Cilantro is a commonly consumed aromatic vegetable that stimulates appetite and aids digestion. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that cilantro expels all pathogenic qi and has the effect of warming the middle burner to strengthen the stomach. People with a cold constitution can eat cilantro in moderation to alleviate symptoms such as stomach cold pain, indigestion, and incomplete measles rash.
However, individuals who are prone to colds should avoid cilantro. This is because these people often have varying degrees of qi deficiency. Cilantro's pungent nature can disperse qi, and long-term or excessive consumption can deplete qi and damage the spirit, thereby triggering or exacerbating qi deficiency and leading to more frequent colds. In addition to recurrent colds, those with qi deficiency often experience symptoms such as excessive sweating, fatigue, and lethargy. Individuals with obvious signs of qi deficiency should eat less or no cilantro. Postpartum and post-illness patients often also have a certain degree of qi deficiency, so they should also "keep their distance" from cilantro.
Although people who frequently catch colds should "draw a clear line" with cilantro, those who are strong, in good health, and only catch colds occasionally can use it to treat a cold. In clinical practice, TCM often uses pungent and warm herbs to release the exterior for treating wind-cold colds, and cilantro has exactly this effect. For a wind-cold cold, patients can take 9 grams of cilantro and 10 grams of scallion white, decoct them in water, add sugar for flavor, and consume the liquid. In addition, people with a deficient and cold spleen and stomach can eat cilantro in moderation to warm the stomach, dispel cold, aid digestion, and relieve stomach pain. You can make a cilantro porridge by adding tangerine peel (to aid digestion and regulate qi) and ginger (to warm the stomach and dispel cold) while cooking the congee, and sprinkle chopped cilantro just before serving.
People who experience stomach pain from eating greasy food can also ask cilantro to "help": take 50-100 grams of fresh cilantro, wash it, pound it into a paste, and take the juice to effectively relieve stomach pain.