College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

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AYURVEDIC FOODS

Cilantro Benefits (According to Ayurveda)

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1. Ayurvedic Perspective

2. Biocharacteristics & Herbal Actions

3. Similar foods and herbs

4. Impact: On tongue, nerves, elimination, etc.

5. Indications / Benefits

6. Comments and reviews

How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Recipes with Cilantro: Ginger Dal

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: Salmon Quinoa Burger

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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Is Cilantro Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Cilantro' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.

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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.

SERVING SIZE: 4 g

SPECIES: Coriandrum sativum

FAMILY: Apiaceae

PREPARATION: RAW

EAT IN: SUMMER

Metabolic Nature of Cilantro

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

INCREASES Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic. Learn More	COLD ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD LIQUEFIED ABOUT LIQUEFIED BIOCHARACTERISTIC Substances that thin fluids (lower viscosity of blood plasma). These may include blood thinners or mucolytic herbs. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIQUEFIED DRY ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis. LEARN MORE ABOUT DRY EASY ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY LIGHT ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Lightness is identified by reduced weight. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIGHT
TASTES The 6 Tastes 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? Learn More	ASTRINGENT ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT ASTRINGENT BITTER ABOUT BITTER BIOCHARACTERISTIC Bitter taste has cholagogue action - it is cold, clear, light, and stimulating. It increases digestive enzymes, laxative, and drying. LEARN MORE ABOUT BITTER PUNGENT ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper. LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded. Learn More	PACIFIES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	Affinity: Cleanse And Detox, Energy Vitality ENERGY-VITALITY Includes vitality improving foods, herbs, and exercises by dosha. SEE ALL 'ENERGY-VITALITY' FOODS / HERBS , Kidney Bladder Urinary, Liver Gallbladder Family: Apiaceae
HERBAL ACTIONS (see all)	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. Digestion: Antiemetic ANTIEMETIC Herbs that reduce nausea or stop vomiting. Generally refreshing, aromatic herbs. SEE ALL 'ANTIEMETIC' FOODS / HERBS , Appetizer APPETIZER Herbs that cleanse the palate & stimulate hunger or desire to eat. SEE ALL 'APPETIZER' FOODS / HERBS , Carminative CARMINATIVE 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. SEE ALL 'CARMINATIVE' FOODS / HERBS , Digestive DIGESTIVE Herbs that encourage healthy digestion. SEE ALL 'DIGESTIVE' FOODS / HERBS , Spleen Tonic SPLEEN-TONIC An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues. SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS , Stomachic STOMACHIC 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. SEE ALL 'STOMACHIC' FOODS / HERBS Cleanse & Detox: Burns Toxins BURNS-TOXINS An herb that detoxifies by helping your body metabolize toxins, as opposed to eliminating them. SEE ALL 'BURNS-TOXINS' FOODS / HERBS , Internal Detoxicant INTERNAL-DETOXICANT Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system. SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS Energy Vitality: Refreshing REFRESHING Stimulates and wakes up the body, leaving it feeling cool, fresh, and energized. SEE ALL 'REFRESHING' FOODS / HERBS , Stimulates Energy STIMULATES-ENERGY This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs. SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS Immune System: Anti Inflammatory ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems. SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS , Antipyretic ANTIPYRETIC Reduces a fever / febrifuge. SEE ALL 'ANTIPYRETIC' FOODS / HERBS , Immune Calming IMMUNE-CALMING Herbs that interrupt an allergic reaction or calm the immune system, useful in allergies and autoimmune conditions. SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-CALMING' FOODS / HERBS Heart & Circulation: Alterative 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. SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS , Refrigerant STRONG REFRIGERANT An herb or substance that strongly cools the body. Can be helpful in cases of heat conditions. SEE ALL 'REFRIGERANT' FOODS / HERBS , Blood Thinner BLOOD-THINNER Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation. SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS , Hemostatic HEMOSTATIC An herb that stops bleeding. SEE ALL 'HEMOSTATIC' FOODS / HERBS , Styptic STYPTIC 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. SEE ALL 'STYPTIC' FOODS / HERBS Kidney & Urinary: Diuretic DIURETIC 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. SEE ALL 'DIURETIC' FOODS / HERBS Liver & Gallbladder: Cholagogue CHOLAGOGUE 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. SEE ALL 'CHOLAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS Weight Loss: Hypolipidemic HYPOLIPIDEMIC 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. SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS Bone & Joint: Chelates CHELATES Binds to toxins such as heavy metals making them more soluble for elimination by the body. SEE ALL 'CHELATES' FOODS / HERBS Constituents: Nitric Oxide STRONG NITRIC-OXIDE Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health. SEE ALL 'NITRIC-OXIDE' FOODS / HERBS , Aromatase Inhibitor AROMATASE-INHIBITOR Blocks estrogen synthesis by inhibiting conversion of progesterone and testosterone into estrogen. SEE ALL 'AROMATASE-INHIBITOR' FOODS / HERBS , Coumarin COUMARIN Moderately toxic, vascular tonic, hypotensive, and anti-inflammatory. SEE ALL 'COUMARIN' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Cilantro

Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Spleen-tonic, Appetizer, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Digestive, Refreshing, Stomachic, Antiemetic, Burns-toxins, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Fenugreek

Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

Burns-toxins, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Stomachic, Anti-inflammatory, Carminative, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Antipyretic, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Saffron

Saffron has these Actions in Common

Antipyretic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stomachic, Blood-thinner, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Styptic, Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Styptic, Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic, Antiemetic, Carminative, Hemostatic, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Carminative, Hypolipidemic, Spleen-tonic, Blood-thinner, Cholagogue, Immune-calming, Alterative, Burns-toxins, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Coriander Seed

Coriander Seed has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Chelates, Immune-calming, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Carminative, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Tarragon

Tarragon has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Appetizer, Carminative, Diuretic, Blood-thinner, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant

LEARN MORE

Dill

Dill has these Actions in Common

Antipyretic, Carminative, Internal-detoxicant, Stomachic, Appetizer, Digestive, Spleen-tonic, Burns-toxins, Diuretic, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Parsley (Fresh)

Parsley (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Chelates, Hypolipidemic, Burns-toxins, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Carminative, Diuretic, Spleen-tonic

LEARN MORE

Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

Blood-thinner, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive, Immune-calming

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Cilantro

Yarrow

Yarrow has these Actions in Common

Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Antipyretic, Stomachic, Blood-thinner, Styptic, Carminative, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Hemostatic, Alterative, Immune-calming

LEARN MORE

Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common

Alterative, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy, Antipyretic, Styptic, Carminative, Digestive, Hemostatic, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing

LEARN MORE

Mugwort

Mugwort has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Carminative, Cholagogue, Digestive, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Stomachic, Antiemetic

LEARN MORE

Neem Leaf

Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Refrigerant, Antipyretic, Blood-thinner, Cholagogue

LEARN MORE

Haritaki

Haritaki has these Actions in Common

Immune-calming, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Styptic, Appetizer, Carminative, Digestive, Diuretic, Hemostatic

LEARN MORE

Goldenseal

Goldenseal has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Hemostatic, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Refrigerant, Antipyretic, Burns-toxins, Cholagogue, Digestive

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Diuretic, Hypolipidemic, Immune-calming, Internal-detoxicant, Refreshing, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy, Appetizer, Stomachic, Burns-toxins

LEARN MORE

Dandelion Root

Dandelion Root has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Refrigerant, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, Cholagogue, Digestive, Diuretic, Hypolipidemic

LEARN MORE

Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam)

Amritarishta (Amrutharishtam) has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Burns-toxins, Cholagogue, Diuretic, Immune-calming, Alterative, Spleen-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic

LEARN MORE

Wild Ginger

Wild Ginger has these Actions in Common

Appetizer, Burns-toxins, Carminative, Digestive, Immune-calming, Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Antiemetic, Stimulates-energy

LEARN MORE

Red Root

Red Root has these Actions in Common

Internal-detoxicant, Refrigerant, Styptic, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic, Blood-thinner, Hemostatic

LEARN MORE

Impact of Cilantro

In each clinical research trial below, students from the Joyful Belly School of Ayurveda ate the selected food for 3 days and reported the pharmacological effects. See other clinical research trials for diet & herbs at Joyful Belly.