Updated 16 January 2024
Botanical characteristics
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Magnoliopsida
- Order: Apiales
- Family: Apiaceae
- Genus: Coriandrum
- Part used: Fruit
- Country of origin: Central Europe, Mediterranean
Precautions for use
Caution! Coriander essential oil is reserved for adults and children over 6 years of age.
There are no contraindications to its use.
Dermally, it is best diluted for sensitive skin and tested for allergies as it contains a high concentration of linalool.
Other precautions
Warning:
- People with asthma should seek medical advice before use.
Cutaneous use:
- People with asthma should seek medical advice before use.
Ingestion:
- Coriander essential oil can be nephrotoxic if taken in high doses over a long period of time.
Contraindications:
- It is not recommended to use this essential oil if you have heart problems.
Allergenic components:
Coriander essential oil contains high levels of biochemical allergenic components:
- linalool (65-78%)
- limonene (≤4%)
- geraniol (≤2%)
- lemonellol (≤ 0.5%)
Note: It is best to test the essential oil before use (two drops on the crease of the elbow for at least 24 hours to check for a reaction).
Authorised users
How to use
Risks of use
Properties
- Stomachic, carminative, tonic, digestive, aperitif
- Anti-infective, antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic
- Analgesic
- Nervous tonic
- Sedative
Indications
- Enterocolitis
- Colitis
- Arthritis
- Osteoarthritis
- Joint pain
- Dyspepsia
- Aerophagia
- Slow digestion
- Asthenia
- Low libido, sexual fatigue
- Cystitis
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Sleep disorders
- Insomnia
- Nervous tension
Directions for use/usual dosage
External use
- Apply to the skin (always dilute with vegetable oil, no more than 3% coriander essential oil).
- Massage into the abdomen after meals to aid digestion, in synergy with Cuminum Cyminum essential oil.
- Massage on the inside of the wrists and along the spine to relieve nervous tension.
- Massage into painful joint areas
- In the bath, diluted in coarse sea salt or in a neutral regenerating oil base.
- As a massage, in synergy with Cananga odorata (Ylang Ylang) and Chamaemelum nobile (Roman Chamomile) essential oils, for general rebalancing (body and mind).
Internal use
- For digestive, antiviral and antibacterial purposes, take 1 to 2 drops in a spoonful of honey, vegetable oil or a neutral tablet, 3 times a day for a very short period.
Cosmetic
- Anti-oxidant, soothing treatment for mature or tired skin. Diluted in a carrier plant oil, in synergy with the essential oils of Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), Santalum album (sandalwood) and Jasminum grandiflorum (jasmine).
Cooking
- In cooking, add a drop of coriander essential oil at the end of cooking to enhance the flavour of dishes in sauce, particularly Asian dishes. Coriander essential oil can be used as a substitute for spices. It disinfects and aids digestion in hearty dishes.
Find out more
- Coriander loses its ability to germinate after two years. It takes about 100kg of seeds to produce 3.5 litres of essential oil.
- There are two essential oils of coriander:
- Coriandrum sativum coriander essential oil, distilled from the fruit (seeds)
- Coriandrum sativum coriander essential oil distilled from the leaves.
- The former is calming and anti-infective, while the latter has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Coriander can be eaten whole. The highly fragrant, sweet seeds are used in the preparation of dishes in sauces such as curry, as well as in famous perfumes such as "Coco Chanel". The leaves can also be eaten fresh or dried, as can the roots, which are more common in Asia.