Health Benefits of Ajwain, Medicinal Properties, Uses, and Dosage
The Health Benefits of Ajwain is known for centuries. According to Ayurveda, a small dosage of ajwain daily can maintain the digestive system. The whole plant is useful in treating various disorders because of the active compounds present in it. In Ayurveda, it is also called Oma.
Latin Name: Trachyspermum ammi
Family: Umbelliferae
Ajwain Names in different languages:
- English Name: Carom seeds
- Hindi Name: Ajvain, Ajwain, Javaayin, Ajavan, Ajovaam, Ajavaam, Jabaayan
- Punjabi Name: Jabain
- Telugu Name: Omasu, Omami, Vamu, Oma
- Kannada Name: Omada kalu, Oma
- Arabic Name: Kyunulmuluki
- Bengali Name: Yoyaan, Yavuyaan, Jovaan, Yamaarni
- Malayalam Name: Omam
- Farsi Name: Nanakhakha
- Gujarati Name: Yavaan, Ajamaa, Ajamo, Javaain
- Tamil Name: Omam, Jovaan, Yamaarni, Yavuyaan
- Arabic name: Kyunulmuluki
- Farsi Name: Nanakhaha
- Marathi Name: Onva
- Oriya Name: Juani
- Russian Name: Azhgon, Aiova
- Baluchi Name: Spirca, Ajowan
- Persian Name: Khordaneh, Nankhak, Zenian
- South Khorasan Name: Ajgho
- Dutch name: Ajowan
- German Name: Adiowan, Ajowan
- Hungarian Name: Ajovan
- Thai Name: Phak chi
Synonyms in the Sanskrit Language:
Ugragandga- It has a strong odor
Other synonyms are Yavagraja, Yavanika, Bhumikadambaka, Yavagraja, Teevragandha, Deepai, Yavasahva, Yavanaka, Bhutika, Deepyaka, Ajmodika, Brahmadarbha, Yavasahavaya
–——-shloka——-
This shloka means that synonyms of ajwain are yavanika, ugraganddha, bhrmadarbha, ajmodika, deepyaka, deepya, and yavsahvya. Ajwain is digestive, increases appetite, sharp, hot potency, pungent in taste, light to digest, increases digestive fire, bitter in taste, increases pitta dosha, and treats pain. It also vitiates vata and kapha dosha, treats abdominal disorders, splenomegaly, worm infestation.
(Reference: Bhavaprakasha nighantu- page no. 24 and shloka no. 76-77)
Categorization according to classical books:
According to-
Acharya Charak: Shoolaprashamana (herbs that help to relieve colic pain)
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu: Haritakyadi Varga
- Kaiyadeva Nighantu: Aushadi varga
- Shodala Nighantu: Shatapushpaadi Varga
- Raja Nighantu: Pippalyaadi Varga
- Dhanvantari Nighantu: Shatapushapdi varga
Morphological Characteristics of Ajwain
Ajwain is a perennial plant that grows annually and it is branched copiously with a stem that is very streak. Its leaves are 2 to 3 in number and divide pinnately with linear segments. The stem is covered with an umbel that has its inflorescence and these umbels have 16 umbellets.
These umbellets contain 16 flowers that are white and are very small. These are known as actinomorphic and these flowers have bi lobe petals that are present alternate to stamens. These both petals and stamens are five in number. Its ovary is present inferiorly with a knob-like stigma.
Fruits are cordate and ovoid and have an aromatic cremocarp that is greyish brown. Fruits are having 2 mericarps that are compressed and are having 2mm long and 1.7 mm wide. These are aromatic and grayish brown.
It is cultivated throughout India and mainly in Punjab, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. In other countries, it is native to Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Main Chemical constituents of Ajwain:
Thymol, terpinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, and para-cymene. All these active compounds have various medicinal properties.
