Ajwain (botanical name of Trachyspermum copticum also known as Ajowan caraway, carom seeds or mistakenly as bishop’s weed), is an uncommon spice except in certain areas of Asia.

In Hindi it is called as Ajwain

Ajwain belongs to the same family such as caraway, dill as well as cumin.

Raw ajwain smells almost exactly like thyme because it also contains thymol, but is more aromatic and less subtle in taste, as well as slightly bitter and pungent. It tastes like thyme or caraway, only stronger. Even a small amount of raw ajwain will completely dominate the flavor of a dish.

Ajwain seeds are very tiny, ridged and oval in shape. These greyish-green colored seeds appear as cumin seeds. These seeds are chewed as they are considered to be of medicinal value. They are of bitter and hot taste.

One can add these seeds into the dough of the rotis, parathas; one can use them in dal, salad dressings, vegetables, as well as many savoury preparations. Indian housewives use ajwain to flavour deeply fried foods, like gaanthias, puris, Indian snack breads etc.

HEALTH BENEFITS
Here’s how ajwain can be used in simple remedies for treating a variety of ailments:

• To get rid of Indigestion and flatulence, combine one teaspoon of ajwain with two pinches of salt or with betel leaves. Chew the combination, swallow it and then hear yourself sigh with relief as you get rid of the discomfort.
• If one is bothered by bad breadth, chewing on a mixture of ajwain seeds and fennel seeds seeds can act as an effective mouth freshener.

• Ajwain is very useful in alleviating spasmodic pains of the stomach and intestines, in adults as well as children. Any colicky pain due to flatulence (gas), indigestion and infections in the intestines can easily be relieved by taking one teaspoonful of Ajwain along with 2-3 pinches of common salt in warm water.

• In an acute attack of common cold or migraine headache, put Ajwain powder in a thin cloth and smell this frequently. It gives tremendous symptomatic relief according to some Ayurvedic experts.

• Ajmo is useful in the treatment of common cold. It has a remarkable power to open up clogged and congested nasal passages. A tablespoon of seeds crushed and tied up in a cloth bundle can be used for inhalation. A similar bundle placed near the pillow, while sleeping, also relieves nasal congestion. For infants and small children, a small pouch can be pinned to their dress under the chin when they are sleeping. In case of adults, a teaspoon of the seeds can be put in boiling water and the vapours inhaled.

• An infusion of the seeds mixed with common salt is an effective gargle in acute pharyngitis, sore and congested throat and hoarseness of the voice due to colds or flu.

• Ajwain is very effective in curing cough. Drinking hot water after chewing little Ajwain cures cough. Chewing betel leaf with Ajwain at night before sleeping controls and cures dry coughing.

• A person suffering from influenza should drink the boiled water with 3gms of Ajwain and 3gms of Cinnamon bark for 3 days, thrice a day. This helps curing influenza to a great extent.

• Ajwain helps pregnant women digest their food, increases the appetite, controls flatulation and keeps the uterus healthy. The spice also helps in produce milk in the case of lactating mothers.

• Chronic bronchitis and asthma: Mix ajwain with jaggery (gur). Heat the mixture to make a paste and take 2 teaspoonfuls twice a day. It helps to bring out the mucus easily.