Ajwain / Carom Seeds

Yavani is the native herb of Egypt. Yavani is known with other common name also such as Ajwain, Bishop’s Weed, Ajowan and more. This herb is widely distributed in whole parts of the world. Yavani is a Sanskrit name of the herb, as it has been used in India since ancient times. In Ayurveda, it is believed to manage vata and kapha. It helps to increases pitta.

The whole plant involves in treating ailments as every part has some kind of active components to cure diseases. The roots of the plants have diuretic activity. The seeds of the plants are known as aphrodisiac, anti-microbial, fungicide, anti-aggregatory. These also tend to decrease lack of appetite, gastro-intestinal infections and respiratory ailments. The fruits of the plant also have capacity to fight as these contain antispasmodic, stimulative and carminative properties, help to cure abdominal diseases and piles.

The plant can eradicate ailments with the effect of phytochemicals present in the plant parts. Seeds of the plant contain flavone, saponins, tannins, glycosides, fats, fibers, proteins, carbohydrates, various minerals like calcium, cobalt, manganese, copper, iron, phosphorous and more. It also contain vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin B complex and more. The essential oil of the plant contain various important active elements. The composition of the essential oil can vary with the regions where it found and made. On the general basis essential oil contains approximately 26 chemicals like the main ingredient thymol, oleic acid, linoleic acid, p-cymene, b-pinene, y-terpinene, tepinene-4-ol, palmitic acid, xylene and more. Its hydrodistilled oil, 8 components are their like thymol, p-cymene, y-terpinene, bi-pinene, limonene and more. The fruits of the plant contain carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, dipentene, α-terpenine and y-terpinene.

CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom
Plantae

Subkingdom
Tracheobionta

Division
Magnoliophyta

Class
Magnoliopsida

Subclass
Rosidae

Order
Apiales

Family
Apiaceae

Genus
Trachyspermum

Species
Ammi

Habitat

It is cultivated in dry or semi dry areas mainly. It the native of Egypt. It now grows in countries like Iran (eastern regions of Baluchistan), Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and India. In India, it is cultivated in areas of Rajasthan, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Bihar, Uttar pradesh and Madhya pradesh.

Names of Yavani

Sanskrit name – Yamini, Yaminiki, Yaviniki, Deepyaka, Bhutika, Ajamodika
English name – Bishop’s weed, Carom Seeds
Hindi name – Ajwain, Jevain
Marathi name – Onva
Kannada name – Oma, Yom, Omu
Tamil name – Omam
Gujrati name – Ajma, Ajmo, Yavan, Javain
Telugu name – Vamu
Punjabi name – Jabain, Ajvain, Ajowan
Bengali name – Yamani, Yauvan, Yavan, Javan, Yavani, Yoyana
Malayalam name – Oman, Ayanodakan
Oriya name – Juani

Russian name – Aiova, Azhgon
Assamese name – Jain
South Khorasan name – Ajgho
Baluchi name – Ajowan and Spirca
Dutch name – Ajowan
Farsi name – Nanakhaha
Malaysia name – Oman
French name – Ajowan, Ajouan, Ammi
Arabic name – Khella, Kamme Muluki, Kyunulmuluki
Persian name – Nankhah, zenian, khordaneh,
German name – Ajowan, Adiowan
Thai name – Phak chi
Hungarian name – Ajovan

Ayurvedic Properties

Hindi / Sanskrit		English
Rasa	Katu, Tikta	Taste	Pungent, Bitter
Guna	Laghu, Rooksha, Teekshna	Physical Property	Light, Dry, Sharp
Virya	Ushna	Potency	Hot
Vipaka	Katu	Metabolic Property (After Digestion)	Pungent

Effect on doshas

It helps to maintain kapha and vata. It increases the efficiency of pitta.

Classical Categorization

Charak Samhita	Sushrut Samhita
Shulaprashamana – Herbs that relieve colic, pain	–

Practical Uses of Yavani

Analgesic

This herb shows positive analgesic effects and it is of opioid type.

Antimicrobial

The methanol extract of the plant shows great effect on the gram positive and gram negative microbes such as on multi-drug resistant Salmonella typhi. Thymol chemical present in the plant tends to inhibit the activity of the microbes.