Medicinal properties of Ajwain
- Rasa (Taste): Katu (Pungent) and Tikta (Bitter)
- Guna (Quality): Laghu (light), Rooksha (Dry), and Teekshna (Piercing)
- Veerya (Potency): Ushna (Hot)
- Vipaka (Undergoes taste change after digestion): Katu (Pungent)
- Karma (Effect on Tridosha): Vatakaohara (Balances Vata and kaoha dosha)
Some Medicinal benefits of Ajwain to Ayurveda:
- Krumi- Treats worm infestation
- Pleehoadara- Treats splenomegaly
- Anaha- Relieves abdominal bloating
- Shoola- Treats abdominal colic
- Deepani- Improves digestive fire
- Ruchya- Improves taste
- Panachani- Treats indigestion, loss of appetite
- Udara roga- Treats abdominal disorders like ascites
- Vishamaya- Treats poisoning and toxic conditions
- Gulmahara- Useful in abdominal tumor
Pharmacological activity:
Ajwain possesses antihypertensive, anti-nociceptive, antioxidant, antifungal, antispasmodic, antiarthritic, anti-flatulent, muscle relaxant, hypolipidemic, galactagogue, cytotoxic, antimicrobial, diuretic, antitussive, anti-lithiasis, bronchodilator, carminative, cardiac stimulant, antitussive, anti-filarial, anthelmintic, nematicidal, abortifacient, and antitussive.
Uses of Ajwain seeds:
Ajwain seeds show great importance in Indian cooking because it provides flavor and fragrance to food recipes. They have a strong aroma and give a unique taste to recipes and chapattis. Since ancient times, it has been used to treat abdominal pain, indigestion, loss of appetite, etc. These seeds contain volatile oil and heat will destroy them. So, add ajwain seeds only after cooking or in the final stage of cooking.
Health Benefits of Ajwain
Loss of appetite: Being a natural appetizer, it shows a great effect on the liver and stomach. It increases gastric secretion and digestive action. As an inflammatory, it reduces inflammation of hepatic tissue and treats fatty liver.
Abdominal bloating: Gas accumulation in the abdomen is the main cause of bloating. Ajwain seeds promote gas elimination and decrease excessive gas formation. It is used to maintain the easy digestion of food.
Indigestion: Ajwain helps to manage various digestive issues because of deepana and pachan property which helps to digest the food easily. As an antibacterial and carminative, it kills microbes and relieves flatulence. Thymol present in it releases gastric juices and enhances the process of digestion.
Asthma: Ajwain’s bronchodilator action dilates the bronchioles in the lungs and provides relief from asthma. As per Ayurveda, it balances aggravated Kapha dosha and helps to expel out mucus easily. This also helps to manage chronic bronchitis and asthma.
Kidney stone: In kidney stones, it works as a natural antilithiatic that lowers the risk of kidney stone formation. The antilithiatic protein in its seeds inhibits calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate deposition and prevents the formation of kidney stones.
Blood pressure: Uncontrollable blood pressure leads to a high risk of heart disease. This herb has been used in Ayurveda since ancient times to control blood pressure. Thymol present in it works as a great calcium channel blocker. It stops the calcium from entering into blood vessels of the heart.
Infection: Ajwain has antifungal and antibacterial properties which are due to the presence of carvacrol and thymol compounds. These compounds kill bacteria and fungi and also prevent their further growth like salmonella and E. coli. Its paste when applied topically heals the infection and treats wounds.
Conclusion:
From the article, it is concluded that it is unsafe to use ajwain during pregnancy because it can cause uterine contractions which leads to miscarriage. So it is necessary to consult your Doctor before using ajwain.
Note: Our purpose is to serve useful information related to Ajwain’s benefits, dosage, and other properties. It is advised to the patients not to consume ajwain on the basis of this information. Before taking ajwain as a medicine it is better to have an expert opinion because dosage and treatment vary from patient to patient depending on their symptoms and medical history.
Doctor Consultation Online: Get Personalized Consultation
At Life Aveda, we provide personalized online doctor consultations. In this, a doctor discusses the medical history of patients, does the root analysis on causes. After the deep analysis doctor suggest the necessary medication to the patient. To book a Consultation call on us at +91 7743002520 or click on the button to schedule an appointment with our expert doctors.
We Care For Your Health
- 100% PRIVACY PROTECTION
- VERIFIED DOCTORS
- QUICK RESPONSE
