Coriander: Multiple Therapeutic And Nutritional Benefits

Khartoum (Sudanow)

Coriander is an annual aromatic plant and one of the most widely known herbs, distinguished by its strong fragrance and pleasant, appetite-stimulating flavor that adds a unique taste to food. Despite its widespread use, it remains a readily available blessing whose nutritional and health value is often underestimated.

In order to explore the broader dimensions of this plant, Sudanow met with Dr. Mohamed Othman Maysara, Consultant in Community Medicine and Public Health, expert in alternative medicine and therapeutic nutrition, member of the Permanent Committee for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and Head of the Founding Committee for Schools of Alternative and Integrative Medicine at the Ministry of Health in Khartoum State. Dr. Maysara highlighted coriander's exceptional therapeutic and nutritional properties, noting that it possesses features rarely found combined in a single plant.

He explained that coriander's green leaves, stems, seeds, and high-quality essential oil are all usable and rich in value. The plant contains a wide range of bioactive compounds and antioxidants, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and geraniol-known for its antimicrobial properties-along with essential vitamins and minerals. With more than 65 active components, coriander contributes to the regulation and stimulation of various physiological functions of the human body. It is also a source of zinc, copper, phosphorus, and vitamins K and B.

Historically, coriander has been known in Sudan since ancient times. Archaeological findings reveal its seeds in the tombs and temples of the Kushite civilization, where it was believed to play a role in the afterlife. Traditionally, it was used to treat general weakness, fatigue, cough, food poisoning, fractures, wounds, inflammation, and digestive discomfort. References to coriander appear in sacred texts, and it was widely used in traditional medicine by Hippocrates and other early healers. Its culinary presence extends across Chinese and Indian cuisines-particularly in festive dishes-as well as Arab and Western kitchens. In Sudanese cuisine, both fresh green coriander and dried seeds are commonly used, and the plant is cultivated across northern Sudan, Kordofan, Darfur, and the central states.

From a health perspective, Dr. Maysara emphasized that coriander is widely employed in alternative medicine due to its role in cleansing and detoxifying the digestive system. It helps eliminate heavy toxins accumulated through metabolic processes and the consumption of hydrogenated oils, fried and grilled foods, and excess sugars. Just as the body is cleansed externally on a daily basis, internal detoxification is equally important. Coriander supports this internal balance across all age groups, beginning with improving oral health by reducing bad breath, strengthening the gums, and combating oral fungal infections.

Thanks to its fiber content, coriander relaxes the digestive tract, stimulates intestinal movement, enhances beneficial gut bacteria, and suppresses harmful microorganisms. It is known to combat Helicobacter pylori, expel intestinal worms, reduce gas and bloating, and effectively address chronic constipation.

Beyond digestive health, coriander extends its benefits significantly, particularly for women. It contributes to hormonal regulation, may assist in stimulating ovarian function, and supports the management of polycystic ovary syndrome by restoring hormonal balance. It helps relieve menstrual pain, reduce heavy bleeding, regulate the menstrual cycle, and support ovulation. Additionally, it promotes lactation by increasing prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland, supports thyroid function, and contributes to reducing the risk of breast, ovarian, and cervical cancers due to its rich antioxidant profile, including flavonoids, geraniol, coumarin, limonene, carotenoids, and vitamins A and C. Coriander also supports liver detoxification, prevents gallstone formation, lowers cholesterol levels, improves mood, and calms the nervous system, especially during menopause.

In special health contexts, coriander is used to support children with autism by assisting in the removal of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and aluminum. It helps reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, enhance relaxation, and rehabilitate digestive function by reducing constipation, gas, and microbial imbalance. In traditional rural communities, coriander has long been burned as incense to help children rest and sleep-an effect now understood to be linked to its volatile oils. For children with Down syndrome, coriander contributes to bone and dental health due to its mineral content. Athletes also benefit from coriander's muscle-relaxing and recovery-enhancing properties after intense physical exertion.

Regarding practical use, Dr. Maysara recommends the regular consumption of coriander in moderate amounts-approximately one small spoon or about three grams daily in warm water or vegetable soup. This practice can significantly reduce digestive disorders, address small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), support chronic irritable bowel syndrome, alleviate migraine and tension headaches, and contribute to the prevention and rehabilitation of hemorrhoids.

He further clarified that pregnant women should consume coriander only as part of their regular dietary intake, not as a concentrated therapeutic dose. Due to its potassium, magnesium, and calcium content, coriander helps regulate fluid balance, reduce swelling, and act as a mild diuretic. It is beneficial for heart patients, supports anemia treatment, and helps reduce recurrent throat and tonsil infections in children. Fresh coriander juice strengthens immunity and supports conditions such as gout, rheumatoid disorders, and chronic joint inflammation.

For the elderly, incorporating coriander into the daily diet may help reduce signs of aging, support cognitive function, alleviate stress, assist respiratory conditions such as asthma, stimulate pancreatic activity, and help regulate blood sugar levels-hence the importance of cautious and informed use. Coriander may also contribute to weight management when consumed before meals, improve skin health, reduce acne, support hair strength, and assist in managing certain neurological and inflammatory conditions.

Coriander's benefits extend beyond human health into traditional and modern veterinary medicine, where it is used to support animal health, improve growth, enhance meat and egg quality, regulate hormones, increase milk production, and reduce stress during transportation and weaning. It also serves as a natural antibacterial agent against Escherichia coli and Salmonella, improves water quality in traditional storage vessels, and acts as a natural insect repellent when burned.

In conclusion, Dr. Maysara emphasized that coriander's economic importance lies in its effectiveness as a natural preservative for meat and fish, offering a safer alternative to chemical preservatives with cumulative harmful effects. He recommends incorporating coriander into the daily dietary regimen of individuals with diabetes, hypertension, immune disorders, the elderly, and those exposed to high levels of mental stress.

It is important to note that this dietary material aims to highlight the value of local products and their role in alternative medicine and therapeutic nutrition from a preventive and rehabilitative perspective. For therapeutic use, patients are advised to consult a medical professional or a qualified specialist in nutrition and alternative medicine to assess medical history and existing treatments, ensuring safe and supervised use-even though these natural substances are generally considered to have minimal side effects.

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