Bishop’s Weed, Carum, Lovage

Carum

Latin name : Carum copticum (Hiern), Trachyspermum ammi Linn. Sprague, Ptychotis ajowan DC. Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

Sanskrit/Indian name : Yavani, Yawani, Ajowanj, Ajwain
Urdu Name : Ajwain Desi (Seeds), Sat Ajwain (Thymol)

General information :
Bishop’s Weed is valued for its antispasmodic, stimulant, tonic and carminative properties. It is administered in flatulence, atonic dyspepsia and diarrhea, and often recommended for cholera. In the Unani system, the herb is used as a drug to enhance the body’s resistance, and is prescribed in amoebiasis, a parasitic infection of the intestines. It is a potent antimicrobial agent.

Therapeutic constituents :
The principal constituents of Bishop’s Weed oil are the phenols, mainly thymol and some carvacrol. Thymol is a powerful antiseptic and antifungal agent. It is an ingredient in deodorant, mouthwashes and toothpastes. The aqueous portion, left after the separation of the essential oil, is known as omum-water and is prescribed in flatulence and gripe, especially in children (Indian Medicinal Plants—An Illustrated Dictionary, C.P.Khare. 666. 2007).

Key therapeutic benefits :

  • The herb is administered in gastrointestinal disorders.
  • The oil extracted from the seeds alleviates joint pain.
  • Bishop’s Weed is also helpful in treating respiratory disorders.