Q. Several times, at Mexican or Italian restaurants, I have had a problem with my vocal cords. It becomes extremely difficult to carry on a conversation.
I have found that this condition seems to occur when I eat cilantro, so now I try to avoid it. Once the meal is over, my speaking voice returns to normal. Could cilantro be the culprit? If so, how and why?
A. Allergies to cilantro are not unknown, and could possibly have an effect on your larynx. If you want to be sure, you could ask an allergist to test you. But you are already taking the best action for this problem, which is to avoid the cilantro.
Cilantro, also known by the name coriander, is in the same family as anise, caraway and fennel. People with allergies to one of these plants may occasionally develop sensitivities to one or more of the others.
