Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) – Uses & Health Benefits

Dhaniya, Coriander, Dhanyaka, Coriandrum Sativum

(Ref: Bhavaprakasa Nighantu)

Introduction

Coriander is considered as an oldest spice and medicinal herb in ancient medicine system. Flowers of coriander contains volatile oil that contains coriandrol (C10H18O) and some other chemical compounds. Static oil present in this herb contains fat, latex, tannin, mollic acid and some ash. It is disinfectant, anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory in nature. All these special properties present in this plant make it capable for fighting against various serious problems that disturb our immune system and molecular level of body cells.

Plant Description

Coriander is annual plant that belongs to parsley family and this aromatic plant that grows up to 30-60cms in height. It has slender stem with two types of lobed leaves. Tap roots of the plant are brown in colour. Alternate leaves of the plant combined to form a rosette. Both leaves and stem are dark green in colour. Umbrella shaped flowers are white to light pink in colour. Flowers contains total five petals. Both seeds and leaves have very strong and pleasant aroma.

Habitat

Ideally coriander plant is native to Mediterranean countries and widely cultivated in tropical areas. Now for its medicinal and traditional values it is cultivated all over world. In India it is found in Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Names

Latin Name – Coriandrum Sativum
English Name – Coriander, Cilantro, Parsley
Hindi Name – Dhaniya, Dhanya
Marathi Name – Kothimbir
Punjabi Name – Dhania
Bengali Name – Dhania
Kashmiri Name – Dhanawal
Tamil Name – Kottamali
Gujarati Name – Dhana
Telugu Name – Dhainalu
German Name – Koriander
Urdu Name – Kishneez
Arabic Name – Kuzbura
Italian Name – Coriandalo

According to Bhavprakash Nighantu

Bhavprakash nighantu edition of 1998: verse 86-88, page no-33-35.

Dhanayak, dhanak, dhanya, dhana, dhanek, kunti, dhenuka, chatra, kustumburu and vitunaak are various synonyms of this beneficial herb. It is light (laghu) herb, oily (singadh in nature) and contains astringent (katu) and pungent (kashay) rasa. It is sweet in taste after digestion and possesses hot potency. It helps to increase the volume of urine (mutrajanan), increases potency (aburshya), stimulate digestive fire (agnideepak), promotes digestion (pachak), treat fever (jawarnashak), increase appetite (rochak), grahi and helps to pacify all three doshas. It is beneficial herb to treat thirst (trishna), burning sensation (daah), and vomiting (vaman), cough (kaas), asthma (shwas), thinness (krushta) and to treat worm infestation (krimi nashak). Fresh coriander contains all the properties of dhaniya but ideally it helps to pacify aggravated pitta dosha.

References

The Bhavprakash nighantu with elaborated Hindi commentary by Padmashri prof. K.C. Chunekar, edited by Dr. G.S. Pandey: edition of 1998; verse 86-88, page no- 33-35.

Health Benefits of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

According to Bhavprakash nighantu various health benefits of medicinal herb coriander may include:-

Mutral – Herbs that are used to increase both frequency and volume of urine are considered as mutral herbs. Coriander is a beneficial herb for increasing both volume and frequency of urine. It is also good for treating other urinary tract related disorders.
Deepan – Coriander is also used to stimulate pachak agni (digestive fire). Pachak agni in amashya (stomach) is responsible for good digestion and metabolism in body.
Pachan – Coriander helps in proper digestion and also helps to maintain proper metabolism in body. It also helps to aid with other problems associated with digestive system.
Vatanulomak – As we all know proper balance between all three body energies (doshas)- vata, pitta and kapha are responsible for good health and imbalance between these three are major cause of diseases. Coriander is very effective herb that helps to maintain proper balance of vata dosha in body. It helps to pacify extra aggravated vata dosha.
Daahshamak – Coriander is also beneficial herb that is used to treat burning sensation in body. It is also beneficial for treating daah caused by chronic fever.
Pipsaghan – Herbs that helps to relieve excessive thirst are considered as pipsaghan and coriander is also beneficial for treating thirst.
Amajiran – It helps to pacify apaan vayu that is major cause of indigestion and used to reduce acid (ama) caused by poor digestion. It is good for treating acid reflux and other digestion related problems.
Adhmaan – It helps to reduce abdominal distention, bloating and flatus.
Shool – Coriander is also good for reducing severe stomach ache and its pure extract is used in small children to reduce severe colic pain.
Vaman – Consumption of coriander seeds are also good for treating nausea and severe vomiting’s.
Atisaar – Coriander seeds are also used to regulate excessive episodes of diarrhoea and it is also good for treating severe pain associated with diarrhoea.
Netra roga – It is also very effective herb for treating eye related disorders. It good anti-microbial and disinfectant in nature. It is very beneficial herb for treating chronic Conjunctivitis.
Sangrahi – herbs that are absorbent in nature are called as sangrahi. Coriander is very effective herb that helps to treat mal-absorption syndrome.

Uses of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

Cold decoction prepared by this herb mixed with honey and sugar are used to stop burning sensation (daah) and thirst (trishna) caused by fever in body.
Drops prepared by this miraculous herb is used for treating conjunctivitis (netra abhishyand) and for over all eye care. Firstly use castor oil and then cold extract is used to sooth eyes. It is also very beneficial for treating other eye related disorders.
Oil prepared by this herb is very effective for reducing joint pain and swelling. In small children 2-4 oil drops are very beneficial for treating colic pain.
Paste prepared by coriander leaves are used to treat headache and also used to reduce the burning sensation caused by Semicarpus anacardium (bilava) herb.
Poultice of coriander and barley seeds is wrapped over old injuries and boils to reduce pain, swelling and chronic infections.
Cold infusion mixed with sugar (mishri) is very beneficial for treating blood piles and haemorrhoids.
It is also very effective herb for treating leucorrhoea (shweta pradar).
In chronic rhinitis fruit powder with sugar is very effective.

Medicinal Uses of Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

Coriander is an herb that is very good source of dietary supplement and contains various minerals in abundance that are very beneficial for overall health of body. It includes iron, manganese and magnesium. It is also rich in vitamin A, B, k and C.
Coriandrol is the major phytochemical present in this plant that is very effective anti-inflammatory. It helps to reduce inflammation in various body parts and body joints. It also helps to reduce severe ache that is caused by inflammation.
It is a good appetizer that helps to cure loss of appetite and also good for stimulating digestive fire and regulate the process of digestion.
Due to its anti-microbial properties, it is beneficial for treating conjunctivitis and as disinfectant it is good to promote overall eye care.
It is also known for lowering the high glucose level in body and is very beneficial for treating cholesterol related problems by reducing high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in body.
Due to presence of vitamin K in this herb it is very effective for storing calcium level in body. Also good for treating osteoporosis and other bone related problems.