Cilantro leaves are harvested from the coriander plant, which is native to southern Europe. The plant has a very particular bug-like odor that inspired its name, which means "bedbug" in Greek. The plant is usually harvested in August and is popular for culinary and medicinal uses. Cilantro, as a culinary herb, is used primarily in Chinese, Thai and Latin American dishes. It also has a significant history as a medicinal remedy. Cilantro leaf tea was used by the physician Hippocrates during about 500 B.C. in Greece to treat health disorders, and today cilantro tea is used in several Ayurvedic remedies. In traditional Chinese medicine, cilantro is considered warm and pungent, and is associated with the stomach meridian, according to "Acupuncture Today." Be sure to consult a qualified health provider prior to consuming cilantro tea for medicinal purposes.
Digestive Treatment
Cilantro tea can be used to treat a wide range of digestive disorders. Ancient Egyptians used cilantro tea for treating urinary tract infections. In Europe, cilantro tea is primarily used as an accompaniment to laxative herbs, for treating constipation. Cilantro tea stimulates the secretion of gastric juices as an appetite stimulant. It acts as a carminative and spasmolytic in the treatment of gas and diarrhea. Silantro tea also has antibacterial and antifungal properties, which can balance the digestive tract during cases of dysbiosis, according to HolisticOnline.com.
Chemical Chelation
Cilantro tea has been used to remove heavy metals and other toxic agents from the body. The chemical components in cilantro bind to heavy metals and pull them from their location in the tissues, organs and blood into the digestive tract for excretion. Cilantro's chemical compounds may be particularly useful for exposure to high levels of mercury. Mercury exposure can result from the absorption from metal teeth fillings or eating large predatory fish that absorb mercury in polluted waters, according to the Global Healing Center.
Recommended Dosage
The dosage amount of cilantro tea depends on the health condition being treated. An average recommended dose is two teaspoons of leaves steeped in one cup of hot water. Orange peel and peppermint oil may be added to enhance the flavor, according to the Global Healing Center.
Member Comments