Cilantro and Coriander

Cilantro and coriander are two herbs that come from the same plant in the carrot or parsley family, Coriandrum sativum. Cilantro is the herb from the young green leaves and stems, while the seeds are known as coriander. Coriander is a major spice used in Indian curries, which I love to make when I have the time. I also regularly use cilantro when making fresh Mexican salsa, and my wife sometimes adds it to soups. However, both of these plant parts also have medicinal value, which is what we’ll take a look at in this article. 

Cilantro and Heavy Metals

Cilantro has not been used traditionally as a medicine. It became popular as an agent to aid with heavy metal detoxification based on an article entitled "Detox Naturally With Cilantro and Clay," by Dr. Yoshiaki Omura of the Heart Research Foundation in New York. Omura and his colleagues were having very little long-term success using antibiotics and antiviral compounds for recurring infections in their patients -- symptoms would vanish, only to reappear a few months later.

Dr. Omura found that deposits of aluminum, mercury, and/or lead in tissues allowed bacteria and viruses to multiply in those tissues. One of his patients was found to have higher levels of mercury in his urine after consuming a Vietnamese soup containing cilantro. During additional testing, Dr. Omura found that ingesting cilantro also stimulated the excretion of lead and aluminum from the body. When he instructed his patients to regularly consume fresh cilantro or cilantro juice—in addition to taking antibiotics or natural antivirals—the infections were permanently cleared up. 

Subsequent testing of cilantro as a tool for flushing out heavy metals has had mixed results, but I think it’s probably helpful when the fresh herb is consumed in food-like quantities. This is the way it was used in the original research. It is probably less effective in dried form, but may be useful as part of a nutraceutical formula containing other heavy-metal-detoxifying substances such as N-acetylcysteine, alpha-lipoic acid, and L-methionine.

Cilantro contains numerous antioxidants, such as quercetin and beta-carotene. It is a mild digestive aid and probably helps to promote appetite and digestive secretions. 

Coriander

Coriander has been used for thousands of years as a spice and medicine.  It is mentioned in Sanskrit writing dating back to 1500 BC. Seeds have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs and in caves in Israel. It is thought that the Romans brought it to Britain as a meat preserver and the British colonists brought it to North America in 1670. It was one of the first Old World spices cultivated in the New World.

Like many other seeds in the parsley family (anise, caraway, cumin, dill, and fennel) coriander acts as a carminative and digestive stimulant. It can be helpful for stimulating appetite and easing gas and bloating and has been used as an ingredient in some digestive bitters formulas.

An essential oil can also be extracted from coriander, but is not widely available. It is also a carminative and appetite stimulant and can be used for indigestion, nausea, gas, bloating, and poor appetite. It can also be applied topically to ease joint and muscle pain.

Using Cilantro and Coriander

I tried looking for the original articles about Dr. Omura’s research online, but I could not find them. I found several people referencing them, but the links to the original articles didn’t work. I think more research is needed on the benefits of both cilantro and coriander as medicines, but in the meantime, they are easy to use as part of the diet.

Fresh cilantro is readily available in most grocery stores and can be incorporated into salsa, soups, and even salads. It’s also easy to grow. Harvest the young leaves and stems. Later, after the plant flowers, you can collect the seeds. The plant readily reseeds itself, too. 

I grind the whole seeds along with other spices like cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, and red pepper when I make various curries. Coriander is also used as a seasoning in sausages. To settle the stomach, crush some fresh seeds and use a scant teaspoon per cup of water to make a tea, which you can sip while it's still warm.