Papaya - a world class meat tenderizer, natural digestive aid, prevents ulcers, and also a soft contact lense cleaner.Coriander The Safety Factor
The Food and Drug Administration includes coriander in its list of herbs generally regarded as safe. For otherwise healthy non-pregnant, non-nursing adults, coriander is considered safe in amounts typically recommended.
Coriander should be used in medicinal amounts only in consultation with your doctor If coriander causes minor discomforts, such as stomach upset or diarrhea, use less or stop using it. Let your doctor know if you experience any unpleasant effects or if the symptoms for which the herb is being used do not improve significantly in two weeks.
Great for the Garden
Coriander is a bright green, 3-foot annual with lobed lower leaves and lacy upper leaves. Its seeds are small, spherical, ribbed, and brownish. They develop in clusters and when fresh emit an odor that has been compared to burned rubber As they ripen, however, they develop their characteristic spicy fragrance.
Coriander grows easily from seeds sown ½ inch deep in April or May in most parts of the United States. Germination takes up to three weeks, and the plant produces seeds in about three months.
Coriander grows best in moist, well-drained, moderately rich soil under full sun, but it tolerates some shade. Thin plants to 9-inch spacing. Do not over-fertilize. Excess nitrogen impairs the herb’s flavor and aroma.
An extra bonus from growing coriander is the leaveswhich are known in their own right as cilantro, a tasty seasoning herb. To harvest cilantro, cut the small, immature leaves for best flavor.
To harvest coriander seeds, wait until a majority have turned from green to brownish, around the time their aroma stops being unpleasant. Dry and store in airtight jars. The flavor of whole coriander improves with age. Let some seeds fall, and the plant will self-sow.