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Cilantro is the plant and the seeds are called Coriander. They pack the same medicinal benefits: both ease indigestion and prevent wound infection.
Coriander is a digestive aid. In Egypt, the seeds have been found in pharaohs' tombs, presumably to prevent indigestion in the afterlife. While no one has been able to attest to its post-mortem healing properties, recent studies have supported its use as a stomach soother for both adults and colicky babies.
What's more, it has wound healing benefits, which were first discovered by the ancient Romans, who used both the leaves and seeds to preserve meats. The herb contains an antioxidant that helps prevent animal fats from turning rancid. It also contains substances that kill meat-spoiling bacteria and fungi. These same substances in Cilantro also prevent infection in wounds.
Healing with Cilantro and Coriander:
To make a medicinal tea, use 1 teaspoon of dried leaves or crushed seeds (or ½ teaspoon of powdered seeds) per cup of boiling water. Steep for 5 minutes. Drink up to three cups a day before or after meals. Both forms of the herb can:
- Improve digestion: The herb has been shown to improve tummy troubles of all kinds, from indigestion to flatulence to diarrhea. "Both Cilantro and Coriander have been shown to settle the stomach, " says James A. Duke, Ph.D., a botanist retire from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Drink a cup of the tea when stomach discomfort strikes.
- Relieve colic: Weak Coriander tea may be give children under age 2 for colic. It's safe for infants and may relieve their pain-and help you get some much-needed sleep.
- Prevent infection: Cilantro and Coriander contain substances that kill certain bacteria and fungi, thereby preventing infections from developing in wounds. Sprinkle some dried Coriander seeds or leaves on minor cuts and scrapes after thoroughly washing the injured area with soap and water.
- Soothe arthritis pain: Intriguing new studies suggest that Cilantro and Coriander have anti-inflammatory effects. Since the pain of arthritis is cause by inflammation, a cup of this tea may help you.
Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, Ph.D recommends cilantro as one of the best means to remove mercury from the brain. His clinical research has found that 5 grams (teaspoonful) a day is the minimum dose.
Fresh cilantro can be prepared by finely chopping eight or more heaping teaspoons, steeping in approximately one quart (or one liter) just boiled chicken broth or water, covered for twenty minutes. Be sure to avoid using metalic cookware, since cilantro is a powerful metal chelator. Use only Pyrex or Corningware!
The tea or broth may then be sipped throughout the day. This will have to be continued for at least
two to three months to be sufficiently effective in most cases of elevated mercury levels.
Cilantro contains an antibacterial compound, dodecenal, that has shown to be a safe, natural means of fighting salmonella, a frequent and sometimes deadly cause of foodborne illness.
Cilantro oil (derived from cilantro) has been found to assist the digestive system in the production of digestive enzymes.
Cilantro contains good quantities of an alcohol known as borneol that is capable of destroying viruses and germs that cause colds.
Cilantro is a natural anti-inflammatory and helps to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis.
Regular intake of cilantro helps to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases good cholesterol (HDL).
The benefits of cilantro may include an ability to help control blood sugar and fight inflammation. The antioxidants found in cilantro help reduce free radical damage from exposure to sunlight. Research shows that daily use of cilantro helps in preventing skin cancer.
