Cilantro is an aromatic herb. It is the leaf of the coriander seed, both of which are Tridoshic which means it’s good for all body types or Ayurvedic doshas. Both cilantro and coriander have been used for culinary purposes and medicinal purposes for ages. It has a distinctive taste and numerous health benefits. In this article, we’ll look at coriander uses and corainder benefits as well as coriander vs cilantro. You will also learn how to grow cilantro or coriander at home. Keep reading.
Coriander is used in both fresh and dry forms. The fresh leaves of coriander, called cilantro, are primarily used for topping and garnishing purposes. The seeds and ground powder or masala is used while cooking. In Indian households it is an indispensable part of the kitchen. It is also very popular in Mexico and southwestern parts of the U.S. where it’s utilized in salsas, mixed greens, burritos and meat dishes.
Coriander is native to south Europe, north Africa and west Asia. It was known in ancient Egypt and Greece where it was consumed regularly. It is still among the most popular flavor boosting herbs used in various dishes around the world.
Ancient Romans used both the leaves and seeds to preserve meats, a fact that has also been scientifically proven. Read more about coriander for food preservation under the ‘modern research’ section of this article.
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Cilantro Vs Coriander
Cilantro or coriander are two different words for the same herb or plant. This plant has the Latin name Coriandrum sativum. Why are there two different names for the same plant?
The word coriander is derived from the old French word ‘coriandre’ which comes from the Latin coriandrum. Coriander is the term used by English speakers in the U.K. Its leaves are referred to as coriander leaves and the seeds are called coriander seeds.
Cilantro is the Spanish translation of coriander. In the U.S., cilantro is used instead of coriander, but coriander is used to refer to its seeds.
The reason behind the use of the term cilantro in the U.S. may be its extensive use in Mexican cuisine. In Mexico, coriander is called by its Spanish name cilantro. Cilantro may have become popular in the U.S. through Mexican cuisine, so they also adopted the name cilantro. The term cilantro might have been passed on through generations.
In some places, coriander is called Chinese or Mexican parsley. Technically cilantro and coriander are two names for the same herb and both are correct.
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Coriander: Botanical Description
Coriander is an annual herb grown primarily as a spice for culinary purposes throughout the world.
Coriander is a soft plant and can grow up to 25-60 cm (10-24 in) in height. It has thin, spindle-shaped roots. It has an erect stalk and alternate leaves. These leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant and slender and feathery higher on up the flowering stems.
The flowers of the coriander plant are born in small umbels. They are white, very pale pink, blue, or purple. The flowers are asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the center of the umbel longer than those pointing toward it.
The fruits are globular consisting of two pericarps and about 3–5 mm in diameter. When pressed, they break into two locules, each having one seed. The fruit has a delicate fragrance. The seeds are pale white to light brown in color.
Sanskrit Coriander Synonyms With Meaning
These synonyms1 have been mentioned in the eminent textbook of Ayurveda, Dravyaguna Vijnana (Pharmacopoeia of Herbs), and are inspired by its various properties.
Dhanyaka is one synonym for coriander. It means, whose seeds resemble grains. Dhanyaka also means ‘the rich one’ because people appreciate its properties while eating it.
Chatra is another synonym for coriander. Its inflorescence resembles an umbrella.
Coriander is also called Kustumburu which means, it helps to relieve diseases because it pacifies all three doshas.
Vitunnaka means it helps in relieving agony and pain.
Ayurvedic Properties Of Cilantro (Coriander)
Rasa or taste: madhura (sweet), katu (pungent), tikta (bitter) and kashya (astringent)
Guna or qualities: laghu (light) and snigdha (oily)
Virya or potency: ushana (hot in potency)
Vipaka or post-digestive taste: madhur (sweet)
Effect on dosha: tri dosha hara (balances all three dosha)
Parts used: fruits, whole plant and oil
Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum
Family: Umbelliferae
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Cilantro Uses And Cilantro Benefits
Cilantro benefits, according to the Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic text…
Cilantro is included under trishna nigrahan maha kashyaya (herbs that are helpful in relieving thirst).3 It is included under sheet prashaman maha kashyaya (herbs that are useful in relieving excessive cold).4 It improves the taste of food. It is an appetite stimulant. It improves digestive strength.5 It is helpful in relieving bad breath and bad odor.
