claim that it has a soapy taste while those who love it claim that it is a strong taste that Cilantro delivers but they do enjoy its pungent flavor.
Could that be because of its connection with Anthony Hopkins’ character Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs movie? LOL
Cilantro also resembles Parsley which is not surprising since the two are related. It has been around for thousands of years, first in Egypt, India, and China. The herb was introduced into Mexico and Peru where it is still used with chilies when making masterful food dishes and it has since become very popular throughout the United States.
A bit of trivia
The word “Coriander” comes from a Greek word “koris”, which in English means bedbug oddly enough because it is said by many that Cilantro smells like a bedbug. It looks like the Chinese did not seem to mind. They add Cilantro to their various love potions because to them it symbolizes immortality and has aphrodisiac properties.
Many also say that it is an appetite stimulant.
This can be handy if you are seeking to gain weight, or your appetite is somewhat low for any reason.
Some history about the herb
Cilantro has an interesting history to it and has showed up many times throughout history. Keep in mind that Cilantro is also in part Coriander, and some seeds were found in King Tut’s tomb. It is also mentioned in the Old Testament and its use by physicians dates as back as far as Hippocrates. The Ancient Egyptians used Cilantro for such things as headaches and urinary tract infections.
Cilantro can also mask the scent of rotting meat and it was used for that purpose quite frequently by earlier cultures.
Growing and harvesting the plant
It would be fair to say that Cilantro is an herbal plant that has two identities since Cilantro is what the plant is referred to in its earliest stages and when it is fully developed it then becomes Coriander. As an annual herb, Cilantro grows very quickly but also dies very quickly.
You can easily grow it in a pot on your windowsill. It is always best to harvest Cilantro before it bolts or blooms. If you wait too long to harvest Cilantro what will happen is that you will be harvesting Coriander because it will then be all seed.
Unless that is what you want. The seeds do have health benefits too!
Modern usage
Today, Cilantro is very easy to find in just about any local grocery store, fruit market, or online any time of the year. It can be found just about anywhere in the United States and is a garnish on almost every plate served in many restaurants.
What about the health benefits?!
The following video clip is from a qualified nutritionist:
The herb is “generally regarded as safe” (GRAS) as a food by the US Food and Drug Administration. Studies are showing great promise for its bioactive phytochemical properties which are helpful across a wide variety of biological activities.
Did you know the leaves exhibit antiepileptic/anticonvulsant properties?
And the polyphenols from the seeds have been shown to have important
- antidiabetic,
- antihyperglycemic,
- antihyperlipidemic,
- anti-inflammatory, and
- antioxidant effects.
To close, here’s another recipe you might wish to try:
In the next article, we will look at Cloves, one of the world’s most precious spices.
To a better, wiser, stronger YOU!
Sources:
Prachayasittikul V, Prachayasittikul S, Ruchirawat S, Prachayasittikul V. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum): A promising functional food toward the well-being. Food Res Int. 2018 Mar;105:305-323. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2017.11.019. Epub 2017 Nov 21. PMID: 29433220.
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; 2006–. Coriander. 2022 Jan 18. PMID: 30000851.
Mechchate H, Es-Safi I, Amaghnouje A, Boukhira S, A Alotaibi A, Al-Zharani M, A Nasr F, M Noman O, Conte R, Amal EHEY, Bekkari H, Bousta D. Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Antidiabetic Proprieties of LC-MS/MS Identified Polyphenols from Coriander Seeds. Molecules. 2021 Jan 18;26(2):487. doi: 10.3390/molecules26020487. PMID: 33477662; PMCID: PMC7831938.
Manville RW, Abbott GW. Cilantro leaf harbors a potent potassium channel-activating anticonvulsant. FASEB J. 2019 Oct;33(10):11349-11363. doi: 10.1096/fj.201900485R. Epub 2019 Jul 16. PMID: 31311306; PMCID: PMC6766653.
Sahib NG, Anwar F, Gilani AH, Hamid AA, Saari N, Alkharfy KM. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.): a potential source of high-value components for functional foods and nutraceuticals–a review. Phytother Res. 2013 Oct;27(10):1439-56. doi: 10.1002/ptr.4897. Epub 2012 Dec 19. PMID: 23281145.
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