A hard, herbaceous plant in parsley family. It has a height of 2.5 feet. It has a slender stem, erect, branching thickly and has a bright green color. Its flowers has different colors of pink, white and pale blue in a compound umbels. The upper leaves are divided and wispy, the lower leaves are broad. Seeds is the planting material used. It prefers to be planted in a dry weather condition with small maintenance during its growing period.
This plant is native in Middle East used in household cooking and herbal medicine. Has spherical seed. Slightly pointed in one end and flattened in the other end. Has many longitudinal ridges. The maximum length of the seed found to be more or less 2-4 millimeters. When dried, it has brown color. But there are also color of green or off-white. Seeds can only be sold in the market if already dried in the sun. Inside the seed, it has an internal powdery matter under its hollow hemisphere. Seeds can be done grounded or whole in form. Cilantro is the name of the fresh leaves. This was being used as herbal remedy to treat diseases. It has an aromatic and sweet seed when ripe but if it is unripe it has an offensive smell. The leaves has distinctive and unique fragrance.
If grounded, it become a curry powder used in the kitchen for soups and stew menu. The fresh leaves can be eaten directly.
Properties: Ripe fruits has essential oils containing linalool, terpenes (pinenes, y-terpinene, myrcene, camphene, phellandrenes, a-terpinene, limonene, cymene. Pyrazines, the main flavor compound of the toasted seeds. The fresh herbs has essential oil made of aliphatic aldehydes.
Coriander has capacity to remedy flatulence, considered as aromatic stimulant of the stomach and intestines. Good for nervous system. It has the ability to mask foul smell in a purgative medicine or it can be used as purgative itself. Use in headache, swelling due infection and piles. Good in the treatment of colic in the stomach, even conjunctivitis. Proven to treat rheumatism and neuralgia. Mouth ulcer can be treated by using a paste. Poultice can be applied to other form of ulcers. It has the ability to soothe abdominal upset in adults and children especially babies.
It contains anti-oxidant properties by preventing animal fats to become rancid. Has substance to treat wounds and other skin infection (minor cuts, scrapes) due to its anti-bacterial capacity. Improves the condition of the stomach from the occurrence of indigestion, diarrhea and flatulence.
Other Uses: As flavoring in sausage. Used as stimulant for good appetite. As ingredient in the manufacture of confectionery. Its seeds is used in pickles, curry blend, in soups and in making a mulled wine. Grounded seeds as ingredient for bake goods. Best material in the production of perfumes. It has the capacity for preservation of meat.
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