What
is Ajwain?
Ajwain is a herb also
known as Bishops Weed.
This beneficial herb is
used in culinary process
as spice as well as a
major ingredient of
different kind of
medicines. Ajwain seeds
are small in size but
taste hot, penchant and
bitter. It acts as good
appetizer, laxative and
stomachic. It is used as
effective remedy in
managing ailments like
vomiting, mouth
diseases, pile,
treatment of ascites,
abdominal tumor,
abdominal pain etc.
Ajwain - Carom Seed
The spices of India are
famous all over the
world for adding taste
and flavor to a variety
of traditional Indian
dishes. Just as all the
other Indian spices,
carom seeds have their
own special way of
adding flavor to the
dish. They belong to the
family of Apiaceae
plants. Carom seeds are
called 'Ajwain' in India
and resemble cumin seeds
in their appearance.
However, the size of
these seeds is smaller
than cumin seeds. They
have a strong fragrance
and are similar to thyme
in taste, although
stronger in flavor. You
can use whole carom
seeds as well as grind
them to a powder. If you
want to use them as a
powder, it is
recommended to buy them
and grind them at home.
The usage of carom seeds
in garnishing the dishes
vary from one region to
another. However, the
use of these seeds are
particularly popular in
the northern part of the
country, and thus, you
will find the presence
of carom seeds in many
North Indian dishes as
compared to other
regions.
Carom seeds are
popularly used in 'Tadka'
or tempering pulses and
vegetables. This is a
process in which you
heat the oil and add
various spices to leave
their flavor and add
fragrance to the dish.
Along with other spices,
small quantities of
whole carom seeds are
used for tempering
dishes. Alternatively,
you can use powdered
ajwain for garnishing
purposes while cooking
vegetables. Carom seeds
are also widely used to
add flavor and taste to
'paranthas'. They
provide a distinct
flavor and smell to the
'paranthas' and helping
them be more digestible
at the same time.
Carom seeds work as good
preservatives and thus
they are frequently used
in pickles. These seeds
are also known for
facilitating digestion
and are often used as a
digestive after heavy
and rich meals. All you
need to do is simply
chew the seeds! However,
you can mix a little bit
of sugar to make the
taste better. Usually,
the raw seeds are quite
pungent to chew. You can
also boil carom seeds in
water and wait till the
water has become half.
This water is known to
be a very good digestive
and keeps all
indigestion and acidity
related problems away.
If you are suffering
from cold, you can mix
carom seeds with water
and take the steam after
boiling them. Like all
other Indian spices,
carom seeds also
continue to be known for
their multiple usages in
the Indian cuisine as
well as other health
related aspects.
Here are the few
health benefits of
Ajwain:
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.
In
an acute attack of
common cold or
migraine headache,
put Ajwain powder in
a thin cloth and
smell this
frequently. It gives
tremendous
symptomatic relief
according to some
Ayurvedic experts.
Ajwain is a very
good digestive. It
can be taken with
buttermilk to
alleviate digestion
related problems. It
is a good
anti-acidic agent.
If you have chronic
bronchitis and
asthma, take the
mixture of Ajwain
and jaggery, heat it
to make a paste and
take 2 teaspoonfuls
twice a day.
However, diabetics
should not take this
preparation because
of the sugar
content. It helps to
bring out the mucus
easily and
alleviates chronic
bronchitis and
asthma to great
extent. It also
helps in chronic
cold.
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.
Taking one teaspoon
of Ajwain with hot
water stimulates the
heart and relieves
heartache.
Ajwain oil can help
in relieving ear
ache with just one
or two drops in the
ear.
Ajwain oil can also
be used to massage
legs and knees to
get relief from pain
from arthritis. It
is beneficial in
treatment of
rheumatic and
neuralgic pain.
The smoke of burning
Ajwain seeds is
effective in
treating toothache.
Gargle with lukewarm
water prepared by
boiling of Ajwain
and little salt two
to three times a
day, it cures tooth
pain.
Ajwain is very
effective in curing
cough. Drinking hot
water after chewing
little Ajwain cures
cough. Chewing betel
leaf with Ajwain at
night before
sleeping controls
and cures dry
coughing.
A tablespoon of
crushed Ajwain tied
up in a small cloth
bundle can be used
for inhalation. It
also relieves nasal
congestion while
sleeping when placed
near the pillow.
A person suffering
from influenza
should drink the
boiled water with
3gms of Ajwain and
3gms of Cinnamon
bark for 3 days,
thrice a day. This
helps curing
influenza
to a great extent.
What
is Ajwain?
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.
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