Cilantro benefits, according to the Sushruta Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic text….
Cilantro imparts taste and fragrance to various types of food. It is good for the heart. It is helpful in alleviating excessive thirst. It alleviates the burning sensation in the body. It is helpful in purifying various channels of the body.
Cilantro benefits, according to the Bhava Prakash, the ancient Ayurvedic text…
Cilantro has diuretic properties. It improves digestive strength. It is helpful in fever. It imparts taste in food. It is helpful in diarrhea. It relieves excessive thirst. It alleviates burning sensations in the body. It has antiemetic properties which means it’s useful in vomiting. It is helpful in asthma and other chronic respiratory problems. It is useful for coughs and colds. It is useful in hemorrhoids. It is useful in worm infestation.
Cilantro benefits according to Shodhal…
Cilantro is helpful in fever and burning sensations in the body during fever.8
Cilantro benefits according to Haarit…
Cilantro has anti-arthritic properties.8
Cilantro benefits according to Vang Sen…
Cilantro is helpful in diarrhea. It’s helpful in indigestion. It’s useful for coughs and colds in children. It’s helpful in asthmatic and other respiratory problems in children.
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Cilantro Uses: External
Application of the pulp of fresh green cilantro leaves is useful in headache, inflammation, erysipelas, and cervical lymphadenitis.
For mouth ulcers, it is advised to do oil pulling with juice made from fresh coriander.
In nasal bleeding or epistaxis, it is advised to instill the juice of fresh coriander into the nose.
In headache, you can also use a paste made from dry coriander powder.
Cilantro Home Remedies
Here are some home remedies using coriander according to the textbook of Dravyaguna Vijnana.
The cold infusion of coriander is useful in relieving excessive thirst.7
How To Make A Cold Infusion
Here we’ll describe how to make a cold infusion for excessive thirst.
Take dry coriander and grind it with a little bit of water in a mixer. Then add some water in this ground coriander and keep it for one to two hours. After one or two hours add some sugar candy and some honey to it. Drink it slowly. It is helpful in relieving excessive thirst.8
Diabetic people or people having high blood sugar levels should avoid this because it has sugar in it or they can take it without adding sugar candy or honey.
The cold infusion of coriander mixed with sugar is also helpful in alleviating burning sensation, and excessive thirst and also helps in various Vata Pitta-related problems.7
After making the cold infusion, remove the pericarp of the seeds or peel the seeds. Now use this part of the seeds and cook it with milk. This cooked milk is helpful in memory loss problems.7
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Dhanyaka Hima For Fever, Burning Sensations, Indigestion
Coriander helps get relief from burning sensations due to fever. This preparation is known as dhanyaka hima. To prepare this take some coriander powder or you can also grind coriander finely with the help of a mixer.
Soak this powder in water overnight. In the morning, strain it with the help of a cloth (you can also use a fine-meshed sieve for this purpose). Add some sugar candy to it. It is helpful in burning sensation due to fever and also in general debility due to fever.8
Diabetic people or people having high blood sugar levels should avoid this because it has sugar in it.
This is helpful in relieving problems of indigestion and pain abdomen. Make a decoction of coriander and ginger. It is helpful in digestion of undigested food and relieves pain in the abdomen.8
It has also been mentioned in the textbook of Dravyaguna Vijnana that due to its kashya ras or astringent taste, it can have an adverse effect on the quality of semen.9 So it is advised to consume it in a moderate amount.
Coriander Dosage
This is the amount of coriander dosage to take when consuming it as an herbal supplement.
Coriander Powder: 3-6 gm
Cold Infusion: 20-24 ml
Coriander Oil: 1-3 drops
Always take herbal supplements under the supervision of a qualified healthcare provider.
