Caraway

Seeds (fruit)- Carum Carvi

Umbelliferae or Apiaceae
Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia
Part used is fruit (though leaves have similar properties)
History

Long history, mentioned by Pliny
Dioscorides recommended the oil for pale faced girls
Popular in the middle ages, mentioned in Shakespeares Henry IV
Widely used as a Glavouring in Europe and Asia
Tradition had it that they gave the gift of retention (vs theft and Gickle love)
Cultivation
28% cultivated in Finland as well suited to the Finnish climate and latitudes which
ensure long hours of sunlight in the summer.
Like many umbellifers, is a useful companion plant. It can hide the scent of
neighbouring crops from pest insects, as well as attracting beneGicial insects to its
Glowers.

Composition
The fruits, have a pungent, aniseed Glavor and aroma
i. Volatile oil, consisting of carvone (40-60%), and limonene, with dihydrocarvone,
carveol, dihydrocarveol,pinene, thujone, anethofuran.
ii. A series of p-menthane trials and their glucosides
iii. Flavonoids, mainly quercetin derivatives
Usage
Widely used in Ayurveda and Unani. Less so in Western Herbal Medicine, no one
seems to sell tincture, just seeds or essential oil.
Long tradition of medical uses, primarily for stomach complaints. Often used for
Wind and Colic in Children, loss of appetite, Glatulant indigestion, diarrhoea in
children, colds, period pains, stimulate Glow of breast milk
Antimicrobial
Antispasmodic
Carminative
Expectorant
Galactagogue
Emmenagogue
Dosage
Tea 1 teaspoon to half a cup of boiling water 3 times a day
Tincture 1:5 45% 10ml - 70ml (BNF)
Research
Antioxidant - particularly the oil in vivo (polyphenols)
Antimicrobial - particularly carvacrol in vivo
Anti carcinogenic - dietary supplements prevent colon cancer in rats
Anti diabetic - Anti-hyperglcemic action in diabetic rats
Diuretic - Shown to be effective on rats
Oestrogenic - In rats showed to modulate FSH and LH
Gastrointestinal - Human trials showed success in receiving dyspepsia, thought to
be by inhibitory affect on smooth muscle in GIT. In vivo showed effect against
helicobacter pylori.
Cholesterol and tryglyceride lowering - lowers both in rats
Bioenhancer for tuberculosis medicines - Shown to enhance combination of
rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide used in tuberculosis treatment

References
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