Caraway
Botanical Description & Habitat
Carum carvi
Family
Umbelliferae
Common Names
Alcaranea
Caraway seed
Habitat
Northern and central parts of Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Description
Caraway is a biennial plant growing from 1-1/2 to 2 feet in height. In its second year, a light green, hollow, furrowed stem appears, bearing bipinnate or tripinnate leaves that are bright green and deeply incised. Each stem ends in a compound umbel of small white or yellow flowers, which bloom in May and June. The fruit is dark brown, oblong, hard, and contains 2 seeds.
Medicinal Parts
Fruit - ripe, dried
Seeds - ripe, dried
Historical Properties & Uses
Many of caraway's common uses derive from the presence of its essential oil: about 60% carvone (which imparts flavor), 20% limonene, and several other volatile substances, such as carveole and dihydrocarvone.
The herb is useful for upset stomach, indigestion, lack of appetite, and various other gastro-intestinal complaints. It is also useful as an expectorant. Externally, it is used to relieve the pain of aching muscles, and rheumatism. Beyond these typical aromatic effects, caraway is thought to have effects on the female reproductive system, such as promoting menstruation and the flow of milk. These properties, however, have not been experimentally validated.
This herb (oil and seed) has approval status by the German Commission E for dyspepsia.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Method of Action
The antispasmodic, or spasmolytic, property of caraway has been validated in a thorough study from Germany.
Caraway's cholagogue activity has been substantiated. The essential oil acts on the vagus nerve which in turn stimulates the secretion of bile.
Caraway has good antibacterial and some antitubercular properties.
Drug Interactions & Precautions
Possible Interactions
The antihistaminic property of caraway will antagonize the effects of heparin.
Comments
There is evidence to show combining bactericidal and bacteriostatic agents will lower the effectiveness of the bacteriostatic agent. However, how this finding applies to herbal anti-infectives is still unknown.
Safety Factors & Toxicity
Caraway is nontoxic in therapeutic dosages.
Caraway oil and seed have approval status by the German Commission E.
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Preparation & Administration
This herb has approval status by the German Commission E.
Recommended daily dosages in Germany are as follows:
3 - 6 drops of oil daily.
1.5 - 6 g of seeds
References:
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
References
American Hospital Formulary Service. Am Soc of Hosp Pharm. Wash, D.C.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Bressler, R., M.D. Bogdonoff & G.J. Subak-Sharpe. 1981. The Physicians Drug Manual. Doubleday & Co, Inc. Garden City, NY. 1213 pp.
Culbreath, David M. R. A manual of Materia Medica and Pharmocology. Eclectic Medical Publications, Portland, OR, l983.
Fitzpatrick, F.K. Plant substances active against mycobacterium tuberculosis. Antibiotics and Chemotherapy, 4(5), 528-536, 1954.
Forster, H. Spasmolytische wirkung pflanzlicher carminativa. Zeitschrift der Allgemein Medizin, 59, 1327-1333, 1983.
Goodman, L.S. & A. Gilman. 1975. Pharm Basis of Thera. Macmillan, NY.
Hansten, P.D. 1979. Drug Interactions, 4th ed. Lea & Febiger, Phila.
Kastrup, E.K., ed. 1981. Drug Facts and Comparisons, 1982 edition. Facts and Comparisions Division, J.P. Lippincott Co, Phila (St.Louis).
List, P. & L. Hoerhammer. 1969-1976. Hagers Hanbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, vols. 2-5. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
Maiwald, L. Pflanzliche cholagoga. Zhurnal Allgemein Medizin, 59, 1304-1308, 1983.
Martin, E.W. 1978. Drug Interactions Index, 1978/79. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.
Maruzzella, J.C. and Sircurella, N.A. Antibacterial activity of essential oil vapors. J of Am Pharm Assoc, 49(11), 692-694, 1960.
Maruzzela, J.C. & M.B. Lichtenstein. The in vitro antibacterial activity of oils. J of Am Pharm Assoc, 45(6), 378-381, 1956.
Mowrey, Daniel B., Ph.D. Exper. Psych., Brigham Young University. Director of Nebo Institute of Herbal Sciences. Director of Behavior Change Agent Training Institute. Director of Research, Nova Corp.
Nelson, R.M., C.G. Frank & J.O. Manson. 1959. The antiheparin properties of the antihistamines, tranquilizers and certain antibiotics. Surg Forum, 9. pp. 146-150.
Scientific Committee, British Herbal Pharmocopaeia, British Herbal Medicine Association, Lane House, Cowling, NA Keighley, West Yorks, BD BD220LX, l983.
Essential Oil
See Caraway Essence under Aromatherapy
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