Cilantro (Coriandrum Sativum L.) is extensively used around the world as a condiment to garnish and add flavor to various culinary dishes. In ancient Greece, cilantro essential oil was used for making perfume, while the Romans used it to mask the odor of rotting meat.

One of the most effective natural cleansing herbs, cilantro is excellent for a heavy metal detox. In a study, after consuming large and regular amounts of cilantro, many people reported a reduction in the feeling of disorientation resulting from mercury poisoning.[1] Cilantro’s strong antioxidant activity decreases oxidative stress.[2] It is also useful in managing diabetes as it helps lower blood sugar levels.[3,4]

Cilantro For Anxiety

Anxiety affects one-eighth of the world’s population. It is a normal response of the body to increased stress levels causing nervousness, apprehension, fear and worrying. If left unchecked, anxiety can lead to all sorts of disorders and may trigger symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, tension, irritability, headaches and sleep disturbances.



Experimental studies show that cilantro exhibits anti-anxiety activity. The anxiolytic activity (anxiety-relieving) of cilantro is associated with its essential oil content and flavonoids. Linalool, an essential oil in cilantro, calms the central nervous system, has anticonvulsant properties (reduces the severity and frequency of seizures in various types of epilepsy).[5,6] Cilantro also improves sleep quality, which further keeps anxiety in control.[7]

How To Take It



Chop 2-3 sprigs of fresh cilantro finely. Put them in a tea infuser and place it in a teacup. Pour boiling water over it and steep for 10 minutes. Have this twice daily to ease anxiety.

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For more interesting stories, visit our Health page and read about other Natural Remedies here.

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References:

1. Omura Y, Beckman SL. Role of mercury (Hg) in resistant infections & effective treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes family viral infections (and potential treatment for cancer) by removing localized Hg deposits with Chineseparsley and delivering effective antibiotics using various drug uptake enhancement methods. Acupunct Electrother Res. 1995 Aug-Dec;20(3-4):195-229. PubMed PMID: 8686573.

2. Park G, Kim HG, Kim YO, Park SH, Kim SY, Oh MS. Coriandrum sativum L. protects human keratinocytes from oxidative stress by regulating oxidative defense systems. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2012;25(2):93-9. doi: 10.1159/000335257. Epub

2012 Feb 1. PubMed PMID: 22301773.

3. Sreelatha S, Inbavalli R. Antioxidant, antihyperglycemic, and antihyperlipidemic effects of Coriandrum sativum leaf and stem in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. J Food Sci. 2012 Jul;77(7):T119-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2012.02755.x. Epub 2012 Jun 1. PubMed PMID: 22671941.

4. Aissaoui A, Zizi S, Israili ZH, Lyoussi B. Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Coriandrum sativum L. in Meriones shawi rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Sep 1;137(1):652-61. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2011.06.019. Epub 2011 Jun 28. PubMed PMID: 21718774.

5. Mahendra P, Bisht S. Anti-anxiety activity of Coriandrum sativum assessed using different experimental anxiety models. Indian Journal of Pharmacology. 2011;43(5):574-577. doi:10.4103/0253-7613.84975.

6. Emamghoreishi M, Khasaki M, Aazam MF. Coriandrum sativum: evaluation of its anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus-maze. J Ethnopharmacol. 2005 Jan 15;96(3):365-70. PubMed PMID: 15619553.

7. Rakhshandeh H, Sadeghnia HR, Ghorbani A. Sleep-prolonging effect of Coriandrum sativum hydro-alcoholic extract in mice. Nat Prod Res. 2012;26(22):2095-8. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2011.613388. Epub 2011 Oct 12. PubMed PMID: 21988208.