Wonderfully fresh, green, and enticing to the senses. Cilantro is used in cooking worldwide. It is a scent that brings me home and is comforting and festive. It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant which can grow up to 20 inches in length and bears little purplish-white flowers. Its fruits or seeds also known as coriander, are also used in both culinary and aromatic applications. The essential oil is derived by steam distillation of the leaves and produces a colorless yet highly scented liquid. Its aroma is often described as “fresh, green like fresh cut grass with a slight undertone of lemon mint.” Some plants produce more than one type of essential oil. Cilantro is a good example, as the essential oil can be distilled from the leaves (cilantro) or the seeds (coriander). The aroma is quite different between cilantro and coriander. Cilantro has a sharper, crisp aroma and Coriander is more subtle. Both are delightful!
Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) has also been studied for its anti-anxiety effects: “Results suggested that extract of C. sativum at 100 and 200 mg/kg dose produced anti-anxiety effects almost similar to diazepam… Interest in alternative medicine and plant-derived medications that affect the “mind” is growing. …Anxiolytic activity of C. sativum is likely to be associated with its essential oil content and flavonoids. It is reported that coriander seed oil contains linalool (60–70%) as the major essential oil component.[23] Linalool has marked effects at the CNS, including hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties, and anxiolytic and sedative effects are also shown by linalool in human subjects.”- Anti-anxiety activity of Coriandrum sativum assessed using different experimental anxiety models
Some of the therapeutic properties of Cilantro Essential Oil include:
- Digestive
- Stimulant
- Antispasmodic
- Depurative
- Analgesic
- Carminative
- Deodorant
- Fungicidal
- Lipolytic
Notes:
- Cilantro can provide an interesting note to your blends.
- Diffuse Cilantro with a combination of your favorite citrus oils.
- Use as a room deodorizer, perhaps in an aromatic mist, while adding an herbaceous aroma.
- Applied to the abdomen (diluted), it can help eliminate excess gas and aid digestion.
Cilantro blends well with: Citrus oils such as lemon, lime, orange, spice oils such as ginger and Cinnamon, Basil, Black Pepper, Carrot, Celery, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Coriander, Elemi, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Ylang Ylang.
?“Waters are distilled out of Herbs, Flowers, Fruits, and Roots.” – Nicholas Culpeper?
*Aromatherapy is a Complimentary Alternative Medicine (CAM) and is not used by any form to replace medical care if necessary. Do not use essential oils internally or undiluted on the skin. Always test a small amount of the essential oil first for sensitivity or allergic reaction. The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made as to any medicinal value of this oil or any products from Barefūt. The information presented here is for educational purposes of traditional uses and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You are responsible for understanding the safe application of these products. If you have any questions, please call or email us for further information.
