Flora Palaestina Ethnobotany

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Family

Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Synonym(s)

English name(s)

Coriander
Wild Coriander

Hebrew Name(s)

gad ha-sade

גַּד הַשָּׂדֶה

Arabic Name(s)

kusbara كسبرة
kuzbara كزبرة

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

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.

Cautions

The authors of FLORAPALE, (Flora Palaestina Ethnobotanical) web site do not take responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of the plants described here. Always seek advice from a health professional before using a plant medicinally or for other purposes. See DISCLAIMER.