A handful of culantro for about 10–15 cents: a sto.mach soother and a helper for lowering blo.od fats

Culantro leaves (also known as sawtooth coriander) are a familiar herb in Vietnamese kitchens. Beyond enhancing flavor, they offer notable health benefits that far exceed their very modest price.

This humble herb—sold for just a few thousand đồng per handful at local markets (around 10–15 cents)—is highly regarded by practitioners for its wide-ranging benefits. When used properly, culantro may help calm the stomach, support healing of the gastric lining, stimulate digestion, and even promote deeper sleep.

In traditional medicine, culantro is described as mildly spicy and slightly warming, associated with the lung and spleen meridians. It is believed to help regulate qi, strengthen digestion, relieve food stagnation, and dispel cold. People who often feel bloated, experience indigestion, chest tightness, or fatigue related to poor digestion may benefit from this herb.

According to traditional practitioners, culantro helps relieve qi stagnation in the middle burner (the spleen and stomach, which govern digestion and nutrient absorption). When circulation improves, symptoms such as bloating, acid reflux, and chest discomfort tend to ease, leaving the body feeling lighter and the mind more relaxed.

A simple handful of culantro can warm the stomach, especially helpful for people with a “cold” constitution who frequently feel abdominal chill or dull pain in the upper abdomen. The herb is also known to stimulate appetite and aid digestion.

How to use culantro:

• As a seasoning: Add finely chopped culantro to soups, porridge, stir-fries, or stews after turning off the heat. This helps preserve its aromatic oils and active compounds while gently warming the digestive system.

• Herbal drink: For frequent bloating, low urine output, or a heavy feeling in the body, wash one handful of culantro and boil it with about 1 liter of water and a few slices of ginger for 10–15 minutes. Let it cool slightly and drink 2–3 times a day. This drink is thought to ease stagnation, promote urination, and feel gentle on the body.

• Seeds: Culantro seeds are rich in fiber. People with high blood pressure or high cholesterol sometimes use the seeds to boil into a drink, traditionally believed to help cleanse the blood and reduce cholesterol levels.

Who should avoid culantro?

Although it is a common herb, culantro should be used appropriately when taken for therapeutic purposes. People with excessive internal heat—such as frequent constipation, acne, or mouth ulcers—should limit intake, as its warming nature may worsen symptoms.

Pregnant women in the first trimester should avoid consuming too many warming, spicy foods. Those with very weak digestion, frequent diarrhea, high fever, heatstroke, or dehydration are also advised to limit or avoid culantro.