Caraway

Carum carvi– Caraway, meridian fennel, Persian cumin
Apiaceae, formerly Umbelliferae ) – Celery family

The raw material is the caraway fruit – Carvi fructus, and the caraway oil obtained from the fruit – Carvi oleum. The fruit are harvested in the second year of vegetation (June-July), when they start to brown in the umbels. The cut plants are left in the field to dry and are then threshed.

Caraway – appearance and origin:

It is found in Europe, Asia and North Africa; in Poland in meadows and on roadsides. Caraway is grown and feralized in many countries, including Poland. It requires fertile, warm soil, rich in water and calcium. Caraway is propagated by seed. Because caraway crops are often plagued by bacteria and fungi, which prevents the fruit from being used to sow, in vitro micropropagation methods have been created, relying mainly on plant regeneration from apical buds, through somatic embriogenesis, and from artificial seeds. In the first year, caraway forms a leaf rosette, in the second a stem with a flower head, up to 70-80 cm tall, hollow, with bifid branches and oblong ribbings. The leaves have long petioles, are tripinnatisect, with narrow sepals. The flowers are small rays, white or pink, clustered in groups of 5-10 umbellules into composite umbels, with no operculum. The cremocarp is made up of 2 separate achenes, 4-6 mm in length, hanging on one hanger by thin threads, which after drying become fragile and break off easily. The ripe fruit are brown, elongated, a bit bended towards the inside, with 5 ribbings on the outside. The root is whiteish, fusiform and fleshy.
It blooms from May to July.

Caraway – effects and use:

It contains 2-7% oil (mainly carvone, limonene, carveol, dihydrocarvone), 22% greasy oil, protein compounds, polyacetylenes, sugars and flavonoids. The oil has a spasmolytic effect on smooth muscles of the bowels, especially the large intestine, and the bile duct; it enhances the secretion of gastric juice, prevents flatulence and has carminative activity. Caraway also acts as an antibacterial and antifungal. The fruit is also used for combinations and infusions. The oil is used externally to treat bacterial and fungal infections, for toothpastes and mouthwashes. The caraway oil is a source of natural carvone (substance with the aroma of caraway).

Caraway is similar in its effect to aniseed and dill. Caraway seeds relieve digestive symptoms, directly affecting bowel muscles in order to reduce colic and stomach cramps and also any type of flatulence. Additionally, the seeds refresh the breath, improve the appetite, relieve menstrual cramps, have diuretic and expectorant properties, and are nutritious to the body. They are often used in medication for bronchitis and cough, especially the ones made for children.

Caraway enhances lactation in nursing women. The dilluted oil is used to treat scabies. The astringent properties of caraway are useful in treating diarrhea, and also pharyngitis; caraway fruit gargles are effective for throat infections.
Caraway, especially in combination with chamomile and sweet flag, is an exceptional treatment to relieve flatulence and colic. Caraway can also be used with common agrimony and laurel berry to relieve diarrhea. Combined with white horehound, it relieves bronchitis symptoms.