Caraway Seeds (fruit)- Carum Carvi

Umbelliferae or Apiaceae Native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia Part used is fruit (though leaves have similar properties) History Long history, mentioned by Pliny Dioscorides recommended the oil for pale faced girls Popular in the middle ages, mentioned in Shakespeares Henry IV Widely used as a Glavouring in Europe and Asia Tradition had it that they gave the gift of retention (vs theft and Gickle love) Cultivation 28% cultivated in Finland as well suited to the Finnish climate and latitudes which ensure long hours of sunlight in the summer. Like many umbellifers, is a useful companion plant. It can hide the scent of neighbouring crops from pest insects, as well as attracting beneGicial insects to its Glowers.

Composition The fruits, have a pungent, aniseed Glavor and aroma i. Volatile oil, consisting of carvone (40-60%), and limonene, with dihydrocarvone, carveol, dihydrocarveol,pinene, thujone, anethofuran. ii. A series of p-menthane trials and their glucosides iii. Flavonoids, mainly quercetin derivatives Usage Widely used in Ayurveda and Unani. Less so in Western Herbal Medicine, no one seems to sell tincture, just seeds or essential oil. Long tradition of medical uses, primarily for stomach complaints. Often used for Wind and Colic in Children, loss of appetite, Glatulant indigestion, diarrhoea in children, colds, period pains, stimulate Glow of breast milk Antimicrobial Antispasmodic Carminative Expectorant Galactagogue Emmenagogue Dosage Tea 1 teaspoon to half a cup of boiling water 3 times a day Tincture 1:5 45% 10ml - 70ml (BNF) Research Antioxidant - particularly the oil in vivo (polyphenols) Antimicrobial - particularly carvacrol in vivo Anti carcinogenic - dietary supplements prevent colon cancer in rats Anti diabetic - Anti-hyperglcemic action in diabetic rats Diuretic - Shown to be effective on rats Oestrogenic - In rats showed to modulate FSH and LH Gastrointestinal - Human trials showed success in receiving dyspepsia, thought to be by inhibitory affect on smooth muscle in GIT. In vivo showed effect against helicobacter pylori. Cholesterol and tryglyceride lowering - lowers both in rats Bioenhancer for tuberculosis medicines - Shown to enhance combination of rifampicin, isoniazid, and pyrazinamide used in tuberculosis treatment

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