Ajwain Spice

Cultivation – Ajwain or also called Bishops weed or carom seeds. Its cultivation is best in black soil or at river banks. In south Asia it's a commonly used and grown herb. Almost all ancient civilizations used and cultivated Carom seeds. It's a small herbal plant grown annually with little hairy branches and stem. Its flowers are small and spread in rays with each ray having 10-20 flowers.

Taste and look – Rasa is Pungent and bitter. Seeds are brownish little greenish or greyish. Very small oval seeds. These seeds smell very strong and more like thyme.

Parts used – seeds, oil, flowers and extract. Dosha effect – Vata and Kapha balancing. It may increase Pitta if used in excess.

Ayurveda understanding – Its used as Ama cleansing, improving appetite or Agni stimulating. Good to improve digestion. It cleanses any kind of Ama or excess Kapha or mucus. It works on Vata so removes bloating and gas. Removes discomfort and spasmodic pain. But don't help in hard stool. It removes mucus so beneficial for breathing and cough problems. Can be chewed three four times a day to stop alcohol cravings.

Ingredients – proteins, fat, minerals, fibers, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, niacin, riboflavin’s. Thymol and choline’s are the main healing ingredients. It has peculiar warm thyme like scent and taste. Total Calories are 300 in around 100 gms.

Essential oils – Oil can be taken out by steam distillation. Its used in some perfumes. Healing qualities of oil – oil can be used with massage oils. Distilled water is used flatulence, indigestion and low appetite. Ark of water used in many Arabic countries also.

Effects of Ajwain-

Digestion – It cures spasms, gas, indigestion. Crushed seeds I teaspoonful with two pinch of rock salt with warm water one can take in case of indigestion or gas or spasm in stomach.

Oil can be used 3-4 drops in warm water. Used in diarrhea, flatulence, colic, indigestion colic or vomiting.

Mucus and asthma – one teaspoon in hot water twice a day. Its very effective in curing breathing problems and too much mucus.

Ayurvedic therapy – This is very effective therapy for common cold and breathing issues. Carom seeds are crushed and tied in pompom poultice and used for inhalation. Its very convenient way of using during travelling or can be used at night near pillow.

In dry cough condition it helps with half spoon of warm cows ghee. It can be used in soar throat, pharyngitis etc.

Tooth pain- Burnt seeds can be used for smoke or seeds boiled in water can be used as mouth wash or powder of seeds can be filled in cavity with clove oil.

Rheumatic pains- Carom seed oils few drops along with other herbal oils can be used to apply lightly on affected area.

After delivery cleansing of womb – Ajwain Saunf ka pani ( Fennel and carom seed water ) – This water cleanses uterus and improves milk production. Use 1⁄2 tbsp. carom seeds and 1 tbsp of fennel seeds in 1 litre of water. Boil for 5 mins sieve and keep for whole day use.

Oil apply and use Roasted seed powder for acidity and indigestion.

Health benefits – Stoamcahe – for pain, for salmonell infection, indigestion and spasms. Bloating, gas and acidity. Cold cough – baked seeds grind and in bolus inhaling. Asthma – make a kadha or decoction with jiggery DM – 1 tsp of ajwain in morning empty stomach with warm water,

In recepies – curd recepies. Mainly in breads, beans lentils, salty cookies or savoury baking snacks. Cab be added in last. Mostly used n fried snacks, caan be added to fritters, pakoda buttermilk.

Can be taken after food to aid digestion. Ajwain tea good is good in rainy winter and cold conditions.

Combination with other spices – turmeric, black pepper, coriander, fennel, paparika other spices

Ajwain tea – for cold, in rainy and cold weather. Very delicious to make Parantha, pickle,

Precaution – Keep seeds away from humidity and direct sun light. Too much consumption can cause nausea, vomiting, skin irritation, allergy and headaches. In hyperacidity one shpuld take precaution.