☘ Ayurvedam - Ajwain

Ajwain or Trachyspermum ammi is an annual herbal plant which belongs to the Apiaceae family.  Clad by other names such as ajowan, caraway, bishops weed or carom seeds, ajvan in Hindi, asmtavoman in Tamil, vamu in Telugu and omum in Malayalam, it is widely used in Indian cuisine.

Ajwain is a small, oval-shaped seed-like fruit similar to the seeds of cumin and fennel exhibiting pungent and bitter taste. It has an aroma close to thyme as it contains thymol. The plant is chiefly cultivated in Iraq, The Middle East, Afghanistan. In India, Rajasthan is the major producer of this crop about 55% of total output in the country and all you need is a little amount of ajwain to rule over the dish.

Ajwain seeds are dry roasted or used in tadka as a mixture of spices, fried in ghee to enhance the flavour of lentils and drizzled over baked goods like bread and biscuits. These wonder seeds hold a prominent place in Ayurvedic and Siddha medicine in treating various ailments. Because of its strong, dominant flavor, ajwain is used in small quantities and is almost always cooked. In Indian cooking, the spice is often part of the tadka in a dish. Tadka, or tempering, is a cooking method in which oil or butter (most often ghee) is heated until very hot, and whole spices are added and fried, creating what is called a chaunk. This oil and spice mixture is then incorporated into lentil dishes or added as a final touch or garnish to a dish. 

If cooking a dish high in fat or starch, raw or cooked ajwain can be added toward the end of the recipe; its sharpness is a pleasant counterpart to the richness of the ingredients. Otherwise, the seed benefits from a long cooking time as the heat mellows out the thyme flavor and brings out more of the anise aftertaste. The seeds are also used in bread and biscuit dough and then sprinkled over the top when baked.

If a recipe calls for powdered carom, the seeds should be roasted, cooled, and then ground into a fine powder.

* Recipes With Ajwain :

In Indian recipes, ajwain is used in curries and as a tadka in pakoras and dals, as well as a flavoring in breads. Middle Eastern recipes incorporate carom to boost the flavor of meat and rice dishes and as a preservative in chutneys, pickles, and jams.

The wealth of nutrients in ajwain includes a good source of dietary fibre, essential fatty acids and protein. It is also loaded with different types of essential oils like thymol, cymene, pinene, terpinene and limonene. The host of plant compounds in ajwain offers numerous health benefits and promotes overall well-being and health.

☆ Healing Health Perks Of Ajwain :-

1. Combats Infection :

The potential antibacterial and antifungal properties of ajwain are attributed to the goodness of active compounds thymol and carvacrol which impede the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. Several studies have revealed that ajwain seeds are potent to battle against bacteria like E. coli and salmonella that causes food poisoning and other gastrointestinal conditions. Furthermore, it acts as potent fungicide and germicide. When crushed and applied topically it heals the infections and treats wounds. 

 

2. Promotes Digestion :

Ajwain is one of the key ingredients used in Indian cooking due to its amazing gut healing properties. It holds a prominent place in treating various digestive conditions like acidity, indigestion and flatulence. The active enzymes in ajwain aids in promoting digestion by improving the secretion of gastric juices. Moreover, carom seeds extract is used to heal the sores of the esophagus, stomach and intestine and treats peptic ulcers.

3. Regulates Blood Pressure :

Uncontrolled blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Ajwain is used in traditional medicine for controlling high blood pressure. The active plant enzyme thymol in ajwain works as an effective calcium channel blocker. This averts calcium from entering blood vessels of the heart which relaxes and expands blood vessels thereby lowering blood pressure. According to Ayurveda ajwain exhibits antihypertensive properties that work well to control high blood pressure symptoms.

4.Treats Common Cold And Cough :

Studies reveal that carom seeds work as an effective anti coughing agent and provides instant relief from cough by enhancing the airflow to the lungs. It is also clear the nasal blockage by discharging the mucus easily. Make a powder of ajwain with jaggery and have this mixture twice daily to treat respiratory ailments like asthma and bronchitis. 

 

 5. Ajwain Water :

Ajwain or oma water is an excellent Ayurvedic remedy to treat indigestion problems. It helps in treating indigestion issues and eases irregular periods problem. Oma water is a traditional remedy given to babies to cure indigestion and flatulence. To make oma water, steep 2 teaspoons of roasted omum seeds in water, strain the decoction and drink. Drinking this water regularly is well-known to boost metabolism, burns fat and aids in losing weight.

6. Eases the Pain Due to Arthritis :

Ajwain seeds possess two qualities that help them fight arthritis. They have antibiotic properties that reduce redness and combat inflammation, and they possess anaesthetic properties that soothe the pain and swelling. As a home remedy, you can apply the paste of crushed seeds on the joints or soak in a tub of hot water with a handful of carom seeds.

7. Cleansing skin :

Ajwain powder is especially useful in lightening acne scars. Apply a paste on the affected area for 10-15 minutes and then rinse. This effective home remedy can come to great help in getting rid of dirt from the skin.

8. Mosquitos repellent :

If your market bought mosquito repellent fails to work, you can always make one at home. Combine mustard oil with ajwain seeds and apply on cardboard pieces which you can tie in the corners of your room to ward off mosquitoes. Using this spice as a repellent fills your house with a beautiful scent unlike the fumes released from coils.

9. To Stop Greying of Hair :

Ajwain seeds help in halting pre-mature greying of hair. To prepare this mixture, add curry leaves, dry grapes, sugar and carom seeds in a single cup of water and cook. Drink one glass of this every day until you start seeing the results.

10. For Cleaning Wounds :

A component called thymol in ajwain seeds acts as a strong fungicide and germicide. Thus, ajwain seeds can be crushed and applied on the skin to treat infections or cuts. So if next time you come across any such injury, bring carom seeds to your rescue.

11.  For Ear and Tooth Ache :

To ease a dreaded ear pain, two drops of ajwain oil are enough. For instant relief from tooth-ache, gargle with a mix of lukewarm water, 1 teaspoon of ajwain and salt. Simply inhaling the fumes of burning ajwain seeds can do wonders for an aching tooth. Besides this, it acts as a great mouth wash and maintains good oral hygiene.

☆ Side-Effects of Ajwain (Carom Seeds) :

Ajwain generally do not cause any side effects when consumed in moderate amounts. But over-consumption may lead to several adverse effects, such as; it may cause stomach ulcer and heartburns, leads to dizziness and nausea, increases liver problems, causes heart diseases, it increases the body temperature thus causing several problems during pregnancy, it may also cause photosensitivity.