Coriandrum sativum

Common name: Coriander, Cilantro, Dhaniya, Dhanyaka

Family: Apiaceae

Botanical description: An annual plant up to 50 cm tall. The leaves are finely cut, the flowers are pink or white and held in erect umbels; the seeds are round.

Parts used: Seeds. The leaf is also used for culinary purposes and to remove heavy metals from the body, in this instance combine with an agent to absorb the heavy metals from the GIT such as chlorella, stewed apple, slippery elm or clay powder.

Harvesting, cultivation and habitat: Native to south Europe and west Asia. It is cultivated throughout the world. The leaves are gathered throughout the growing season and the seeds are harvested in late summer

History/ folklore/taste/energetics: It has been used for over 2 000 years in Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is one of the herbs mentioned on the Ebers papyrus. It was also used in ancient Greece and reached China in the Han Dynasty (202 BC- 9 AD). Widely used in cooking. Pungent, bitter, sweet. Leaves are cooling, seeds are warming

Constituents:Essential oil including coriandrol, anethole, camphor, limonene, geraniol, borneol, Flavonoids – rutin, quercetin, apigenin, Coumarins – psoralen, angelicin, umbelliferone, Phenolic acids, Phthalides

Actions: Carminative, Diuretic, Anti-allergic, Alterative, Diaphoretic, Antispasmodic, Expectorant, Vermifuge, Febrifuge

Traditional and current uses

·  Used to treat inflammation in the digestive tract, for IBS and colic

·  Clears wind, reduces griping and bloating

·  The powdered seed is used to treat worms

·  A cold infusion of the seeds is used to remove heat from the urinary system and is valuable for treating cystitis, dysuria and cloudy urine

·  Used to treat diabetes

·  Hot flushes

·  The leaf juice can be applied externally to treat allergic rashes. It can also be used internally for rhinitis

·  The leaves are considered to help eliminate heavy metals from the body

·  Clears mucus from the lungs

·  For fevers

·  The essential oil is used externally for rheumatism and is considered to be a nervine tonic

Fresh pineapple salsa

1 fresh pineapple

1-2 fresh chillis depending on taste

large bunch fresh coriander leaves

pinch sea salt

bunch of scallions/spring onions

Peel and core the pineapple. Chop all the ingredients to a coarse texture. Serve as a salsa with cold meats or salads.