Bishop's Weed Benefits Remedies Origin Nutritive Value Medicinal Virtues Uses Ajwain Carom Seeds

BISHOP’S WEED (Carom Seeds/Ajwain)

Description

Bishop’s weed (Trachyspermum ammi) plant belongs to coriander family, and resembles dill plant. It is a small, erect, annual shrub which grows upto about 1 meter. It has soft fine hair. The stems of the plant are much branched and leafy. It has feather like leaves 2.5 cm long; and 4 to 12 ray flowerheads, each bearing 6 to 16 flowers. The fruits are minute, egg-shaped and greyish.

The dry seeds are harvested in the form Ajowan seeds. The seeds are egg-shaped about 2 mm. long 1 mm. broad. The are five ridges over each seeds with a depression in the middle. Inside the seed there are nine oil tubes that run vertically them. The seeds are aromatic, sharp, tingling and slightly bitter. The colour of the seeds is greenish-brown.

Origin and distribution:

The trade name ajwain is bases on the Indian name, which is derived from adarjawan. Bishop’s weed has been cultivated in India from ancient times. Now besides India it is extensively cultivated in Iran, Egypt and Afghanistan. In this country, it is largely grown in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab Rajasthan, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Hyderabad.

Nutritive Value/Composition:

An analysis of the Bishop’s weed shows it to consist of moisture 7.4 per cent, protein 17.1 per cent, fat 21.8 per cent, minerals 7.9 per cent, fibre 21.2 per cent and carbohydrates 24.6 per cent per 100 grams. The minerals and vitamins contained in it are Calcium 1525 mg per cent, phosphorus 443 mg per cent, iron 12.5 mg per cent, carotene 71 mcg per, thiamin 0.21 mg per cent, riboflavin 0.28 mg per cent and niacin 2.1 mg per cent. It’s calorific value is 363.

The bishop’s weed yields 2 to 3 per cent of essential oil in which thymol is present to te extent of 35 to 60 per cent. Thymol crystallies easily from the oil, and is sold in India as ajowan-ka-phul (Flowers of ajowan). The remainder of the oil consists of paymene, alpha-pinene, dipentine, alpha-terpentine, and carvacrol. The oil of ajowan is an almost colorless to a brownish liquid, possessing a characteristic odour and a sharp burning taste.

Medicinal Virtues:

Bishop’s weed has been used as a carminative medicine from the time of Charaka and Sushruta, the great physician of ancient India. The ancient Greek physicians like Dioscrides and Gelen also used it in various carminative. Some very valuable Unani medicines are prepared from ajowan seeds.

The seeds are stimulant and are useful in counteracting spasmodic disorders. Ajowan oil, both pure and dethymolised, is used as an antiseptic and aromatic carminative in India. Its action and uses are similar to thymol which is a powerful antiseptic and finds varied application in medicine. The leaves of the plant are used as vermicide. Even the roots of ajowan plant are reported to be diuretic and carminative.

Digestive Disorders : Bishop’s weed has long been used in indigenous medicine for the treatment of various digestive disorders including flatulence and indigestion. For expelling gas from the stomach, the seeds may be eaten with betel leaves. A teaspoon of these seeds with a little rock salt is a household remedy for indigestion and gas formation. For indigestion, a tablespoon of seeds can also be boiled in a litre of water and this water drunk after adding a pinch of black salt. For stomachache, cough and indigestion, the seeds are masticated, swallowed and followed by a glass of hot water. For relieving colic pain a paste of the seeds should be locally applied to obtain relief.

A pinch of plain ajowan seeds one pinch are given along with jiggery as a folk medicine to prevent indigestion, and gastro-in-testinal  infection after child birth.

The volatile oil extracted from the seeds is also useful in indigestion and gas formation. It is usually given in doses of 1 to 3 drops. Ovam water, the water distilled from the seeds, is an excellent carminative that can be used beneficially to relieve flatulence. It is antispasmodic in colic and flatulent dyspepsia. Another effective remedy for flatulence is to soak bishop’s weed and dried ginger in equal weight in two-and-half times the quantity of limejuice. This mixture should then be dried and powdered with a little black salt. About two grams of this powder should be taken with warm water in treating this condition.

