Ajmoda, Celery (ApiumG raveolens)
In Sanskrit, celery is also known as Ajmoda. It
is low in calories and can be eaten as raw. It is also a rich source of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. This is one of the most popular Indian spices used
for improving digestion strength. The leaves and the petiole of Ajmoda are used in the form of vegetable or salad. The plants have distinctive creamy white and green
umbels of flowers and its leaves form tall upright rosettes that can reach up to 1m in height. The celery stalks are characteristically succulent and rigid; it is this
part of the plant that is used for culinary purposes. It is the celery seeds that are collected for use as a medicinal herb.
Celery is a very popular salad plant, also used to flavor stews and sauces, which has been in cultivation since centuries in Asia and Europe.Celery was known to the
Chinese since fifth century BC. And even before that Celery was widely in use in India especially for its healing properties. The herb is known in India as Ajwain or
Ajmod. In Ayurveda, the roots and seeds of Celery were more commonly used than leaves in medicinal preparations.
Properties of Ajmoda, Celery
It contains volatile essential oil, mucilage, and salt. The essential oil contains Meethers of thymol, carvacrol, and thymoquinol, used as a carminative. The oil
shows strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans, and moderate activity against Gram-positive, and Gram negative bacteria.
Benefits of Ajmoda, Celery
- Stimulates digestive process.
- Helps in digestion of difficult to digest food.
- Promotes downward flow of air (anulomana).
- Gives relief in flatulence, intestinal parasites, colic, and cramps.
- Shows beneficial effects on asthma, cough, and cold, congestion, and
bronchitis.
- Drying in nature.
- Dilates lungs pathway by preventing spasm.
- Helps to get rid of the excess mucous due to expectorant, and heating
action.
- Gives relief in menstrual cramps.
- Removes nervous constriction.
- Specific remedy for arthritis, rheumatism, gout, and pain in joints. It reduces
pain, and inflammation.
- Detoxifies body.
- It Balances Prana, Udana, Samana, and Apan Vayu, and thus balances entire nervous
system.
Different Names
- Latin name: Apium leptophyllum
- Sanskri Name: Bastamoda, Kharashav, Vallimoda
- Ayurvedic: Ajamoda, Ajamoda,Ayamoda, Ajmoja, Dipyaka
- Bengali: Randhuni, Banyamani
- Hindi: Ajmuda, Ajmod
- Tamil: Omam
- Telugu: Naranji vamu
- Assamese: Bonjamani, Bonajain, Yamani, Ajowan
- Malayalam: Ayamodakum, Omam
Classification of Ajmoda, Celery
- Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
- Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
- Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
- Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
- Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
- Order: Apiales
- Subclass: Rosidae
- Family: Apiaceae / Umbelliferae – Carrot family
- Genus: Apium L. – celery
Habitat of Ajmoda, Celery
Ditches, by rivers, and in other damp locations, especially near the sea in salt marshes
Parts Used
Uses & Effectiveness
- Abortifacient: Induces abortion.
- Analgesic: Relieve pain.
- Antiaggregant / Antiplatelet: decrease platelet aggregation, and
inhibit thrombus formation.
- Anthelmintic: antiparasitic, expel parasitic worms (helminths),
and other internal parasites from the body.
- Antiarthritic: relieves the symptoms of arthritis
- Antidiabetic: controls level of glucose (sugar) in the
blood.
- Antirheumatic: alleviating or preventing rheumatism.
- Anticonvulsant / Antiepileptic: prevent or reduce the severity
of epileptic fits or other convulsions.
- Choleretic: stimulating bile production by the liver.
- Carminative: Preventing the formation or causing the expulsion
of flatulence.
- Depurative: Purifying agent.
- Digestive: digestant.
- Hypoglycemic: Reducing the level of the sugar glucose in the
blood.
- Lipolytic: lipid breaking.
- Expectorant: promotes the secretion of sputum by the air
passages, used to treat coughs.
- Hepatoprotective: prevent damage to the liver.
- Nervine: calm the nerves.
- Uterotonic: Giving tone to the uterine muscle. Used to induce
contraction or greater tonicity of the uterus.
Bio Energetics of Ajmoda, Celery
Hindi |
Sanskrit |
English |
|
Rasa |
Kashaya |
Taste |
Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter) |
Guna |
Laghu |
Properties |
Laghu (Light), Ruksha (Dry) |
Veerya |
Sheet |
Potency |
Ushna (Heating) |
Vipaka |
Katu |
Metabolism |
Katu (Pungent) |
Side Effects of Ajmoda, Celery
- It can be used safely in the recommended dosage.
- It should be taken cautiously in the high pitta, hyperacidity as it increases
Pitta / bile.
- As a medicine it should not be used in pregnancy. As a spice it can be added to
dishes.
- It is drying in nature.
- It does not interact with other medicines.
- The diuretic action of Ajamoda works by irritating the kidneys, and therefore
should be used with caution in cases of renal disorder.