Carom seeds

Ajwain helps in improving digestion and increases hunger. Ajwain is useful in stomach-related and congestion-related disorders. It is used especially during the post-delivery period.

How to use Ajwain:

If you are experiencing cough, here are some remedies that may help: 

• Take 2-3 grams of ajwain powder with warm water or milk 2 to 3 times a day to relieve headaches and cough. 
• If you have excess mucus along with cough, take 125 mg carom seed extract (ajwain sat), add 2 grams of ghee and 5 grams of honey to it. Take this mixture thrice a day. 
• Boil 250 ml water with 5 grams of ajwain until the quantity reduces to half. Sieve it and add salt to it. Drink before going to bed. 
• If you have yellow mucus and weak digestion along with cough, take 25 ml ajwain arka three times a day. 
• Pour 3-4 drops of amritdhara (which includes ajwain sat, pudina sat, and camphor) on a cloth and sniff it. 
• Inhale steam by adding 4-5 drops of amritdhara to water.
• Take 1 gm of ajwain, 1 gm of dry ginger (saunth), and 2 pieces of cloves (laung). Boil these ingredients in 200 ml of water, and then drink the mixture after sieving when only 50 ml of water remains. 

In case of nasal discharge due to cold, tie 200-250 grams of ajwain in a muslin cloth and heat it on a flat pan. Then, sniff the ajwain to relieve the nasal discharge. 

For ear pain, take 50 ml of sesame oil and add 10 grams of ajwain to it. Heat the mixture and let it cool down until it becomes lukewarm. Pour two drops of this mixture in each ear. 

In the case of stomach and intestinal worms: 

• Take 3 grams of ajwain powder with buttermilk twice a day. 
• Take 125-500 mg of ajwain sat on an empty stomach three times a day, with a gap of 1 hour between each consumption. However, pregnant women, those who are weak or anaemic should avoid taking this remedy. 
• Take 500 mg of ajwain powder with 500 mg of black salt every night with warm water, especially for kids. 

In case of indigestion, rheumatism, bloating, and other stomach-related issues, you can take 2 grams of ajwain powder with 2 grams of salt.

If you are experiencing gas and bloating, you can take 3 grams of dry roasted ajwain with ½ gram of black salt with warm water twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening. Applying a paste made of ajwain powder and asafoetida powder on the stomach can also help relieve bloating. 

In case of stomach ache, you can take 1-2 grams of a powder made by mixing ajwain, rock salt (senda namak), asafoetida, and dry ginger (saunth) with warm water. If your baby is experiencing stomach ache, you can take ajwain in a clean cloth and let them lick it. This should help relieve their discomfort.

If you experience vomiting, breathlessness, or diarrhea, you can take 3-4 drops of amritdhara in warm water. Repeat this 2-3 times as needed, with a gap of some time between each dose. You can also add 3-4 drops of amritdhara to a batasa for consumption. 

For cholera, taking 4-5 drops of amritdhara in warm water every 15 minutes can provide relief. 

If you have diarrhea and low urine output, you can take 3 gm ajwain with 500 mg salt and lukewarm water. Repeat up to 2-3 times with a gap of 15 minutes between each dose if needed. 

To alleviate the burning sensation in your chest after eating, chew 1 gm ajwain and 1 piece of almond (badam giri) thoroughly.

In case of fever:

• For indigestion-induced fever: Soak 10 grams of ajwain in 125 ml of water overnight. Rub the ajwain and sieve the water. Drink the water in the morning. 
• For fever with chills: Eat 2 gm of ajwain in the morning and in the evening. 
• For fever occurring after recovering from malarial fever: Soak 10 grams of ajwain in 100 ml of water overnight. Heat the water the following morning, add a pinch of salt to it and drink it. Continue this for a few days.

In case of piles: After lunch, take 1.5 gm of ajwain powder and 1 gm of rock salt after mixing it in a glass of buttermilk.

In case of bed-wetting by kids: Give them 500 mg of ajwain before bed. 

In case of obstruction in urine: Take 2-4 gm of ajwain with warm water. 

In case of pain in the kidneys: Take 3 gm of ajwain powder with milk twice a day (morning and evening). 

Post-delivery of a child: Women should be given 2 grams of ajwain powder after food. It helps clear any intestinal or stomach worms, improves digestion, creates hunger, and helps prevent any type of post-delivery diseases.

If you experience low or no blood flow during menstruation, here's what you can do: 

• Take 10 gm of ajwain, 50 gm of old jaggery and 400 ml of water early in the morning. 
• Take 3 gm of ajwain powder with warm milk in the morning and evening. 

If you have virility-related issues such as impotency or premature ejaculation, you can try this remedy for 21 days - 

Take 3 gm of ajwain, 10 ml of white onion juice and 10 gm of shakkar (unrefined sugar) thrice a day. 

For skin-related issues like pimples or itching, you can use ajwain water to wash the affected area. Here's how to make it: - Boil ajwain in water and let it cool down. Use this water to wash the affected area. 

Ajwain can also help in de-addiction from alcohol. Here are two ways to use it:  

• Chew 10 gm of ajwain twice or thrice a day to reduce the desire for alcohol. 
• Take 1 cup of ajwain water before meals. To make such ajwain water, boil 500 gm of ajwain in 4 ltr of water till the water reduces to 2 ltr. Strain and store in a bottle. 

In case of head lice, you can: Add 10 gm of ajwain powder and 5 gm of alum (phitkari) to curd or buttermilk and apply it to your hair. 

In case of any injury, heating the affected area with ajwain can offer relief. 

If you have a thorn prick in your foot, you can: Tie warm melted jaggery with 10 gm of ajwain powder to the affected area. This will help remove the thorn automatically.

Ajwain for pros:

• For Ascites (Collection of fluids within spaces of the abdomen): Take 250 gm ajwain and soak it in 1 ltr cow urine (gaumutra). After 7 days of soaking, dry this ajwain in shade. Consume 1-2 gm of such dried ajwain with gaumutra.
• In case of weak digestive fire (manda agni) - Make a fine powder of - 80 gm ajwain, 40 gm rock salt, 40 gm black pepper, 40 gm black salt, 500 mg saltpeter, 10 ml raw papaya milk. Add 1 ltr of lemon juice to it and store it in a glass container. Keep it under sunlight for about 1 month till it dries completely. Keep on stirring in this duration of 1 month. After it completely dries, take 2-4 gms of this powder with water.

References:

Most of this article has been sourced from: Acharya Balakrishna - Ayurvedic Jadi Booti Rahasya - Part 1 - Ajwain - Pg 31-35