Coriander

Effects and Benefits

Core Identification

Common Names:
- Coriander
- Coriander seed
- Cilantro seed
- Chinese parsley seed
- Dizzycorn (early American colonial)

Latin Name: Coriandrum sativum

Category: Herb

Note: This entry covers coriander seed. The fresh leaf is called cilantro and has different properties—see Cilantro entry for leaf-specific information.

Uses

Traditional Uses

• Digestive aid and carminative – Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Ayurvedic traditions for thousands of years
• Flavoring for food and wine – Greek and Roman use, continued by European monks
• Fever relief – Traditional tea with black pepper added
• Aphrodisiac and funerary offering – Ancient Egypt, considered "spice of happiness"
• Jewish ritual herb – One of the bitter herbs at Passover; mentioned in Exodus comparing manna to coriander

Modern Uses

• Digestive support (gas, bloating, colic) – Relieves flatulence, intestinal cramping, and colic in children; used as equivalent to "gripe water" | Research quality: Moderate
• Key findings: Carminative action helps expel gas; antispasmodic properties ease intestinal spasm

• Sources: Hoffman, Tierra, Davies

• Diarrhea – Mild astringent action helps with loose stools, especially in children | Research quality: Preliminary

• Sources: Hoffman

• Anti-inflammatory – Systemic anti-inflammatory effect helps reduce chronic inflammation | Research quality: Preliminary

• Key findings: May help conditions rooted in inflammatory processes

• Sources: Gladstar

• Appetite stimulation – Stimulates gastric secretions and digestive juices | Research quality: Preliminary

• Sources: Hoffman

• Nervous tension and anxiety – Calming effect helps quell anxiety and nervousness | Research quality: Preliminary

• Sources: Miele

Active Compounds

Primary Active Ingredients:
- Coriandrol – Primary component of essential oil; provides carminative and digestive effects
- Essential oil – Contains aromatic compounds responsible for digestive and antimicrobial activity
- Fixed oil – Breaks down in large intestine, giving coriander stronger influence on colon
- Tannins – Provide mild astringent action helpful for diarrhea
- Sugars – Contribute to nutritive properties

Dosage Information

Standard Dosage:
- Form: Crushed seeds as tea
- Amount: 1 teaspoon bruised seeds per cup boiling water
- Frequency: Before meals for appetite/digestion; after meals for gas

Therapeutic Dosage:
- Form: Infusion (tea)
- Amount: 2 teaspoons crushed seeds per cup boiled water
- Steep time: 5-20 minutes (longer steeping extracts more oils)
- Purpose: Fever relief (add small amount of black pepper)
- Duration: As needed

Maximum Safe Dosage:
- Seeds can have narcotic effect when consumed in large quantities ("dizzycorn")
- Use culinary amounts freely; medicinal doses as directed

Bioavailability Notes:
- Do not boil seeds—infuse in hot water for best extraction
- Allow lengthy steeping for full flavor and effect
- Seeds lose flavor quickly when ground; grind just before using

How to Take It

Timing:
- Before meals to stimulate appetite and digestive secretions
- After meals to prevent gas and bloating
- As needed for digestive discomfort

Preparation Tips:
- Bruise or lightly crush seeds before steeping
- Cover cup while steeping to retain volatile oils
- Seeds dry and fresh become fragrant; green seeds have disagreeable scent

Synergies - What It Works Well With

Complementary Supplements:
1. Cumin – Classic pairing; both excellent carminatives | Combined effect for lentils, eggplant dishes, digestive support
2. Fennel – Both address gas and bloating | Coriander-cumin-fennel blend excellent for grain dishes
3. Black pepper – Enhances coriander's action for fever relief | Traditional combination in fever teas
4. Laxative herbs – Coriander added to laxative formulas | Prevents griping and cramping

Avoidance - What NOT to Combine With

Supplement Interactions:
- No significant supplement interactions known

Drug Interactions:
- No significant drug interactions documented

Food Interactions:
- No known food interactions; widely used as culinary spice

Safety Information

Contraindications:
- Generally considered very safe
- Exercise normal caution during pregnancy (as with all medicinal herbs)

Side Effects:
- Narcotic effect possible in very large quantities
- Seeds called "dizzycorn" by early American colonists due to this effect

Long-Term Use:
- Safe for extended use as culinary spice
- Medicinal use at therapeutic doses considered safe

Special Precautions:
- Use normal culinary amounts freely
- Avoid excessive medicinal doses

Primary Uses At-a-Glance

Primary: Gas relief, bloating, digestive cramping, colic, appetite stimulation

Secondary: Diarrhea (especially in children), fever relief, anti-inflammatory support, nervous tension

Sources

Local Library:
- Tierra, Michael - The Way of Herbs
- Wood, Matthew - The Earthwise Herbal Vol. 1
- Hoffman, David - Holistic Herbal
- Gladstar, Rosemary - Herbal Kitchen
- Davies, Jill - The Complete Home Guide to Herbs
- Breverton, Terry - Breverton's Complete Herbal
- DeBaggio, Thomas - The Encyclopedia of Herbs
- Miele, Nicolette - Runes for the Green Witch

General Knowledge:
- Traditional herbal medicine training data
- Culpeper's historical references