Immunity boosting and other Ayurveda properties of coriander

With the scientific name  Coriandrum sativum, coriander has been in use in India, Mediterranean countries and China for centuries. In one of his books, ancient Roman historian Pliny, while explaining about  the importance of coriander, observes that the best one would be found in Egypt.

Terming “Kustubaram” and utilising its medicinal properties, Ayurveda includes coriander in the cluster of Dhyanakam.

One of the best home remedies using coriander as the main ingredient is coriander coffee and it has been used to boost immunity and defend diseases caused by microbes. Consequently, it has got high significance in this time of coronavirus pandemic.

Coriander coffee ingredients:

Coriander- 100 g

Fenugreek-20 g

Cumin- 20g

Dried ginger-10g

Cardamom-10 g

Jaggery

Coffee powder.

How to prepare:

Coriander and fenugreek have to be fried without using oil. Crush the dried ginger and cardamom and  add to the coriander-fenugreek mixture. Grind this mixture and mix this in  boiled water which contains adequate amount of jaggery.   Put coriander and coffee powder into the boiled water. Coriander powder should be 3g for one glass of water and adequate amount of coffee powder can be used in this preparation.

Consuming coriander coffee may improve immunity and haemoglobin level.

Other medicinal properties of coriander:

1. Coriander is one of the best available medicines which have been used to reduce Pitha dosha. Therefore, it is very effective for hyper acidity problems and it relieves inflammation in the stomach and chest areas.
2. It has been used in treating inflammation caused by cystitis and urinary infections. Coriander water which is prepared in the night and consumed in early morning is helpful in this regard.
3. Consuming coriander may be helpful in reducing hypertension, insomnia and anxiety caused by “ Pitha dosha.”
4. Coriander water may also be effective in treating the conditions like vomiting, food poisoning etc. It can be consumed as an emergency relief during these conditions.
5. Consuming one glass of boiled lukewarm water containing half teaspoons of cumin and coriander seeds has been useful in abating temporal headache.
6. This solution is also good for eye problems, diabetes and Menopausal Syndrome.
7. Licorice, long pepper and coriander mix is good in treating cough and throat pain.
8. Coriander seeds and honey mixed in the proportion of 1:2 will also help in this regard and it is also helpful in increasing blood cells count.
9. Coriander is also good for relieving fever symptoms. One of the main ingredients in guluchyathi concoction is coriander.
10. Lukewarm water containing dried ginger and coriander quenches thirst thus can be prepared in summer season.
11. As discussed before, the immunity boosting and disinfecting properties of coriander can be utilised in this time of pandemic.                         DrShabu Pattambi