Caraway (Carum Carvi) शाह जीरा: Health Benefits and Uses

All about Caraway (Carum Carvi) शाह जीरा

Caraway seed is one of the dominant spices featuring in several savory dishes. Strongly aromatic, caraway is a member in the parsley or Umbelliferae family. Caraway seeds have their own food value, and indeed, have several health benefiting nutrients, minerals, vitamins and anti-oxidants. Caraway seeds are rich source of dietary fiber. Caraway contains several health benefiting essential oils. Principle volatile compounds are carvone, limonene, carveol, pinen, cumuninic aldehyde, furfurol, and thujone. Caraway has several health benefiting flavonoid antioxidnats such as lutein, carotene, crypto-xanthin and zea-xanthin. Caraway spice is an excellent source of minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, selenium, zinc and magnesium. The caraway seeds indeed are the storehouse for many vital vitamins. Vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C as well as many B-complex vitamins like thiamin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and niacin particularly concentrated in the seeds. 

Common Names: Wild Cumin, Carvies, Black Carroway, Shahi Jeera, Vilayati Jeera, Siya Jeera,

Caraway Cures:-

Most Effective: Indigestion

Highly Effective: Bad Breath, ColiCentratherum

Effective: Abdominal Mass, Acid Reflux, Acne, Aging, Alzheimer, Anorexia, Anuria, Anxiety, Arrhythmia, Arthritis, Ascaris, Baldness, Belching, Bloating, Breast Milk Insufficient, Bronchitis, Bruises, Burns, Cancer, Cholera, Colon Cancer, Constipation, Cough, Cramps, Crohn's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Depression, Diabetes, Diarrhea, Difficult Menses, Digestive Disorders, Dysentery, Dysuria, Earache, Early Satiety, Epilepsy, Fatigue, Fever, Flatulence, Food Poisoning, Gastroenteritis Gastrointestinal Disorder, Gastroparesis, Gingivitis, Headache, Heart Disease, Hiatal Hernia, Hiccups, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Hoarseness, Hysteria, Impotence, Infections, Inflammation, Insanity, Insomnia, Irritable Bowl Moment, Kidney Stones, Laryngitis, Leucoderma, Liver Diseases, Lower Back Pain, Lung Cancer, Malaria, Meningitis, Menses Scanty, Menstrual Disorders, Muscle Spasm, Nausea, Nervous Disorders, Parkinson's disease, Peptic Ulcer, Piles, Pleurisy, Rheumatism, Ringworm, Scabies, Skin Diseases, Skin Rashes, Smelly Vaginal Fluid, Sore Throat, Spleen Enlargement, Stomach Ache, Stress, Tetanus, Throat Disorder, Toothache, Tuberculosis, Ulcers, Urinary Tract Infection, Urine Retention, Vomiting, Warts, Water Retention, Weak Eyesight, Wounds and Wrinkles.

Medicinal Benefits of Caraway: -

For Indigestion: Chew Caraway well and swallow.  

For Rheumatism: Boil 2 tablespoon seeds of Caraway (Shahi Jeera) in some water. Use it as a wash for Rheumatism.  Take 1/2 cup juice of Caraway for Rheumatism after meals for 15 days.

For Toothache: Apply Caraway oil on the affected tooth.

For Nerve Disorder: Take one handful Caraway. Put in 5 liters of water. Boil till it remains half. Add it in your bathing water and take bath.

For Cough, Cold: Add 1-2 tablespoon pressed seeds of Caraway (Shahi Jeera) in One cup of boiling water and steep for 10-15 minutes. Filter and drink.

For Bruises: Use Caraway (Shahi Jeera) as a poultice for Bruises.

For Flatulence: Take 2-3 tablespoons powdered seeds with half cup water.

For Sore Throat: Steep One tablespoon Seeds in One cup of water for 5-7 minutes. Strain and drink lukewarm or gargle with this lukewarm water.

