Caraway is used for digestive disorders (dyspeptic complaints) such as flatulence and bloating or mild, cramp-like complaints in the gastrointestinal tract. Caraway is often used in pediatrics. Traditionally, caraway fruits are used quite generally “to support digestive function”.
Antibacterial effect of caraway
The essential oil contained in caraway fruits also acts against certain bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori, one of the main causes of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract.
Application in folk medicine
Caraway fruits have also been used in folk medicine for centuries to aid digestion and relieve flatulence. The essential oil of the fruit is used in the form of gargles and externally in the form of skin-irritating rubs to promote circulation.
Caraway is also used as a flavor corrient and spice, as well as to improve the digestibility of foods that promote flatulence, such as cabbage or fresh bread. Other, but not clinically proven, applications of caraway in folk medicine are:
- The promotion of milk production in nursing mothers.
- The relief of menstrual cramps
- The relief of coughs, toothaches and headaches
Caraway in homeopathy
The homeopathic application corresponds in the broadest sense to the official application, that is, here too, caraway is used to relieve digestive complaints.
Ingredients of caraway
The main active component in caraway is probably the essential oil (with a share of 3-7%), which consists of 50-65% of the odor-determining carvone. Furthermore, caraway fruits contain, among others, 20% fatty oil, 13% polysaccharides, about 20% carbohydrates, caffeic acid, small amounts of flavonoids, and traces of furanocoumarins.
Caraway: indication
Indications for caraway are:
- Indigestion
- Digestive disorders
- Flatulence
- Feeling of fullness
- Stomach cramps
- Circulatory problems
- Helicobacter pylori
