Caraway ~ Carum carvi

Caraway

Latin name: Carum carvi

Family:  Umbelliferae

Part used:  fruit (seeds)

Habitat: native to Europe, Asia, and N. Africa; widely cultivated

Main constituents: essential oil (arvene, carvone, limonene), linoleic acid, oleic acid, flavonoids, polysaccharides, tannins, coumarins, resin, calcium oxalate

Energetics: pungent, warm, spicy

Main herbal actions: carminative, antispasmodic, stomach tonic, galactogogue

Minor herbal actions: antiseptic, aperitive, aromatic, astringent, circulatory stimulant, digestive tonic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, stimulant, tonic, vermifuge

Main medicinal uses: colic, cramps, Crohn’s disease, dyspepsia, flatulence, hiccups

Minor medicinal uses: dysmenorrhea, hysteria, wheezing, bruises (topical poultice), bronchitis, chemotherapy-induced nausea,

Preparations: infusion: 1 tsp crushed seed/cup water; 1:2.5 dry tincture: 20-30 gtt qd-qid; capsules: 0.5-2 g qd

Contraindications: unknown

Toxicity: unknown

Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; Wren, R.C. Potter’s New Encyclopedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations; http://www.vitamincity.com/herbs/caraway.htm
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Caraway Module 2 lecture

• Carminative (everything in the Umbelliferae family is carminative)
• Apiaceae
• Photohormones (mild) – emmenagogue, galactogogue, culinary spice
• Realistically it is not too potent
• Not anything too special
• Caraway, Anise, Cumin, Fennel are all parsley seeds