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Recipes with Cilantro: Crunchy Chips in Sweet & Savory Sauce
Calms the Immune System & Rashes
Cilantro is a traditional remedy for rashes like summer poison-ivy, allergy related hives, or even just a sunburn. It is hypoallergenic due to natural anti-histamine, meaning it directly calms the immune system. To make a topical remedy for sunburn or rash, take a bunch of cilantro and put it in a blender. Strain the juice from the pulp. Apply pulp to your rash and drink the juice.
Cooling Digestive
Similar to lime, cilantro often appears as a garnish on a spicy dish. It's cooling nature takes the edge off a hot curry or green chili sauce. You will appreciate its fresh taste cutting through any heavy, spicy dish. Cilantro aids digestion, acts as a carminative preventing gas, and burns ama (residue and waste products). There is some dispute whether cilantro is useful for chelation, the removal of heavy metals from the blood stream.
Drying & Detoxifying
It also softens stool, and is a diuretic that clears inflammation from the urinary tract. Despite its drying effect, cilantro in small quantities does not aggravate Vata or cause constipation.
Cilantro Phobia
To some people, cilantro tastes 'soapy' or 'buggy'. Harold McGee, in this NY Times article, "Cilantro Haters, It's Not Your Fault," writes that the Greek origin of the word "coriander" means bedbug. To the ancient Greeks, cilantro smelled like "bug infested clothes." Flavor chemists have identified the source of the revulsion to the presence of aldehydes similar to those found in soaps and certain insects. Crushing the leaves releases enzymes that break down aldehydes and destroy the 'soapy' or 'buggy' odor of cilantro. We recommend it crushed in a mortar and pestle, chopped or served as a pesto.
Fresh cilantro is the herb of choice for aggravated Pitta. Cilantro calms pitta directly in the liver & improves eyesight.
About Cilantro
Cilantro is the leaf of the coriander seed. Both the leaves and the seeds have citrus overtones. Cilantro, as a cooling herb, pairs well with hot spicy dishes.
Recipes with Cilantro: Grits with Okra & Green Chili
Buying & Preparation
Cilantro's native range extends from Southern Eruope and North Africa to southwestern Asia. Cilantro rots quickly if stored in a plastic bag, and dries out quickly if stored in a paper bag. The solution is a plastic bag kept slightly open lined with a paper towel. Make sure you peel away the dying leaves - they turn to slime and will rot the whole bunch!
Cooking Cilantro
The leaves spoil quickly when picked and lose their aroma when dried. Heat diminishes the flavor of cilantro quickly. Thus cilantro is commonly used as a raw garnish in Latin American and Asian cuisine. It is commonly used on top of curries and dals, in salsas or guacamole.
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AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT
Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances.
With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you.
Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature.
By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health.
See How it Works.
Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics
(gunas).
Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick.
Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia.
They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature.
Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.
Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.
Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Cilantro
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.
Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.
An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.
An herb that increases appetite or settles a nauseas or nervous stomach. These generally increase the digestive fire, therefore relieving symptoms of sluggish or difficult digestion.
STRONG ALTERATIVE
Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.
A herb that contracts tissue or blood vessels. Generally styptics are astringent. They are often used topically as a hemostatic to stop bleeding, or to reduce secretions.
Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.
Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.
Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.
In each study below, students from the
Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the effects.
See other studies of food & herbs at Joyful Belly.
TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION
How did Cilantro affect your temperature?
15
12
9
6
3
0
3
13
9
6
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your sweat quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
26
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the color of your tongue body?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
10
0
21
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the swelling of your tongue body?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
7
22
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 30 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
2
16
12
1
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your digestion speed?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
13
18
0
0
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
TOXINS
How did Cilantro affect the amount of gas & bloating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
16
12
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your stool smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
4
23
4
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
Tongue: How did Cilantro affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
14
15
1
0
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the color of your tongue coating?
30
24
18
12
6
0
1
0
3
0
27
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your urine smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
1
24
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
5
23
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your sweat smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
23
5
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
HYDRATION
How did Cilantro affect your urine frequency/quantity?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
1
13
14
3
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the cracks on your tongue?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
5
21
5
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
NERVOUS-SYSTEM
How did Cilantro affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
1
12
17
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your muscle tension?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
11
16
1
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your anxiety?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
11
16
1
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the stillness of your tongue?
27
22
17
12
7
2
5
23
3
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
DIGESTION
How did Cilantro affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
2
16
12
1
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your digestion speed?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
13
18
0
0
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the amount of gas & bloating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
16
12
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
TONGUE
Tongue: How did Cilantro affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
14
15
1
0
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the swelling of your tongue body?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
7
22
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 30 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the color of your tongue body?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
10
0
21
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the stillness of your tongue?
27
22
17
12
7
2
5
23
3
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the color of your tongue coating?
