Ajwain
Trachyspermum ammi · यवानी
Spices. Ayurveda and Modern nutrition.
Also called Carom seed, Ajowan, Ajwain seed
Sanskrit: यवानी (Yavani)
Oil toxic if swallowedA small seed with a strong, thyme-like flavor, used in Indian cooking and in Ayurveda for gas and stomach pain.
Did you know? Ajwain seeds are rich in thymol, the same compound that gives thyme its smell and that is used in some mouthwashes.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Digestion & gut health. Small human studies suggest ajwain may ease bloating, gas and some stomach pain. Evidence is limited.Early proof
- Infections. Lab studies show it kills some bacteria and fungi. Human evidence is lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Indian households have long chewed ajwain after meals or boiled it in water for gas, bloating and colic. Ayurveda uses it to kindle digestion and ease pain.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Carminative, Antispasmodic, Antimicrobial. Energy: warming.
- Ayurveda
- Calms Vata and Kapha. Taste (rasa): pungent, bitter. Energy (virya): heating. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Deepana (kindles digestion), Shulaprashamana (eases colic and pain).
How people take it
Used as a seasoning. Tea uses about half a teaspoon of seeds steeped in hot water. Small studies used seed extracts in capsules.
Food, tea and powder.
Where to get it
Grown in India, Iran, Egypt and Pakistan. Seeds are sold whole or ground in grocery and spice shops. Essential oil and capsules are also sold.
Be careful
Food amounts are safe. Large amounts or concentrated oil can irritate the stomach or skin. The oil is toxic if swallowed. Avoid large medicinal amounts in pregnancy, since safety is not known.
Avoid if: pregnancy; stomach ulcers.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Hing and ajwain are classic Indian digestive spices, often used together in dals and breads.
- Works well together
Cumin and ajwain are common partners in Indian digestive spice mixes.
The honest take
Ajwain is a common kitchen spice with a long history for bloating and gas. A few small human studies support digestive benefits, but the evidence is limited. Claims beyond digestion rest mainly on lab work.