Cilantro stimulates the appetite and improves digestive function, making it a commonly consumed vegetable. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cilantro is considered to warm the middle and strengthen the stomach. People with a cold constitution can benefit from consuming cilantro to alleviate symptoms such as stomach cold pain, indigestion, and incomplete rash eruption.
It should be noted that individuals who are prone to colds should avoid cilantro. This is because cold patients often have varying degrees of Qi deficiency. Cilantro's pungent nature can disperse Qi, and excessive or prolonged consumption can deplete Qi, impairing the spirit and worsening the deficiency, thereby aggravating the cold. In addition to frequent colds, those with Qi deficiency may also experience symptoms like excessive sweating, fatigue, and lassitude. In such cases, it is best to consume little to no cilantro. Furthermore, postpartum and convalescing patients often have a degree of Qi deficiency and should also avoid cilantro.
While those who frequently catch colds cannot eat cilantro, it can be used by those who are robust, in good health, and only occasionally catch colds to prevent illness. In clinical practice, Traditional Chinese Medicine often uses pungent and warm herbs to expel the exterior and treat wind-cold colds, and cilantro has exactly this effect. For such patients, one can take 9 grams of cilantro and 10 grams of scallion white, decoct them in water, add sugar for flavor, and drink the mixture. Additionally, for individuals with a cold spleen and stomach, one can make a cilantro porridge by adding dried tangerine peel to aid digestion and regulate Qi, and ginger to warm the stomach and dispel cold, then sprinkle chopped cilantro just before serving. This can help warm the stomach, dispel cold, aid digestion, and relieve stomach pain.
For those experiencing stomach pain from indigestion due to greasy food, taking 50-100 grams of fresh cilantro, washing it, mashing it, and drinking the juice can effectively alleviate stomach pain.