Eden Apothecary · Herb Profile
Coriandrum sativum L.
Pronounced Coriander: kor-ee-AN-der. Coriandrum sativum: kor-ee-AN-drum sa-TEE-vum. Ayurvedic Dhanyaka: DHAAN-yuh-kuh.
Cool and neutral, aromatic and relaxing: the sweet-pungent seed that cools Pitta heat, settles a griping gut, and flushes burning, scalding urination.
On temperature, the old sources disagree: Culpeper (1653), Gerard (1633), Salmon (1710) and Bhavaprakasha (16th c.) read it as warm; Rajanighantu (c. 15th c.) reads it as cool; Bencao Gangmu (1596) reads it as neutral. The app keeps cool, the modern reading of what the herb does in the body; the old readings are shown here but do not change it. On moisture, the old sources disagree: Culpeper (1653) and Salmon (1710) read it as dry; Bhavaprakasha (16th c.) reads it as moist. The app keeps neutral, the modern reading of what the herb does in the body; the old readings are shown here but do not change it.
Culinary use is safe (coriander is GRAS as a food). The AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook rates coriander as Safety Class 1 (not verified against AHPA) (safe when used appropriately), and no teratogenic or clinically significant abortifacient effect is documented at food or moderate seed-tea doses. Avoid concentrated extracts and the essential oil internally in pregnancy due to insufficient data (Brinker). Sources: AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd ed.; NCCIH.
Considered compatible with breastfeeding at culinary and moderate therapeutic doses; coriander is a traditional (purported) galactagogue, though controlled clinical evidence is lacking. One case report noted possible endocrine disruption with excessive use. Avoid concentrated essential oil. Source: NIH LactMed (Drugs and Lactation Database), Coriander.
Food amounts are safe. A weak seed infusion has a long tradition of use for infant colic and gas (the gripe-water tradition) in small, dilute doses. Avoid internal use of the essential oil in infants and young children. Source: AHPA Botanical Safety Handbook (Safety Class 1 (not verified against AHPA)).
Apiaceae-family allergy: coriander can cause allergic reactions (urticaria, rhinitis, occupational asthma) and, rarely, anaphylaxis, with cross-reactivity among celery, caraway, dill, fennel, anise and mugwort/birch pollen. Handling fresh leaf or the oil may cause contact dermatitis and photosensitivity. The essential oil should not be taken internally undiluted. Large therapeutic diuretic doses may over-deplete fluids in already dry or depleted constitutions.
Known allergy to coriander or other Apiaceae (celery, caraway, dill, fennel, anise). Avoid concentrated essential oil internally, especially in pregnancy and young children.
Coriander is a fast-growing annual crop cultivated worldwide and is not at risk; it is not listed by United Plant Savers. Easily home-grown from seed, making it a sustainable, low-impact choice.
Exodus 16:31 and Numbers 11:7 describe the manna as 'like coriander seed,' making coriander one of the plants named in Scripture. Long used across Mediterranean, ancient Egyptian (Ebers Papyrus) and Ayurvedic (Dhanyaka) traditions.
The same herb can calm one person and wire another. Our free assessment reads your pattern across temperature, moisture and tone, then matches herbs to it.
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