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
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