Cilantro Allergies: Hard To Diagnose

People who discover they have cilantro allergies may be surprised to discover that such a small herb can have such a huge impact.  Cilantro itself is the leaf part of the plant known as Coriander.  This plant is included in the parsley family; and, it is also known as Chinese parsley.  Historically, cilantro was one of the first cultivated plants grown in North America.  It is also mentioned in the Medical Papyrus of Thebes that was written in 1552 B.C. This is a popular additive to many different types of foods, from Mexican, Indian, to Asian and TexMex.  People with cilantro allergies have to be vigilant on what is in their food.

Discovering The Cilantro Allergies Connection

Since cilantro is included in many recipes, it can be difficult to discover what exactly is causing an allergic reaction.  Like other food allergy sufferers, people with cilantro allergies have a diverse reaction to this herb.  People with these allergies may discover that when they eat this they break out in hives, vomit, and have a tingling of the tongue sensation or stomach cramps and even diarrhea.  In the most extreme cases, people can experience breathing difficulties, including an asthma attack or even anaphylaxis shock. 

If this occurs medical intervention is needed immediately and people may need an epinephrine shot to reverse the reaction. In some cases, it might be advisable to only eat certain trusted food which do not bring about Cilantro Allergies.

When investigating what has caused any type of reaction to a food, a food diary may be the best place to start.  Document what has been eaten and the reaction to the food.  Getting a clearer picture of what foods seem to bring on food allergy symptoms can begin to narrow the field of possible allergens down.  People with may have a more difficult time with this process, as cilantro is added into so many foods. In the end, people with cilantro allergies may need to see a board certified allergist in order to get a skin-prick test done to really confirm this allergy.

Living with Cilantro Allergies

Having a cilantro allergy is challenging, but can be dealt with.  Again, people suffering with these allergies need to be aware of what is in the foods they are eating.  Going out to eat may require a phone call ahead of time to discover what foods contain cilantro.  Since it is very popular in Mexican, TexMex, Indian and Asian foods, these may be restaurants that need to be avoided. 

People with cilantro allergies can control their environment at home to avoid cilantro.  Anyone can expect to be more aware of what they are eating; but, this allergy can be controlled. Also eating only those foods which have been known to be safe should be taken when in doubt. A little care taken in your diet can go a long way in preventing allergy problems.