Acid Reflux: Boil the seeds of Caraway (Shahi Jeera) in some water. Let it cool and drink or chew some seeds after every meal.

For Piles: Boil 1 tsp Caraway (Shahi Jeera) in a cup of water. Have it once a day. Caraway (Shahi Jeera) for Weak Eyesight: Consume 30 ml seed decoction of Caraway (Shahi Jeera) twice a day.

For Ascaris: Take quarter tsp Caraway (Shahi Jeera) seeds with lukewarm water. Have it twice a day.

Benefits with Combination of other Herbs

For Flatulence: Take Caraway, Chamomile and Sweet Flag. Prepare a decoction. Drink it two or three times a day.

For Diarrhea: Prepare a decoction of Caraway, Agrimony and Bayberry. Take twice a day.

For Colic: A decoction of Caraway, Chamomile and Sweet Flag is worth in case of colic.

For Bronchitis: Prepare a tea of Caraway seeds and dried White Horehound. Drink twice a day.

For Body ache: Take 8 peeled cloves of Garlic and one teaspoon Caraway. Pour them in 60 ml Mustard oil and heat till they turn black. Apply lukewarm on body at night.

For Gastroparesis: Take equal quantity of the following herbs - Wild Candytuft, Angelica root, Milk Thistle fruit, Caraway fruit, liquorice root, Peppermint, Chamomile flower, Chelidonium Majus and Lemon Balm leaves. Grind them together. Take one teaspoon powder with lukewarm water once a day or prepare a decoction of above given herbs. Drink half cup twice a day.

For Diabetes: Take barks in equal quantity of the following herbs - Arjuna, Blackberry, Caraway and Anthocephalus Cadamba (Kadam). Grind them together. Boil 5 teaspoons powder in half liter water. Have it twice a day for one month.

For Cough: Take one teaspoon Aniseed and 2 teaspoons Caraway. Boil in half jug of water. After it mix 2 teaspoons Honey. Have 2 teaspoons after every one hour.

For Cholera: Grind some Caraway with Zanthoxylum Budrunga fruit. Take One tablespoon with water.

For Rheumatism: Boil 10 grams dry Ginger (Adrak) and Caraway (Shah Jeera) in One cup of Mustard oil (Sarson). When both turn into red then put down the preparation and filter. Massage this oil on the knees twice a day.

For Stomach Ache: Mix 2 pinches of Caraway and one pinch Black Salt. Take it with lukewarm water.

For Toothache: Take one teaspoon Caraway and grind. Put in one glass lukewarm water. Add one teaspoon Salt. Swish with it twice a day.

For Toothache: Take equal quantity of Caraway and Sweet Flag. Powder them together. Keep one pinch on the affected tooth and press. Repeat every night and throw out in the morning.

For Nerve Disorder: Take the following dried herbs in equal quantity:

Valerian: Root

Field Mint: Leaves

Chamomile: Flowers

Caraway: Seeds

Basil: Leaves

Put all in a jar. Grind. Add one teaspoon in one cup hot water. Keep for 20 to 25 minutes and drink twice a day.

For Indigestion: Mix equal quantities of Aniseed, Caraway, Dill and Fennel. Add dried Mint leaves in it. Steep 1 tsp in 1/2 cup boiling water. Take 30 Minutes before a meal.

For Hoarseness: Prepare a decoction of Poppy seeds and Caraway seeds by taking them in equal quantity. Gargle with it twice a day.

For Flatulence: Take 4 leaves of both Mint and Peppermint. Add half tsp seeds of each Aniseed and Caraway. Prepare tea with it. Drink once a day.

For Indigestion: Take 3 parts of both Asafoedita (Hing) and Atractylodes and 2 teaspoons of Cumin Seed (Jira), Caraway Seed (Shahi Jeera), Long Pepper (Pippali), Black Pepper (Kali Mirch), Ginger (Adrak), Dandelion (Dudal), Slippery Elm, Green Citrus Peel and Rock Salt (Sendha Namak). Grind all these together and make a fine powder. Take One tablespoon after meals. It improves digestion and relieves gas.

