Coriander leaves are used regularly to flavour prepared food – dishes. Many believe that these leaves are good for flavouring only. But coriander leaves have a lot of medicinal uses.
The name coriander, used by Pliny, is derived from the Greek word used for a bug, refering to the bug like odour given off by the fresh plant, when injured.
Coriander is a slender, smooth and solid stemmed annual, about 20 inches high. The stem is light green in colour. Leaves are compound, the lower leaves divided into narrow, linear segments. The small flowers are white or pink. The fruits are spherical and are green when tender and brownish yellow when ripe. They have a sweet fragrance. The fruit loses this odour when dried.
The plant flowers and yield fruits in 3 months. Best quality coriander seeds (dried fruits) are produced in India and exportect.
Coriander is probably native of Eastern Mediterranean region. It is now extensively cultivated all over India and in Europe, Africa, South America, Thailand, China and Malaysia.
The botanical name of coriander is “Coriandrum Sativum”. The Indian name is Dhania. The nutrients in 100 gm of leaves and seeds are:-
Nutrients Leaves Seeds
1. Moisture 86.3% 11.2%
2. Protein 3.3% 14.1%
3. Fat 0.6% 16.1%
4. Minerals 2.3% 4.4%
5. Fibre 1.2% 32.6%
6. Carbohydrates 6.3% 21.6%
Besides the above the leaves contain calcium, gron phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin ‘C’. The seeds have similar minerals and vitamins.
The Indian coriander seeds contain an essential oil and a fatty oil. The essential oil may cause irritation when applied on skin for a long time.
Medicinal uses
? The leaves are used as a remedy for flatulence. These stop hiccups caused by stomach disorders. Coriander chutney (recipe given below) taken with rice increases appetite, improves digestion. Coriander juice (1 or 2 teaspoons) added to fresh butter milk, and taken, relieves indigestion. For better results in stopping hiccups, add saunf (Anise) to the decoction made with coriander.
? Coriander is dicuretic and stimulates kidney. Regular use of coriander seed decoction – prepared by boiling dryseeds and straining the decoction after cooling – is beneficial in curring urinary problems
? Improves vitality.
? Coriander leaf juice mixed with sugared milk and taken, prevents, vertigo, vomitting etc
? For severe bleeding piles – Make adecoction of Dhania coriander seeds, add to cow’s milk and palm – sugar and consume.
? For smokers – Just chew a few leaves of coriander, daily for 2 – 3 months. This will get rid of the darkening of the cheeks, areas under the eyes and lips.
? Consumption of coriander chutney is a sure way to avoid anaemia.
? In the morning, after brushing your teeth chew a few leaves of coriander, then rinse with hot water. This will keep pyorrhoea (old name for periodontal disease) away.
? Fry coriander leaves with castor oil. Apply this poultice on boils and swellings. The boils “break” easily.
? Water, boiled with coriander is a good thirst quencher.
? For curing foul breath, chew a few seeds.
? For persons with poor memory, use the decoction made by boiling coriander seeds with 4 parts milk and 8 parts water. Boil till the quantity is reduced to half. This decoction can be used for clearing vertigo and fainting.
Other uses
? The volatile coriander oil is used in flavouring and medicine.
? Widely used in chutneys, sauces, condiments, curry / masala powder and for flavouring drinks like Gin.
Coriander chutney
Wash and clean, a handful of coriander leaves. Keep aside. Fry in ghee – 2 tsp Urad dal (Black gram), a piece of ginger, a little tamarind, a pinch of asafoetida and 10 Nos pepper. Add a little coconut (grated) and the cleaned coriander leaves and cook, till done. This chutney is very tasty when mixed with hot rice and ghee and eaten.
Dhania – Ginger coffee
Fry lightly, 200 gms coriander seeds, 100 gms dried ginger (skinned), 10 gms cardomon. Powder this and store in an air tight Jar. Use one t.s.p. of this powder as coffee decoction, add with milk or honey and consume.
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