The essential oil of coriander, or cilantro is derived from the seeds of Coriandrum savitum plant, with the help of steam distillation. It has been around for numerous centuries and is thought to have numerous medicinal value.

In fact, the coriander seeds have been used by the primordial Romans due to its potent antioxidant abilities. Even the Chinese regard coriander as a powerful herb for treating various diseases such as piles, flatulence, nausea and even measles.

The oil is clear to pale yellow in colour and it emits a woody, sweet fragrance. Coriander also has lots of medicinal uses in today’s modern times, besides being a well known spice used to enhance the flavour of cuisines! Read on to find out more about the health benefits and uses of coriander essential oil, and you just might be convinced to get one bottle of it for yourself and your household!

Health Benefits of Coriander Essential Oil:

1. Promotes Digestive Health

Coriander essential oil is great for easing digestive problems and promoting a smoother, unobstructed digestion flow. Its carminative properties are especially helpful for the digestive system because it is able to relieve gas build-up within your stomach and intestines. It clears such excess gas in a downward motion and prevents further formation of excess gas.

It is also a stomachic and digestive, meaning it ensures proper secretion of digestive enzymes and bile into the stomach and intestines, thus facilitating a smooth digestion process and tones up the stomach. This hence helps to prevent and treat a whole host of problems, such as indigestion, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, acid reflux and many more!

Additionally, a 2011 research, published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, notes that coriander oil can effectively kill pathogenic bacteria related to foodborne diseases as it destroys the membranes of the cells that make up the bacteria, leading to its eventual death. As such, it is also able to prevent food poisoning and infections in the digestive organs!

2. Helps to Promote Detoxification

The essential oil of coriander is also a depurative, meaning it helps to purify the blood and rids them of toxins and other harmful substances that can possibly lead to contamination. It undoubtedly helps to remove substances like uric acid, urea, heavy metals and other compounds out of the body, thus ensuring that you have a healthy immune system!

3. Offers Pain Relief

Due to the presence of chemical constituents such as terpineol and terpinolene, coriander essential oil is a great analgesic, meaning it helps to relieve pain associated with a myriad of conditions and health ailments. For example, those who are suffering from arthritis or rheumatism or any other bouts of muscle aches/stiff joints will find coriander oil useful in alleviating their pain.

Additionally, those who suffer from headaches and migraines can also look towards coriander essential oil for pain relief as it improves blood circulation and reduce pressure to these areas!

Moreover, because of its pain-relieving properties, coupled with its antispasmodic and relaxant attributes, it is able to reduce painful menstrual cramps associated with the time of the month and regulate excessive menstrual flow, thus offering comfort from these conditions since it reduces cramps and convulsions of the muscles.

4. Manages Diabetes and Cholesterol Levels

It has been found that coriander extracts can actually help to manage diabetes levels! For example, a 2012 research study published in The Journal of Food Science notes that the useful antioxidants in coriander extract helps to greatly reduce lipid peroxidation and able to manage diabetes mellitus, with the added potential of being able to protect the liver!

Another study conducted in 2011 and subsequently published in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology found that coriander seeds extract have shown scavenging activity against superoxides and hydroxyl radicals. It can also help to decrease the oxidative burden in diabetes mellitus.

Overall, its antioxidant nature is powerful in helping to manage the level of fats and diabetes and boost the immune system of the body!

5. As a Natural Deodorant

Coriander essential oil also has antibacterial properties that makes for a good natural deodorant! Its ability to eradicate bacteria that causes foul body odors is especially useful for those who are looking for a way to manage their body odours. No longer do you have to spend so much on commercialized deodorants, when you can simply add a few drops of this amazing essential oil in a spray bottle and spray it all over your clothes and body to smell fresh and clean!

Its antimicrobial nature also helps to rid your mouth from bacteria and viruses, thus preventing the growth and formation of infections within your mouth cavities. Ensuring proper oral hygiene is extremely imperative as we use your mouths to speak, eat and communicate. As such, using coriander essential oil as a mouth gargle can be very beneficial in maintaining the proper health of your mouth cavity, and prevents the onset of many mouth-related diseases and problems.

