Coriander

Cilantro and coriander may look and taste different, but they actually come from the same plant. Cilantro, as you probably know, is the leaves, while Coriander comes from the seeds. Because of this, you’ll hear Coriandrum sativum referred to by both names.

Cilantro may have originated in southern Europe and the Mediterranean, but it’s been grown worldwide for ages. Today, cilantro is produced by nearly every country in the world. Mexico is the top commercial growing country and California the top growing state. It only takes one look at the plant to tell that it’s in the same family as carrots and parsley.

The long, thin stems grow in clumps from one taproot and often sprawl out over time. A fast grower, cilantro reaches up to 2 feet tall and wide. The seeds are contained in small, yellow-brown pods, which are technically the fruit of this plant.

The world has come to appreciate the coriander plant. It’s a staple in many cultural cuisines – especially Mexican and Thai food.

In manufacturing, coriander is used as a flavoring agent in medicines and tobacco and as a fragrance in cosmetics and soaps.

Both the leaves and fruit (seeds) of coriander are used as food and medicine.

Medicinal uses

• Coriander is used for a long-term disorder of the large intestines that causes stomach pain (irritable bowel syndrome or IBS).
• It is also used for constipation, diarrhea, gas (flatulence), nausea.
• Coriander helps to improve athlete's foot (Tinea pedis).
• Coriander may lower blood sugar and help kill some parasites.

Precautions

• When taken by mouth: Coriander is LIKELY SAFE when taken in food amounts. It is POSSIBLY SAFE for most people when taken in larger amounts as medicine. Coriander can cause allergic reactions. Symptoms of such reactions can include asthma, nasal swelling, hives, or swelling inside the mouth. These reactions appear to be most common in people who work with spices in the food industry.
• When applied to the skin: Coriander is POSSIBLY SAFE when used appropriately. It can cause skin irritation and itching. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if coriander is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
• Allergies. People who are allergic to mugwort, aniseed, caraway, fennel, dill, or similar plants might have allergic reactions to coriander.
• Diabetes. Coriander might lower blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes and take coriander, monitor your blood sugar levels closely.
• Low blood pressure: Coriander might decrease blood pressure. This could cause blood pressure to go to low in people with low blood pressure. Use cautiously if you have low blood pressure or take medications to lower your blood pressure.
• Surgery: Coriander might lower blood sugar. There is some concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during surgery. Stop using coriander at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

• Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with CORIANDER. Coriander might lower blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking coriander in medicinal amounts along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.
  Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

• Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with CORIANDER. Coriander might decrease blood pressure. Taking coriander in medicinal amounts along with medications for high blood pressure might cause your blood pressure to go too low.
  Some medications for high blood pressure include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), losartan (Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), diltiazem (Cardizem), Amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDiuril), furosemide (Lasix), and many others.

• Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with CORIANDER. Coriander might cause sleep iness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleep iness are called sedatives. Using coriander in medicinal amounts along with sedative medications might cause too much sleep iness.
  Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and many others.

• Medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight (Photosensitizing drugs) interacts with CORIANDER.