Herbs Series – Ajwain or Carom Seeds

Herbs Series – Ajwain or Carom Seeds (Bishop Weed): – Ajwain has been used from ancient times in India, African, and Middle Eastern countries for cooking which also boosts the flavor of dishes and acts as a preservative in chutneys, pickles, and jams. Ajwain or carom seeds are also known for their medicinal value, especially in curing gastrointestinal problems like indigestion, flatulence, and colic pain. They contain a unique source of digestive fibers that helps in keeping good gut health.

Ajwain seeds possess carminative, antimicrobial, and liver-protective properties. It is also known to have blood pressure lowering and broncho dilatory (the substance that increases airflow to the lungs) properties. Ajwain water is an effective home remedy for indigestion and acidity. It can be prepared by adding slightly roasted Ajwain seeds to a glass of warm.

हिंदी पोस्ट के लिए कृपया यहां क्लिक करें

They have a slew of benefits apart from just curing an upset stomach. Let’s take you through the health benefits of ajwain water on hair, skin weight loss, and more.

Preparing Ajwain Water and Its Benefits

Ajwain can be taken raw, in powdered form or Ajwain water can be prepared. There are two ways of preparing  Ajwain water.

Method 1 – Take 1½ tsp Ajwain Seeds and soak them in one cup of water. Drink this water in the morning empty stomach with or without honey.

Method 2 – Combine 2 tsp of Ajwain seed with two cups of water and boil it for 8 to 10 minutes. Strain it and cool it. You can drink it warm or cool or use it for the desired purpose.

Carom seeds, also known as ajwain, are commonly used in Indian cooking and traditional medicine. Drinking carom seed water is believed to have several health benefits, including:

1. Improving Digestion: Carom seeds contain an essential oil called thymol, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can help improve digestion. Drinking carom seed water after meals can help relieve gas, bloating, and indigestion.

2. Relieving Respiratory Issues: The essential oils in carom seeds have expectorant properties, which can help loosen mucus and relieve coughing. Drinking carom seed water may help alleviate respiratory issues like asthma, bronchitis, and colds.

3. Reducing Inflammation: Thymol, the active ingredient in carom seeds, has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce inflammation in the body. Drinking carom seed water may help reduce inflammation-related conditions like arthritis, eczema, and psoriasis.

4. Improving Heart Health: Carom seeds contain high levels of antioxidants, which can help protect the heart from damage caused by free radicals. Drinking carom seed water may help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.

5. Enhancing Immunity: Carom seeds contain vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, iron, and calcium, which are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system. Drinking carom seed water may help enhance immunity and protect the body from infections.

Health Benefits of Ajwain

• Acidity: Carom seeds are the best bulwark against acidity, especially when taken along with the ginger powder and cumin for curing flatulence, carom seeds work best when they are soaked in lime juice, dried, and then consumed with warm water daily. This works as a miracle against flatulence.
• Pain Relief: It contains the glycoside khellin, which has been found to reduce the pain of Kidney stones by relieving muscle spasms due to stone pressure.
• Asthma: One of the important health benefits of ajwain seed is that ajwain water cleans mucus from the body and provides relief from colds and coughs. Apart from this, it also helps in treating bronchitis and asthma. The effects are even better if you take ajwain with jaggery twice a day. For best relief from cold, inhale the steam of carom seeds infused in hot water.
• Arthritis: A massage with carom seeds oil on joints affected with arthritis is an excellent way to get rid of the pain.
• Liver and kidney malfunction: Ajwain water treats intestinal pains caused due to indigestion and also gets rid of liver and kidney malfunctions.
• Weight loss: Ajwain water taken on an empty stomach every day helps dissolve body fat and helps to reduce weight. You can also consume 1tsp of carom seeds on an empty stomach every morning to reap its weight loss benefits.
• Tooth pain: Ajwain seeds have been proven to cure tooth pain. Ajwain oil mixed with olive oil and water is an excellent panacea for toothache and bad mouth odour. This mixture also maintains oral hygiene.
• Itching, boils, and eczema: Ajwain seeds ground into a paste with lukewarm water and applied on the affected parts of the body can get rid of boils and itching.
• Trembles: Ajwain soaked in water in the night and consumed the next morning on a daily basis is useful in treating trembling and shaking of limbs.
• Flu: Carom seeds boiled with cinnamon powder in water is one of the best natural remedies for flu.
• Diarrhea: Benefits of ajwain seeds are many and one of that ajwain water taken twice daily is an excellent cure for diarrhea.
• Menstrual cramps: Ajwain water is an excellent remedy for getting regular periods and Carom seeds work as a nerve tonic and are used to relax nerves during menses, decreasing menstrual cramps. You can also apply carom seed oil on the lower abdomen to get relief.
• Heart: If you feel chest pain, then you get relief using Ajwain water. To cure chest pain and get relief instantly, you can add jaggery.
• Lactation: Ajwain water is excellent for lactating women as it increases milk.

