Medicinal Uses: Cilantro is also referred to as coriander or Chinese Parsley; it is a member of the carrot family and grows wild in Southeastern Europe and has been grown in Egypt, India and China for thousands of years. It is mentioned in Sanskrit texts and the Bible (Exodus 16:31 which compares the manna to the coriander seed, white).
Besides being an appetite stimulant, cilantro is though to aid the digestive system by promoting secretion of gastric juices. In a poultice form, the seed is applied externally to relieve painful joints and rheumatism. The seeds are believed to lower cholesterol and oils of the leaves possess antibacterial powers.
Recently, the medical field has reported research to demonstrate that cilantro can be used to rid (detox) the human body of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, aluminum and cadmium. These metals are known to cause neurological malfunctions. Cilantro has been found to chelate (or bind) with the heavy metals.
Folklore: Coriander Seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs and in jars unearthed from the Nahal Hemel Cave in Israel. Aphrodisiac and immortality properties were ascribed to coriander by the Greeks, whereas Chinese folklore claimed the same for cilantro. One of the tales of found in the Book of Arabian Nights relates that a potion that included coriander helped a merchant bear offspring after he had been childless for 40 years.
Please consult your physician before taking this herb in any form.
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