Chemical Constituents Of Coriander
Essential oils from the leaves and fruits of Coriandrum sativum L. were analyzed for their chemical constituents.
The leaf oil contains 44 compounds mostly aromatic acids. It contains 2-decenoic acid (30.8%), E-11-tetradecenoic acid (13.4%), capric acid (12.7%), undecyl alcohol (6.4%), tridecanoic acid (5.5%) and undecanoic acid (7.1%) as the major constituents.
The seed oil contains 53 compounds and the major compounds are linalool (37.7%), geranyl acetate (17.6%), and γ-terpinene (14.4%). The compositions of both oils varied qualitatively and quantitatively.
Cilantro Research / Coriander Research
Research has shown the following properties of coriander / cilantro.
- It has anti-fungal properties 11
- It is helpful in the preservation of food and prevents food spoilage11
- It has anti-bacterial properties 11,12
- It has anti-oxidant properties 11,12
- It has hypoglycemic activity 12
- It has cholesterol-lowering properties 12
- It has anti-mutagenic potential12
- It has anti-rheumatic and anti-arthritic properties12
- It promotes digestion of food12
- It controls diarrhea12
- It is helpful in healing mouth ulcers and freshens bad breath12
- It is helpful in anemia 12
- It is useful in smallpox 12
- It is useful in menstrual disorders12
- It is helpful in eye care12
- It is helpful in various skin disorders like eczema, dryness of skin, and fungal infections12
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How To Grow Cilantro Or Coriander At Home
You can grow cilantro easily at home in your garden. Even if you do not have a garden you can grow it in a pot. It is an easy-to-grow plant. Follow these simple steps.
Cilantro In A Pot
Choose an appropriate container that is wide and deep. Do not use a shallow pot because its roots are deep. Take a pot that is at least 18 inches wide and should be 8 to 12 inches deep.
Best Time To Plant
The time of the plantation depends on where you live. This plant would not survive in frosty conditions. However, it can be grown year-round. It does not like extreme heat either. In too hot weather the plant will start to bolt which means they flower and go to seed. So you have to harvest them quickly and provide shade and sun frequently. So it’s best to choose the time wisely.
In temperate climates, the best time to start planting cilantro is in late spring, between the months of March and May (Northern Hemisphere). In more tropical climates, cilantro will grow better during cooler, dry times of year, such as fall.
You can also plant coriander or cilantro late in the summer and allow it to grow into the fall.
If the weather is not favorable you can try starting your seeds indoors and then transfer them outside as the weather improves.
Plant The Seeds
Fill the pot with some fast-draining soil. Neutral soil is rich in organic matter and it is also crumbly in texture. These qualities help in growing the coriander plant. You can also mix in some organic fertilizer, aged manure, or compost. They provide a good steady supply of trace elements which in turn promotes growth.
Moisten the soil with a little water. Make it damp, not soggy. It is better to sow seeds directly in the pot. Because it has a long taproot, the plant usually does not transplant well.
Sprinkle the seeds over the soil and disperse them evenly. Cover these seeds with another 1⁄4 inch (0.6 cm) of soil.
Keep the soil moist until the seedlings germinate. Do not water too much as it can displace the seeds and anyway, the plant does not require excess water. Cilantro or coriander is a dry-climate herb.
Sometimes some seeds may have a husk over them. In that case, gently crush the seed husk before sowing. You need to do this to improve the germination rate.
Location Of The Pot
Cilantro or coriander plants grow best under sunlight. Place it in a sunny window-sill or conservatory. South-facing windows offer the lightest and best-growing conditions for cilantro. The seeds should germinate within 7 to 10 days.
In too much heat it will seed quickly so in summer or hot climates place the pot in a location where it gets shade in the afternoon.
Watering Requirements
Keep the soil moist using a spray bottle. Maintain a light mist of the soil. Pouring excessive water onto the soil might displace the seeds and can make soil soggy and squashy. Also, cilantro is a dry-climate herb so it does not require excessive watering.
