by Namini Wijedasa

Coriander, or kottamalli, is identified botanically as Coriandrum sativum while its Sanskrit name is Dhanyaka. It alleviates all three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha.

According to the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, USA, coriander has useful pharmacological actions. The institute can be accessed on <www.ayurveda.com>. It is digestive, an appetiser, stomachic, antipruritic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic antipyretic. Both seeds and whole plant are used in medicine. The fresh seeds are pungent and aromatic. In some parts of Sri Lanka, the entire plant is cooked as food.

The essential oil in coriander stimulates digestive juices, relieves gas, and stops stomach and intestinal cramps. In laboratory experiments, it has shown an ability to kill bacteria and fungus.

Coriander is used not only as a remedy, but also as a spice in candies, bread, some alcoholic drinks, including gin.

The leaves contain vitamin C and both the leaves and seeds contains volatile oils that act mainly on the digestive system, stimulating the secretion of digestive juices and the appetite, and relieving irritation, making it an useful stomach tonic. Diabetics should include it in their diet as it falls into the category of botanical hypoglycaemics, or plants that lower blood sugar when eaten regularly.

Lakshmi Senaratne, chief scientist (Ayurveda) at the Bandaranaike Memorial Ayurveda Research Institute, says that is also noted for being a thirst-reliever and blood cleanser.

The institute elaborated that coriander is a stimulant, carminative and tonic. Coriander is also thought to have antiseptic and antitubercular action while it is used in excess thirst, fever, jaundice, allergies, nausea and cough.

It treats burning sensation in the body and is generally used as an infusion or decoction in sore throat, flatulence, indigestion, vomitting, intestinal disorders, common catarrh and bilious complaints. With cardamom and caraway, it is a good carminative.

As with most herbs, excessive use can have negative side effects. Senaratne said that if given in large doses, it reduces the urge for sex, cuts down sperm production and stop menstruation. The first are likely to be two reasons why Lord Buddha advised Buddhist monks to take coriander.

She also said that coriander strengthens the functions of the nervous system and is good for giddiness and semi-consciousness. "For semi-conscious patients, coriander is boiled with milk, strained and given." Meanwhile, it is also good for disurea, vomitting, indigestion, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, haemorrhoids and worms. Boil ginger and coriander and administer liquid for good motion in cases of haemorrhoids. Fresh seeds are used for bleeding diseases while dry and used for asthma and other ailments of the respiratory system.

Coriander’s popularity in treating fever is mostly because of its sweat-inducing properties. For common cold, the famous remedy is coriander and ginger. For thirst, put coriander in water, strain and give to drink. This remedy does not require boiling.

One to four drops of coriander oil, taken internally, reduces abdominal distention and pain, Senaratne said. The roasted seeds are eaten for loss of appetite and for bad breath.

A coriander and barley paste can be used to effectively clean old wounds.

For burning sensation, boil fresh coriander and drink. To reduce oedema, apply dry paste externally. The same is helpful in headache while the paste of fresh leaves may also be applied on forehead. For glands, apply paste of dry seeds. For infected wounds in the mouth, Senaratne continued, boil coriander seeds and gargle with liquid. For bleeding nose, put juice of fresh leaves into nose.

For joint pains, boil cumin seeds, kaluduru and coriander and give drink with meals. For gastritis, boil coriander, leave to stand overnight and give in the morning on an empty stomach.

For Diarrhoea and indigestion, boil coriander with iriveriya and drink with bee’s honey.

For vomitting during pregnancy (morning sickness), boil coriander powder, leave overnight and administer in the morning. Pregnant women are usually advised to powder coriander and store it ready for use.

Another Ayurveda Web site <http://www.mysticindia.com/ayurveda/remedies.htm> recommends this home remedy for sinus problems and related headaches : boil four tablespoons of seeds in water and inhale the steam. Cover your head with cloth or towel so that none of the steam escapes.

It also says that for cystitis, boil four tablespoons of seeds in four cups. Boil until the

quantity is reduced to two cups. Drink this solution every day for a week. This will ease the burning sensation when passing urine, and will it clear and alkaline.

Coriander was once used to treat leprosy, rashes and childbirth complications. In China,

eating the seeds was thought confer immortality. During the Middle Ages, coriander was recommended as a treatment for anthrax and the epidemic illness, St. Anthony’s Fire.

A coriander tea can be made by steeping two teaspoonfuls of crushed coriander in one cup of boiling water for 15 minutes. Strain before drinking.

In her book Herbal Food and Medicines in Sri Lanka, Dr. Seela Fernando says that a strong decoction of coriander plant is given with milk and sugar to cure bleeding piles and a decoction of coriander seeds is given for flatulence and colic. And oil is distilled from the seeds. It is rather volatile and is given in doses of one to four tablespoons for rheumatism and neuralgia.