For Colic: Take equal quantity of Cumin and Caraway seeds. Add a pinch of black Salt in it. Add it in Vinegar. Take half tsp of it after regular interval of time.

For Anorexia: Take equal quantity of Carom (Ajvayan), Fennel (Saunf), dried Ginger (Adrak), Salt and Caraway seeds (Shahi Jeera). Grind them to make powder. Take half tsp of it with your daily meal.

For Indigestion: Take crushed Caraway (Shahi Jeera), Lemon Balm (Billilotan) and Fennel Seed (Saunf) in equal parts. Infuse One teaspoon of this herbal blend in a cup of water for 10 minutes. Drink One cup after your dinner.

You can also add Valerian for a sound sleep.

Nutrients in Caraway

Caraway seed (Spices)
Carbohydrate Factor: 2.9 Fat Factor: 8.37 Protein Factor: 3.36 Nitrogen to Protein Conversion Factor: 6.25
Nutrient (Proximate)	Unit	per 100 g
Water	g	9.87
Energy	kcal	333
Protein	g	19.77
Total lipid (fat)	g	14.59
Ash	g	5.87
Carbohydrate, by difference	g	49.9
Fiber, total dietary	g	38
Sugars, total	g	0.64
Minerals
Calcium, Ca	mg	689
Iron, Fe	mg	16.23
Magnesium, Mg	mg	258
Phosphorus, P	mg	568
Potassium, K	mg	1351
Sodium, Na	mg	17
Zinc, Zn	mg	5.5
Copper, Cu	mg	0.91
Manganese, Mn	mg	1.3
Selenium, Se	µg	12.1
Vitamins
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid	mg	21
Thiamin	mg	0.383
Riboflavin	mg	0.379
Niacin	mg	3.606
Vitamin B-6	mg	0.36
Folate, total	µg	10
Folic acid	µg	0
Folate, food	µg	10
Folate, DFE	µg	10
Choline, total	mg	24.7
Vitamin B-12	µg	0
Vitamin B-12, added	µg	0
Vitamin A, RAE	µg	18
Retinol	µg	0
Carotene, beta	µg	206
Carotene, alpha	µg	8
Cryptoxanthin, beta	µg	16
Vitamin A, IU	IU	363
Lycopene	µg	20
Lutein + zeaxanthin	µg	454
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol)	mg	2.5
Vitamin E, added	mg	0
Vitamin D (D2 + D3)	µg	0
Vitamin D	IU	0
Vitamin K (phylloquinone)	µg	0
Lipids
Fatty acids, total saturated	g	0.62
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated	g	7.125
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated	g	3.272
Cholesterol	mg	0
Phytosterols	mg	76
Amino Acids
Tryptophan	g	0.244
Threonine	g	0.756
Isoleucine	g	0.826
Leucine	g	1.218
Lysine	g	1.031
Methionine	g	0.361
Cystine	g	0.329
Phenylalanine	g	0.867
Tyrosine	g	0.642
Valine	g	1.037
Arginine	g	1.252
Histidine	g	0.55
Alanine	g	0.914
Aspartic acid	g	2.084
Glutamic acid	g	3.169
Glycine	g	1.322
Proline	g	0.917
Serine	g	0.946
Alcohol, ethyl	g	0
Caffeine	mg	0
Theobromine	mg	0

Side Effects, Risk Factors of, and Cautions for Caraway

It may causes Indigestion in excessive intake.

Avoid use during Pregnancy or Breast-feeding.

Sedative effect of Caraway may cause Drowsiness and Nausea.

High dosage over a long period may cause Liver and kidney damage and may trigger epilepsy states in children.

Consult to your Doctor, if suffering from any major disease before consuming it as Caraway falls Blood Pressure drastically.

It causes the excessive Belching referred as burping, involves acute surplus of gas and bloats in the stomach.

Differencebetween Caraway and Cumin

CUMIN Seeds