Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Coriandrum sativum L.

Family

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Coriander
Wild Coriander

Arabic Name(s)

kusbara كسبرة
kuzbara كزبرة

Hebrew Name(s)

gad ha-sade

גַּד הַשָּׂדֶה

Life Form

Annual

Habitat

Batha
Phrygana

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Medicinal Complaints / Uses

Coriandrum sativum L.

System/State	Traditional Complaint/Use	Activity / Interpretation	Traditional Preparation/ Administration	Parts Used	Source
Cardiovascular	Heart palpitations & weak heart	Cardiac	1. Decoct crushed fruits & drink. 2. Grind fruit + almonds + sesame seeds & warm a little ; mix + "nabat" sugar & eat x1 teaspoon morning & evenings. Drink above together + water extract of Citrus aurantium (bitter orange) flowers.	Fruit	Z
Cardiovascular	High blood pressure (Hypertension)	Hypotensive	Eat fresh leaves as salad with meal	Leaf	B
Dermatological	Scabies	Scabicide	Decoct crushed fruits, make bandage/ compress & apply to affected area.	Fruit	Z
Dermatological	Urticaria/ nettle rash	Anti-allergy, Anti-pruritic	Decoct crushed fruits, make bandage/ compress & apply to affected area.	Fruit	Z
Endocrine/ Metabolic	Diabetes mellitus	Hypoglycemic	Prepare powder of Coriander + cumin fruits. (Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Abdominal pain/ spasms/ distension / gas; a carminative	Anti-spasmodic, Carminative	1. Roast fruits. (Admin. not specified.) 2. Decoct crushed fruits & drink.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Constipation	Laxative	Cook plant in water & drink.	Aerial parts	Z
Gastrointestinal	Diarrhea	Anti-Infective, Anti-diarrheal	Boil fruit + 1 tablespoon "eshel" (Tamarix sp.) wood + "yansun" (Pimpinella) + cinnamon & drink morning & evenings. (Forbidden to eat meat)	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Gastric acid excess/heart burn	Antacid	1. Eat roasted fruits. 2. Cook aerial parts & drink. 3. Heartburn: cook leaves in water & drink.	Aerial parts, Fruit, Leaf	Z
Gastrointestinal	Haemorrhoids	Anti-haemorrhoidal	Decoct seeds & apply as poultice.	Seed	B
Gastrointestinal	Jaundice	Hepatic	Mix powdered fruits + honey & eat x1 teaspoon /day.	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Liver disease	Hepatic	Use fruits (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Gastrointestinal	Vomiting	Anti-emetic	Cook plant in water. (Admin. not specified.)	Aerial parts	Z
General	Dizziness/ fainting/ general body weakness	Tonic	1. Mix powdered fruits + honey & eat x1 tablespoon every morning. 2. Macerate after removing seeds a mixture of raisins + "tamarhindi" (Tamarindus indica). Leave overnight then boil, cool, filter, add + sugar + powdered Coriandrum fruit, cook for 15 min & eat.	Fruit	Z
General	Oedema	Anti-hydropic	Macerate powdered fruit in vinegar for few hrs, filter through gauze; drink before meals & rub over body.	Fruit	Z
General	Swelling	Anti-hydropic	Bake bread with Coriandrum fruits + honey + raisins & apply as bandage to affected area.	Fruit	Z
Haematology	Iron deficiency anaemia	Anti-anaemic	Eat fresh leaves as salad with meal	Leaf	B
Helminth infections	Worms in intestinal tract & other parasites	Anthelmintic, Vermifuge	1. Mix powdered fruit s + powdered seeds of "rashad" (Lepidium sativum) + mint leaves + green pomegranate peel; decoct mixture in water for 15 min, cool, allow ingredients to sink & drink liquid (leaving sediment). 2. Use fruit. (Preparation /Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Infectious Diseases	Mumps	Anti-Infective	Mix leaves or fruits + crushed black pepper + cardamom + cumin; prepare compress & apply to swelling.	Fruit, Leaf	Z
Men`s Health/ Sexuality	Increase virility	Aphrodisiac	Use fruits. (Preparation/ Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Back pain	Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory	Cook leaves in water. (Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
Musculoskeletal/ Joints	Rheumatic pain	Analgesic, Anti-arthritic, Anti-inflammatory	1. Add fruit to ground barley flour mixed + vinegar & prepare dough; apply to painful area. (Especially good when pain is accompanied by fever.) If treatment 1 does not help then use the following : 2. Add fruit to ground lentils + burnt ground lamb bones + "halila" (Terminalia sp.) (See NOTES 2), peels + "surinjan" (Colchicum sp.) & eat for 3 days. (Also 1 cup of concentrated extract of "kosani" (Cichorium sp.) can be drunk evenings.) 3. Decoct crushed fruits & drink.	Fruit	Z
Nervous System	Headache	Analgesic	1. Macerate fruits in cold water & use liquid as nose drops. 2. Burn fruits + pumpkin peels & inhale smoke before sunrise. 3. Cook leaves in water (Admin. not specified.)	Fruit, Leaf	Z
Opthalmic	Eye inflammation	Anti-inflammatory	Mix crushed plant with a woman's breast milk & apply to eye.	Aerial parts	Z
Opthalmic	Weak eyesight	Visual health	Roast fruits + "feijan" (Ruta chalepensis) leaves, grind & sift; apply on rims of eyelids like eyeliner ("kohol") (See NOTES 3).	Fruit	Z
Oral Health	Mouth & gum inflammation	Anti-gum disease, Mouth wash	Cook leaves in water (Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
Oral Health	Removes smell in breath after eating onion or garlic	Mouth wash	Eat leaves.	Leaf	Z
Respiratory	Colds	Anti-Infective	Cook leaves in water (Admin. not specified.)	Leaf	Z
Surgical/ Trauma	Haemorrhage	Haemostatic	Use roasted fruits (Admin. not specified.)	Fruit	Z
Women`s Health	Prevent abortion	Anti-abortive	Prepare extract/ infusion in water of fruits + "yansun" (Pimpinella) + fennel + carrots & drink.	Fruit	Z
Wound Healing	Burn	Vulnerary	Prepare compress of crushed leaves & apply to burn.	Leaf	Z

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Notes

1. Z adds (from Guenther E . Essential Oils Vol VI , 1952) that oil from mature seeds of Coriandrum sativum have pleasant, warm,spicy aroma & are used in flavouring food products; sauces,soups, baked goods, confectionery, alcoholic liquours (chiefly gin) etc. Coriander seed oil is also a valuable ingredient in perfumes. The plant`s aerial parts however have an unpleasant smell.
2. In the recipe for rheumatic pain, Z uses "halila " for an ingredient he identifies as a Terminalia sp. Unclear what this is but may refer to the Persian name "balilah" for Terminalia bellerica.