Respiratory Disorders : This spice is a clearing food and hence highly beneficial in the treatment of respiratory diseases A mixture of the seeds and buttermilk is an effective remedy for relieving difficult expectoration cause by dried up phlegm. The seeds are also efficacious in bronchitis. A hot formentation with the seeds is a popular household remedy for asthma.

A decoction of the ajowan seeds is an effective expectorant during the treatment of tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis and lung abscess. This decoction is prepared by boiling a teaspoonful each of ajowan seeds and fenugreek seeds in a glass of water for half an hour. About 30 ml. of this decoction should be mixed with a tablespoonful of honey and taken thrice daily in treating this condition.

Viral Disease : Bishop’s Weed is an anti-viral food. It is an effective remedy for cold. It has a remarkable power to open up clogged and congested nasal passages. A tablespoon of seeds crushed and tied up in a cloth can be used for inhalation. A similar bundle placed near the pillow, while sleeping, also relives nasal congestion. For infants, a small pouch can be pinned to their dress under the chin when they are sleeping. In case of adults, a teaspoon of seeds can be put in boiling water and the vapours inhaled.

The use of Bishop’s weed has also been found beneficial in the treatment of cough caused by acute pharyngitis in influenza. A pinch of seeds should be chewed with common salt and a clove as a medicine for this purpose.

Cholera: The use of Bishop’s weed has been found beneficial in the treatment of cholera. Ajowan seeds and Caraway seeds should be boiled together and little black salt and Mint added to it. The patient should be given this drinks at regular intervals. The more the patient drinks, the better. This will help reduce the severity of the disease.

Migraine : The seeds are useful in the treatment of migraine and delirium. They should either be smoked or sniffed frewuently to obtain relief.

Rheumatism : The oil extracted from the seeds is beneficial in the treatment of rheumatic and neuralgic pain. It should be applied on the affected parts.

Mouth Disorders : An infusion of the seeds mixed common salt is an effective gargle in acute pharyngitis, sore and congested throat and hoarseness of the voice due to colds and shouting.

Skin disorders : The use of ajowan seeds has been found valuable in skin disorders like ringworm, syphilis, scabies, urticarial and psoriasis. The seeds should be taken mixed with jiggery in treating these disorders. The paste of the seeds prepared with half the quantity of turmeric powder can also be applied beneficially over scabies.

Earache : Bishop’s weed possesses  pain-killing property. It is especially beneficial in treating earache. About half a teaspoon of the seeds is heated in 30 ml. of milk till the essence of the seeds permeate the milk. The milk is then filtered and used as eardrops. It decreases congestion and relieves pain.

In case of pain caused by boils in the ear, 3 grams each of ajowan seeds and garlic are boiled together in 40 grams of sesame oil till they turn red. The oil is then strained and cooled to body temperature, and used as ear drops.

Sexual debility : Bishop’s Weed is credited with aphrodisiac properties and hence beneficial in t etreatment of sexual debility. The seeds of this plant, combined with kernel of tamarind seeds make a very effective sex tonic. Both these seeds in wqual quantities should be fried in pure ghee, powdered and preserved in airtight containers. A teaspoon of this powder, mixed with a tablespoon of honey, should be taken daily with before retiring. It will increase virility and cure premature ejaculation. This remedy is far more effective than many costly medicines. Moreover, It enables the semen to impregnate the women by the production of spematoza in it. The use of this remedy will also bless the person with a healthy child.

Insect bites : The leaves are beneficial in the treatment of insect bites. A poultice of these leaves should be applied on the affected parts.

Muscular pains : Bishop’s weed is a valuable remedy for muscular pains. The seeds should be fried in coconut oil and should be massaged as a liniment in treating this condition.

Prolapse of the Uterus : Bishop’s weed is beneficial in the treatment of prolapse of the uterus. Some seeds should be tied in a cloth and soaked in water allowed to drain. Some oil should be applied on the cloth and the bundle heated on fire. The uterus should be pushed in and a hot compress should be given with the bundle. This treatment should be repeated 3 to 5 times a day.

Uses:

The greyish brown fruits or seeds are used as a spice, in flavouring numerous foods, as anti-oxidants, preservative and in medicine. The aqueous solution of thymol is an excellent mouthwash and thymol is constituent of many toothpastes.

Precaution:

The seeds of bishop’s weed should not be used in excess, as their excessive use can cause dryness of the fluids, damages the eyes and reduces the secretion of milk and semen