6. As a Mood Lifter

Coriander essential oil is also great for instilling positive effects on the mind and emotions. Its warm, sweet yet spicy aroma helps to uplift your emotional spirits, perfect for those who are feeling down or experiencing melancholic feelings. Not only that, it helps to induce relaxation and soothes stress, tension, fatigue and nervousness away.

It helps to promote mental clarity and alleviates mood fluctuations, thus providing much mental and emotional stability. It energizes and rejuvenates your senses, great for boosting your mental and emotional health. After all, you should never neglect your emotional and mental health as well, and essential oils such as coriander ensure that they are always maintained in the most healthy shape as possible!

Other uses of coriander oil include its ability to increase sexual libido as it is a natural aphrodisiac, its ability to combat fungal infections because of its antimicrobial and antifungal activities and its potency in steam inhalation to be able to relieve oneself of respiratory ailments such as cold, cough, sinusitis and any other types of nasal congestions.

How to Use Coriander Essential Oil?

• Topically: You can dilute about 2-3 drops of coriander oil with equal amounts of jojoba, coconut or almond oil and proceed to massage gently onto problematic areas. This can certainly help to alleviate pain associated from menstrual cramps and muscle pain. You can also rub it on your abdominal area to augment digestive health! Applying it on your wrists can also help to ensure that you will always smell fresh and nice!

• Aromatherapy: You can also diffuse about 4-5 drops of the oil in a diffuser, vaporizer or distiller to soothe your tense mind.

• In Warm, Bathing Water: You can also add about 4-5 drops of the oil in a tub of warm, bathing water to soak your tense muscles and stiff joints and offer much pain relief. Alternatively, if you are feeling stressed, you can try this method as well.

• Mouth Gargle: By adding 2-3 drops of the oil in a cup of water, you can use this as a gargle mixture to rid your mouth of any bacteria to prevent infections. However, be careful not to ingest the mixture.

• Deodorant Spray: You can also add around 4-5 drops of the oil in a spritz bottle containing water, shake well and proceed to spray at your clothes as a natural deodorant.

• Internally: According to a 2013 study published in the European Food Safety Authority Journal, coriander essential oil is considered to be safe for consumption. The normal protoccol would be to just add a drop of the oil into a glass of water or a cup of tea, and mix it well to ensure proper dilution before taking it internally. However, do ensure that you check with your medical practitioner prior to ingestion for professional medical advice.

• Did you know that lavender essential oil is chemically very similar to coriander oil? Both of these oils share the same chemical constituents, and as such, they have similar benefits and uses too! So you can always turn to coriander essential oil for a good alternative to lavender, and vice versa!

Safety Precautions:

Coriander essential oil is known to be non-irritating and non-toxic. However, it is always wise to consult your doctor beforehand before you take this oil internally and seek for his/her professional medical advice.

Also, ensure that you purchase high-quality, top-grade, 100% pure coriander essential oil from a reliable and reputable seller before proceeding to use it. When applying it topically onto your skin, ensure proper dilution by mixing it with a carrier oil (such as coconut, jojoba or almond oil) and perform a skin patch test first on a non-sensitive area of your skin to ensure that no sensitive, allergic or irritant reactions result.

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, do check with your doctor first before proceeding to use coriander essential oil as a form of treatment.

Also, if you have pre-existing medical conditions and are under the prescription of medical drugs, do check with your medical practitioner before proceeding to use coriander oil as a form of treatment for your ailments. This is because your prescribed drugs may interact with the oil to produce unwanted, adverse side effects.

Do not use coriander oil in large dosages as it is known to make you lose control and dull your senses as it can impact the body and mind. Ensure that the diffusion of coriander oil is no longer than 20-30 minutes.

References:

Filomena Silva, et al., “Coriander (coriandrum sativum L.) essential oil: its antibacterial activity and mode of action evaluated by flow cytometry” Journal of Medical Microbiology, (2011)

Sreelatha S, Inbavalli R, “Antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic effects of Coriandrum sativum leaf and stem in alloxan-induced diabetic rats”, Journal of Food Science (2012); 77(7)

Deepa B, Anuradha CV, “Antioxidant potential of Coriandrum sativum L. seed extract”, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (2011); 49(1)

“Scientific Opinion on the safety of ‘coriander seed oil’ as a Novel Food ingredient”, European Food Safety Authority Journal (2013)