Nutritional composition of Ajwain

The nutritional composition of Ajwain is given in the below:

Component Content (per 100 g)

Carbs 43 g, Protein 16 g, Fat 25 g, Fibre  39.2 g, Sodium 10 mg, Iron 4 mg, Vit C 4 mg, Total calories 305 Kcal

Side effects and precautions of Ajwain

• Consuming excess Ajwain seeds can lead to gas production in the stomach, leading to acidity and reflux.
• Some peoples are allergic to Ajwain seed, which is due to the presence of thymol, which can cause dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
• Some of the Ajwain seeds bioactive compounds are potent, and they can cause inflammation in the mouth, resulting in a burning sensation and mouth ulcers.
• Pregnant women should avoid taking an excessive amount of Ajwain due to potential adverse effects on fetal development.
• Higher amounts of oral administration of Ajwain seeds are considered toxic; it can result in fatal poisoning.
• Intake of Ajwain supplements might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Therefore, it is advised to stop the intake of Ajwain 2 weeks before the surgery.

Interactions of Ajwain

• Sometimes ajwain can slow the clotting of blood. If someone is taking medications like blood thinners, then they should be cautious while consuming ajwain. Medicines like ibuprofen, diclofenac, warfarin and aspirin contain blood thinners.
• Ajwain can also interfere with medication that gets broken down in the liver. Medicines like lovastatin, ketoconazole, and itraconazole are broken down in the liver. Consult a doctor before consuming ajwain if you are taking any of these medicines.
• If you are taking medication that puts stress on the liver, then it is best to avoid ajwain, Ajwain can increase the chances of liver damage along with medication that already damages the liver.

FAQs

Q1 Is Ajwain useful in intestinal infections?

Ans. Yes, Ajwain helps treat intestinal infections. It is known that the antihelmintic property of Ajwain seeds aids in the treatment of intestinal infections. Inhibiting the activity of parasites directly affects their metabolism.

Q2 Does Ajwain help in weight loss?

Ans. Yes, Ajwain helps in weight loss. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Ajwain extract directly aid in weight loss. Additionally, Ajwain aids in the elimination of toxins from the body and improves digestion, thereby addressing issues like gas, acidity, and constipation.

Q 3 Is it good to consume Ajwain every day?

Ans. Yes, it is safe to eat Ajwain seeds every day. A spoonful of Ajwain can help your body prepare its digestive system for the rest of the day by being chewed on first thing in the morning.

Q4 When should I drink Ajwain water?

Ans.The best time to consume Ajwain water is in the morning. Prepare the drink by soaking ajwain seeds in water overnight. Strain the water in the morning, add some honey and drink. Make sure to drink it on an empty stomach. Make it a habit for 3 months to really start noticing the results.

Summary

Ayurvedic herbal preparations and traditional Indian cooking have both made use of ajwain seeds. Ajwain seeds contain strong antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidative parts. Lotions and ointments for skin treatments are made with ajwain seed oil. The natural concentrates of Ajwain seed have antibacterial and mitigating properties, and hence they are powerful in treating peptic ulcers, lessening pulse and cholesterol levels.