Carom seeds or ajwain as they are called in India, are the seeds of the ajwain plant, somewhat similar to thyme in flavour, though more pungent. The seed has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medication for centuries to treat digestive and gastric problems in adults and to treat respiratory and bronchial problems in infants and young children.
It is common in India and the Middle Eastern countries and is used in the cuisine regularly in the Eastern part of the world. In some cases, it is used as a flavouring agent for its strong flavour or as a medicinal aid in case of minor health problems like gas or abdominal pains.
Remedial Benefits in Infants or Children
- Half a teaspoon of ajwain seeds boiled for a few minutes in 100 ml of water, administered with a little sugar to sweeten it can help bring out the phlegm in infants.
- Ajwain fried in oil and that oil applied to the stomach can take care of abdominal pains and colic in infants, which makes them cry out in pain.
- Due to constant hiccups, at times infants collect a lot of gas in their tummies, and this leads them to bawl in pain. Roasted ajwain place in a cloth or beetel leaf over the tummy helps in relieving their tummy ache and in the release of gas.
- Similarly ajwain seeds roasted and mixed in honey can be administered in tiny quantities can help alleviate cough in infants.
- Some mothers pin a spoonful of these carom seeds to the infant’s shirt, right next to the collar or just under the nose so that as the infant inhales the aroma of the ajwain, its cold and cough become a thing of the past.
- Depending on the age of those suffering from ailments, ajwain tea can be used to bring relief from stomach upsets, colds and cough.
- Dry roasted ajwain (to bring out the aroma) and place these in a cloth when they are still warm. Apply this to the chest area to cure asthma or relieve wheezing symptoms.
Remedial Benefits in Adults
- It is the first kitchen remedy for gastrointestinal problems for the average Indian. Every Indian mother keeps ajwain in her kitchen remedy box, along with dried ginger, cloves, mace and nutmeg.
- It is also used to stimulate appetite; and one of the best ways to manage an upset stomach or diarrhoea is by using a tea of ajwain.
- It is used for many types of abdominal problems and gastrointestinal disorders like bloated abdomen, diarrhoea, vomiting, and nausea.
- It is also very effective as a relief aid to toothache along with clove and clove oil.
- Carom seeds are also used to fight acidity and heartburn.
- Most Indians, especially in the South, would pop a few carom seeds with buttermilk to alleviate heartburn, along with a little hing before trying anything else.
- Ajwain seeds are also very effective against headaches and migraine attacks. The aroma of the powdered ajwain helps relieve the severity of migraines.
- The oil extracted from these carom seeds can help in pain relief in those suffering from arthritis, knee and joint pains, etc when applied topically as it has excellent therapeutic effects.
- They are also used in treating ear infections.
In everyday cooking it is usually used as tea to flavour rotis (breads), biscuits, cookies and other such bakery products and various typical Indian savouries from across the country. The oil is used to treat various problems topically like arthritis and joint pains, ear aches and teeth sensitivities.
If the carom seed oil called thymol is not available, then a few spoonfuls of carom seeds seeped in coconut oil can do the trick at a pinch. The oil can also be used as a sexual tonic. It can be used in different combinations to treat sexual disorders, improve endurance and promote sexual health in both young and old individuals. To cure gastric problems and colic in young children, a warm tea, sweetened and given to the infant two to three times after feeding is the best possible remedy.
These are some of the many benefits of ajwain seeds.
