Carum carvi Health Dictionary

Linn.

Family: Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.

Habitat: Native to Europe and West Asia. Now cultivated in Bihar, Orissa, Punjab, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and in the hills of Kumaon, Garhwal, Kashmir and Chamba.

Also found wild in the North Himalayan regions.

English: Caraway.

Ayurvedic: Krishna jiraka, Jiraa, Kaaravi, Asita Jiraka, Kaashmira- jiraka, Prithvikaa, Upakunchikaa, Sugandha Udgaar, Shodhana.

Unani: Zeeraa Siyaah, Kamoon, Kamoon-roomi.

Siddha/Tamil: Shimai-shembu, Semai Seearagam, Karamjiragam.

Action: Carminative, antispas- modic, antimicrobial, expectorant, galactagogue, emmenagogue.

Key application: Seed oil—in dyspeptic problems, such as mild, sapstic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, bloating and fullness. (German Commission E, ESCOP, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.) The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommended the seed in chronic fevers.

The fruit contains a volatile oil consisting of carvone (40-60%) and limoline with other constituents; flavonoids, mainly quercetin derivatives, polysac- charides and a fixed oil; also calcium oxalate.

The antispasmodic and carminative effects have been confirmed experimentally. The caraway has shown to reduce gastrointestinal foam.

Both the seeds and the essential oil are classed as carminative in I.P.

The essential oil shows moderate antibacterial and antifungal activity against several bacteria and fungi. Mixed with alcohol and castor oil, it is used for scabies.

Dosage: Seed—1-3 g powder. (CCRAS.)