Ajwain Seeds and Water – Side Effects & Health Benefits

Ajwain, also called bishop’s weed or carom, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae (members including cumin, celery, fennel, carrot, coriander, chervil, dill, and caraway). With origins in Pakistan and India, this plant grows up to 2-3 feet in height.

Traditional Chinese medicine has used this plant for treating numerous disorders as well as a spice.

Its flavor resembles thyme since it contains thymol essential oil.

Health benefits of carom seeds:

Improves digestion

Thymol, the essential oil obtained from this plant, has local antibacterial, anesthetic, antifungal, and antiseptic properties.

It is a chemical that facilitates the release of gastric juices from the stomach, therefore, speeds up the process of digestion.

Furthermore, this oil contains powerful substances which serve as an expectorant for individuals suffering from different disorders.

A combination of these seeds with fennel will relieve bloating and gas.

In addition, consuming a glass of warm water combined with 1 tsp of these seeds serves as one of the best home remedies for stomach aches due to indigestion.

Weight loss

The United States leads the pack with a 36 percent obesity prevalence.

Furthermore, obesity has become a global epidemic with more than 600 million individuals worldwide classified as obese (+30 BMI).

According to a 2014 animal study that was published in Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, one of the active substances in this plant may help to limit weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet, which is encouraging considering the fact that the majority of the population is eating a high-fat diet.

Urticaria natural treatment

Hives, also known as urticaria, are red raised welts on the skin which appear in many different sizes and shapes. They can appear especially on the lips, face, throat, tongue, or ears.

Urticaria commonly causes itching, but may also sting or burn. Using a paste from these seeds is a good home remedy for reducing the itching intensity.

Home remedy for upper respiratory infections

Upper respiratory infections (URI) are the most usual disorders resulting in missed school or work in the United States.

In addition, they are one of the most frequent reasons for doctor visits.

The upper respiratory tract includes the throat, nose, larynx, pharynx, and bronchi.

Upper respiratory infections range from the typical cold to life-threatening diseases, like epiglottitis.

These seeds have bactericidal, bacteriostatic, and antibacterial properties that help to fight off URIs.

Stomach ache relief

Oma water (aka ajwain water) is an easy and a special treatment in Ayurvedic medicine, especially for women.

If a sufferer needs instant relief against constipation, gastritis, stomach indigestion, ache, one of the best natural remedies is oma water.

More importantly, ingesting this therapeutic water stops bouts of vomiting.

Tooth pain

Toothaches will make anyone (no matter how strong he is) feel miserable and can frequently be caused when the nerve to a tooth is irritated. However, there are other potential causes for toothaches.

An ancient remedy for this problem is to floss your mouth in the morning and before going to bed with a paste of clove oil and carom oil. Moreover, chewing these seeds daily along with fennel seeds is another effective method of keeping bad breath away or a recurring toothache.

Prevents iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is the most usual type of anemia (especially for pregnant women), and it occurs when your physical body doesn’t have enough of this essential mineral. Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency include:

• weakness and extreme fatigue;
• feeling weak or tired during physical exercise;
• fast heartbeat, chest pain, or shortness of breath;
• pale skin color;
• cold feet and hands;
• problems thinking or concentrating;
• soreness of your tongue;
• dizziness, headache, or lightheadedness;
• brittle nails;
• a desire to eat ice;
• feeling lightheaded when you stand up.

Treatment of iron deficiency anemia will depend on the severity and cause of the condition. However, consuming these seeds regularly lowers considerably the chance of having this problem.

Rich in fiber

The benefits of dietary fiber are important for your overall health and you should consume foods rich in fiber.

Not getting enough dietary fiber causes you to store excess body waste, which will eventually lead to toxic build-up.

Moreover, this can make you more lethargic and less likely to practice physical exercise.

Additionally, dietary fiber (especially soluble fiber) lowers your total cholesterol levels by blocking LDL (bad) cholesterol from making it into the bloodstream.

Nutrition facts about bishop’s weed

The seeds are rich in dietary fiber (39 percent), minerals (calcium, iron, and phosphorus), vitamins (vitamin A, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin) and antioxidants as well as being a good source of protein (16 percent), polyunsaturated fat, and carbohydrates.

They also contain oil (consisting mainly of gamma-terpinene, thymol, and terpenoids) which is an almost colorless liquid with a sharp hot taste and a special odor.

How to eat

These seeds are sprinkled over biscuits and bread but they are also dry-roasted.

They are usually added to pickles and curries and in combination with other foods rich in protein to improve its digestibility.

In addition, in some parts of Pakistan, they are served with potatoes and green beans. In India, the seeds are added to bread.

The best substitute for bishop’s weed would actually be dried oregano.

Selection and storage

Since carom is rarely if ever used as a powder in cooking, it is commonly sold in seed form. You can store these seeds in an air-tight bottle in a dry and cool place.

It is recommended to keep them away from direct sunlight and also from humidity.

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Side effects of ajwain water and seeds              

Avoid eating too much of these seeds because it can lead to vomiting, nausea, allergy, skin irritation, dizziness, and headache.

During pregnancy

It is important that pregnant women should not eat these seeds daily because they are known to increase the heat and have the potential to cause miscarriage.

Image source – Shutterstock

ALSO READ: 11 Healing Herbs and Spices That Will Improve Your Health

Sources

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358968/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310772378_Study_of
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11556910