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AJWAIN : An valuable unani ingredient Ajwain or
bishop's weed
is cultivated in black soil particularly along the riverbank
throughout India and also Iran, Egypt and Afghanistan. It is a
small, erect, annual shrub with soft fine hairs. It has many
branches of leafy stems, small feather like leaves, 4 to 12 rays
of flower heads, each bearing 6 to 16 flowers. The fruits are
minute, egg shaped and grayish. Ajwain is pungent and bitter,
spasmodic, germicidal, antiseptic, digestive, antipyretic,
expectorant and an extra ordinary tonic. Ajwain seeds consist of
moisture, protein, fat, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, calcium,
phosphorus, iron, carotene, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. The
ajwain seeds combine the powerful and stimulant qualities of
capsicum, bitter property of chiretta and anti spasmodic qualities
of asafoetida. An essential oil is eracted by steam distillation
of the crushed seeds of ajwain. This valued considerably in
medicine on account of the presence of thymol. For a long time
this oil was the main source of thymol. Ajwain has been used as a
carminative medicine from the ancient times. Famous Greek
physician like, Dioscrides and Gelen used it in various
medications. Some very valuable unani medicines are prepared from
ajwain seeds.
Synonym
bot Carum ajowan, Trachyspermum ammi, Ptychotis ajowan,
Trachyspermum copticum
pharm : Fructus Ajowani
Amharic : Netch Azmud
Arabic : Taleb el koubs, Buranikataya
Dutch : Ajowan
English : Carom, Ajowan, Bishop's Weed
Estonian : Lõhnav karusköömen
Main Constituents
The essential oil
(2.5 to 5% in the dried fruits) is dominated by thymol (35 to
60%); furthermore, α-pinene, p-cymene, limonene and γ-terpinene
have been found.
In the essential oil distilled from aerial parts (flowers, leaves)
of ajwain grown in Algeria, however, isothymol (50%) was found to
be the dominant constituent before p-cymene, thymol, limonene and
γ-terpinene. Note, however, that the name isothymol is not well
defined and might refer to both 2-isopropyl-4-methylphenol and
3-isopropyl-6-methylphenol (carvacrol).
History
Eastern Mediterranean, maybe Egypt. The main cultivation areas
today are Persia and India
Health
Ajwain is an indigenous spice used in ayurveda from ancient times.
Housewives know it's medicinal value very well. Let us look at
some more benefits of ajwain.
1. Ajwain is very useful in alleviating spasmodic pains of the
stomach and intestines, in adults as well as children. Any colicky
pain due to flatulence (gas), indigestion and infections in the
intestines can easily be relieved by taking one teaspoonful of
ajwain along with 2-3 pinches of common salt in warm water. Use
half the dose in children.
2. If you have chronic bronchitis and asthma, mix ajwain with
jaggery (gur). Heat the mixture to
make a paste and take 2 teaspoonsful twice a day. However,
diabetics should not take this preparation because of the sugar
content. It helps to bring out the mucus easily. It also helps in
chronic cold.
3. In an acute attack of common cold or migraine headache, put
omum powder in a thin cloth and smell this frequently. It gives
tremendous symptomatic relief according to some ayurvedic experts.
4. If people who consume excessive alcohol develop discomfort in
the stomach, taking ajwain twice a day, will be very useful. It
will also reduce the craving and desire for alcohol.
5. Ajwain is a good digestive. Mixed with buttermilk it is a good
anti-acidic agent.
Recipes
Healing power & curative properties: - The oil of ajwain is
an almost colourless to brownish liquid with characteristic odour
and a sharp hot taste. Ajwain is called omam in the southern part
of India. Omam (ajwain) water that is the water distilled from the
seeds in an excellent carminative that cures flatulence,
indigestion & low appetite. This water is a household medicine not
only in south India but also in Srilanka, Malaysia and even in
some Arabian countries.
Gastro-intestinal disorders: - For relieving flatulence,
dyspepsia and spasmodic disorders, the seeds may be eaten with
betel leaves. A teaspoon of ajwain with a little rock salt is a
household remedy for indigestion. Ajwain oil given in doses of 1
to 3 drops is useful in cholera, flatulent, colic, diarrhoea, a
tonic dyspepsia and indigestion. Ajwain water is given in doses of
30 to 60 grams to check vomiting in early stages of cholera.
Bronchitis and asthma: - Taking one-teaspoon ajwain with
hot water morning and evening lesson sputum.
Cold & cough: -
1. A tablespoon of seeds crushed and tied up in a small cloth
bundle can be used for inhalation.
2. A similar bundle placed near the pillow, while sleeping, also
relieves nasal congestion.
3. Drinking hot water after chewing little ajwain cures cough.
4. -Chewing betel leaf with ajwain at night before sleeping
controls and cures dry coughing.
Influenza: -
Drinking boiled water with 3 GMS ajwain seeds and 3 GMS cinnamon
bark for 3 days-thrice a day cures influenza.
Toothache: - Give smoke to the aching tooth by burning
ajwain seeds after two hour do gargle with lukewarm water
(prepared by boiling 1 tsp. ground ajwain with (little salt) two
to three times a day, it cures tooth pain.
Earache: - putting one two drops of ajwain oil relieves
earache.
Heartache: - taking one-tsp. ajwain with hot water
stimulates the heart and relieves heartache.
Rheumatism: - the oil extracted from seeds is beneficial in
the treatment of rheumatic and neuralgic pains. It should be
applied on the affected parts.
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