While watering the coriander, never wet the foliage as coriander is susceptible to powdery mildew. Mildew is a form of fungus and can destroy the leaves.
Prevent Overcrowding And Maintain Optimum Spacing
Do not let plants become overcrowded. Thin the seedlings when the plant is 2 to 3 inches tall. Remove the smaller plants and allow the stronger plants to grow larger. You can grow plants closely but keep the distance around 4 to 10 inches between two plants as per your area.
The small plants which you have pulled out, you can use them in cooking.
Also, prevent the growth of weeds near or in between the plants.
Harvest The Cilantro
You can start to harvest young cilantro leaves after about 3-4 weeks of sowing seeds. Once the stems of the cilantro reach 3 to 6 inches in length, leaves can be picked from the plant. You can cut up to 2/3rd of the leaves each week. This will also encourage the plant to keep growing.
If you want to harvest the entire plant you have to wait around 45-70 days. Cut the entire plant at soil level or 2 inches above the crown.
Use fresh and new shoots in cooking because the older and ferny-type leaves can be bitter in taste. Don’t cut off more than one-third of the leaves at one time. This can weaken the plant.
Once you have harvested the leaves, the plant will continue to grow for at least two or three more cycles. This way, it is possible to harvest two to three crops of cilantro or coriander from a single pot.
Decide about the flowering of the cilantro plant:
After some time the coriander plants will start to flower. The plant will stop producing fresh and new shoots with edible leaves. At this point, you can do two things. If you want to harvest the coriander seeds from the plant you should leave it to flower. Once the flower dries, you will be able to harvest coriander seeds and they can be used in cooking.
You can collect seeds and dry them properly. Store them in an airtight container. You can also make a powder with these seeds after drying them. Store in an airtight container and use it while cooking.
Another option is to allow the seeds to naturally fall to the ground. This way the cilantro plant will self-sow. It will provide you with more cilantro plants in the following growing season. You can also save the dried seeds and plant them the next growing season.
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Cilantro Plant Care
Once the plant has grown, it requires some care and attention. To nurture the plant properly, follow these simple steps.
Use of fertilizer: You can use fertilizer once every two months with any half-strength nitrogen-rich fertilizer to promote foliage growth. You don’t need to fertilize your cilantro plants much if you are using compost or aged manure.
Deadheading: Inspect your cilantro plants every day to see if the flowers are appearing. You can deadhead them regularly to promote the production of leaves. However, you can leave them if you want your plants to seed.
Pests And Diseases: Aphids can make their home on your cilantro. Mildew is the most common disease that kills this herb. It is a type of fungus. Mildew more consistently occurs in humid warm weather. To prevent powdery mildew, keep a distance between the plants. Provide good air circulation and avoid overhead watering and wetting the leaves which promotes the growth of many other fungal infections.
Growing Cilantro In The Garden
First, select the time period of the year when you want to plant the cilantro or coriander. Prepare the area in your garden.
Select a patch of soil in your garden where the plant will get full exposure to the sun. It’s better to plant it in the south because, during the daytime, it will get some shade. The soil should be light and well-drained.
You can also cultivate the soil before planting. Use a shovel, rototiller, or spade to work 2 to 3 inches of an organic mulch such as compost, rotten leaves, or manure into the top layer of soil. If you are using manure, take the composted manure or manure which has been aged for at least 3 months, so it doesn’t burn the young plants. Smooth the area before planting.
Plant the cilantro seeds. Sow the seeds about 1⁄4 inch deep. Maintain the space between two plants at 6 to 8 inches. The space between two rows should be approximately one foot.
Cilantro seeds need plenty of moisture to germinate, so water them frequently. They need about an inch of water per week. They should germinate in about 2 to 3 weeks. As cilantro grows so quickly, you should plant a new batch of seeds every 2 to 3 weeks to ensure that you have a fresh supply of cilantro throughout the growing season. The rest of the steps are similar to growing cilantro in a pot.
So you can grow this aromatic herb in your home and you can enhance the flavor of your dishes with health benefits too.
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