30
24
18
12
6
0
1
0
3
0
27
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the cracks on your tongue?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
5
21
5
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
STOOL
How did Cilantro affect your stool frequency/quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
2
24
5
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your stool color?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
0
7
1
22
More yellow
More gray
More green
More orange
Same
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your stool lightness?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
7
20
4
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly darker
Much darker
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your stool smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
4
23
4
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your stool consistency?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
5
21
3
1
Much softer
Slightly softer
Same
Slightly harder
Much harder
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
URINE
How did Cilantro affect your urine frequency/quantity?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
1
13
14
3
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
5
23
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your urine clarity?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
21
9
More cloudy
Same
More clear
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your urine smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
1
24
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your urine lightness?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
6
21
2
1
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly Darker
Much Darker
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
SWEAT
How did Cilantro affect your sweat smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
23
5
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your sweat quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
3
26
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
SYSTEMIC
How did Cilantro affect your temperature?
15
12
9
6
3
0
3
13
9
6
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
1
12
17
0
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your muscle tension?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
11
16
1
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
How did Cilantro affect your anxiety?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
11
16
1
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 31 Study ID:12 (2021-01-17 - 2021-03-14)
The appropriate dosage of cilantro depends on the form in which you are using it (fresh, dried, supplement, or oil). Generally, cilantro is consumed in culinary amounts, but for medicinal purposes, the dosage may vary.
Fresh Cilantro (Leaf)
Typical Dosage: 1 to 2 tablespoons of fresh cilantro per meal.
Purpose: Fresh cilantro is typically used as a garnish or flavoring in food. It's rich in antioxidants, vitamins (like vitamin K), and minerals (like potassium).
Note: There are no specific concerns with using cilantro in common culinary amounts. It is generally safe and well-tolerated in this form.
Dried Cilantro (Ground or Whole)
Typical Dosage: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of dried cilantro per day.
Purpose: Dried cilantro is used in cooking for seasoning and flavoring. It can be added to stews, soups, and spice blends.
Note: Dried cilantro is more concentrated than fresh, so use it in smaller amounts.
Cilantro Seed (Coriander Seeds)
Typical Dosage: 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds per day.
Purpose: The seeds of the cilantro plant, known as coriander, are often used as a spice and are known for their digestive and anti-inflammatory properties. The seeds can be used in teas, spice blends, or ground into a powder.
Note: Coriander seeds are more potent than fresh cilantro and should be used in smaller amounts. You can consume them in a tea or add them to cooking.
Cilantro Supplements (Capsules or Tablets)
Typical Dosage: 300 mg to 500 mg per day (as recommended on the supplement packaging).
Purpose: Cilantro supplements are often used for their detoxifying properties, helping to eliminate heavy metals from the body, or for digestive health.
Note: Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for supplements, and consult a healthcare provider if you are considering higher doses.
TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Cilantro may be beneficial for these symptoms.
The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
We will use this information to better predict food that helps you.
CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Cilantro may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
Allergy: People who are allergic to other plants in the Apiaceae family (such as carrots, parsley, fennel, and dill) may also have a sensitivity to cilantro due to cross-reactivity.
Hypotensive: Cilantro may have a mild hypotensive (blood pressure-lowering) effect. If you are already on blood pressure medication, consuming cilantro in large amounts could potentially enhance the effects of the medication, leading to low blood pressure. It's essential to monitor blood pressure levels if you're taking medication for hypertension.
Hypoglycemic: Cilantro may help reduce blood sugar levels, so individuals with diabetes or those on blood sugar-lowering medications should monitor their levels closely if consuming cilantro in larger quantities. It's important to avoid overconsumption or to consult with a healthcare provider before making cilantro a staple in your diet if you have diabetes.
Kidney Conditions: Cilantro contains oxalates, which can bind to calcium and contribute to the formation of kidney stones in susceptible individuals. People with a history of kidney stones, particularly those prone to calcium oxalate stones, may need to limit their intake of high-oxalate foods, including cilantro.
Skin Sensitivity (Topical Use): Cilantro may cause phototoxicity in certain individuals when applied to the skin, especially when exposed to sunlight after application. If you're using cilantro oil or extracts topically, it's best to avoid sun exposure after application to prevent possible skin irritation or burns.
Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Cilantro. Please see your health care provider for more information.
Alterative: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs more quickly, requiring a higher dose.
Blood-thinner: Patients on warfarin (coumadin) and other anticoagulants, or who have clotting difficulties, should take special caution to only use blood thinners under the supervision of a medical doctor.
Cholagogue: Anything that strengthens or cleanses the liver can clear drugs more quickly, requiring a higher dose.
Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect. Avoid if taking water pills or pharmaceutical diuretics.
Hypolipidemic: May magnify the effect of cholesterol lowering drugs.
View other ingredients for Summer
Cilantro is recommended for Summer. Check out these other Summer foods here.
Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. Food digests with ease when
right for your body type (dosha). Healthy digestion is seen as the cornerstone of well-being in
Ayurveda. Healthy digestion generally prevents illness. If you do get sick, a strong digestive fire
reduces the severity of illness and increases your resilience. It also improves your mood. Once
you begin eating Ayurvedically, you will feel refreshed, vital and strong.
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda.
His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda,
offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy,
& botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
His wife and family of 7 kids live in Asheville, NC.
Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
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Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions
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Indications / Benefits
Contraindications / Aggravates
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