Cumin seeds are known as Jeeraka in Sanskrit. The word is derived from Jeerna – digestion. Hence Jeeraka means that which digests. Cumin seed is very good in treating digestive tract disorders.
Botanical name – Cuminum cyminum Linn.
Family – Umbelliferae (Satapushpa kula)
Table of Contents
Vernacular names
Bengali name – Jeera, Sadajeere, Shahajeere, Jeere
Hindi name: Safed Jeera, Jeera, Sada jeera, Sadarana jeera
Marathi name – Jire, Pandare jeere
Gujarati name – Jeeru, Shakanu jeerum, Sadu jeerum, Gholu jeerum
Tamil name – Cheerakam, Shiragam,
Telugu name – Jeelakari, Jelakara, Jeela karara
Kannada name – jeerige
Malayalam name – Jeerakam
Arabbain name – kammun, Avyaja
Farsi name – Jeera e safed
Sanskrit synonyms
Jeeraka –
Ajaji – Cumin – Cuminum cyminum,
Jarana – Good digestant
medhyam – Improves memory
Ruchyam – Improve taste
Pitabham – Fruit is yellowish in color
Dirghakam – Fruit if Jiraka is long
Classical categorization:
Charaka Samhita – Shoolaprashamana – herbs that relieve abdominal pain
Sushruta and Vagbhata – Pippalyadi group of herbs
Distribution: It is widely cultivated across India.
Varieties
Bh P Ni – Jiraka, Krishna Jiraka, Kalajaji
Dh. Ni – Jiraka, Sukla Jiraka, Krishna Jiraka, Brihatpali
Medicinal qualities
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (light to digest), Rooksha (dry)
Rasa (taste) – Katu (pungent)
Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion) – Katu (pungent)
Veerya (potency) – Ushna (hot)
Effect on Tridosha – Kaphavatahara – balances Kapha and Vata, increases Pitta.
Pharmacological action – Appetizer, Carminative, Blood purifier, Antispasmodic, Anti fungal
Properties as per Bhojana Kutuhalam
According to Bhojana kutuhalam as mentioned in the section of sambhara, Jeeraka is pungent in taste, hot in potency, improves taste perception, stimulates the digestive fire and promotes digestion, It is fragrant, improves intellect, alleviates kapha dosha, helps in treating vomiting, diarrhea, gulma, colicky pain, any abdominal disorders, intestinal worms and dental problems.
Cumin seed benefits
Ruchya – improves taste
Deepana, Agnivardhana – Improves digestion strength
Grahi, Sangrahi – absorbent, useful in malabsorption syndrome and diarrhea,
Medhya – improves intelligence
Garbhashaya Vishuddhikrut – cleanses and detoxifies the uterus. Hence it is widely used in postpartum care of the mother.
Jvaraghna – Useful in fever
Pachana – carminative
Vrushya – natural aphrodisiac
Balya – improves strength and immunity
Chakshushya – good for eyes, improves vision power
Ruchya – improves taste
Indications, dose
Jeera is the useful in the treatment of
Gulma – Abdominal tumor, bloating
Adhmana – bloating, gaseous distension of abdomen
Atisara – diarrhea, dysentery
Grahani – malabsorption syndrome
Krumi – worm infestation
Chardi – vomiting
Kshaya – chronic respiratory disorders leading to emaciation
Kushta – skin diseases
Visha – Aconitum ferox poisoning
Jvara – fever
Dose – 3 -6 grams – once or two times a day after food. It can be taken along with hot water or honey or even with ghee.
How to use cumin as per Ayurveda:
Cumin is dry fried on a pan. Only then it is used. If it is not dried, there will be some amount of stickiness to it. Its reference for frying is mentioned in Vaidya yoga ratnavali book, published by impcops.
Remedies
- Cumin powder along with Kala namak (Sochal salt) is used as a remedy to counter side effects of excess intake of sour mango. (Bhava Prakasha). Read more about sour mango benefits
- In fever it is used along with jaggery to improve appetite, cleanse the bowel and relieve burning sensation.
- Cumin is used with curd in diarrhea.
- Cumin along with lime juice is beneficial in vomiting of pitta dosha origin during pregnancy.
- Bathing with decoction of cumin seeds is used to cure itching.
Cumin according to Dosha
How to take cumin based on your Dosha?
For people with high Vata, Cumin seeds are administered along with sesame oil. It can be fried in sesame oil and taken.
Cumin for Pitta –
Cumin is hot in nature, and so is Pitta Dosha. Hence, you need to take it with coolant and that balances Pitta powerfully. For this purpose, Cumin is fried with ghee or coconut oil for Pitta.
Ghee is said to be the best remedy for Pitta. It counters the gastric irritation effect of Jira Read ghee benefits
Coconut oil, being nourishing and cooling, is very effective in countering the hotness of cumin and Pitta Dosha. Read coconut oil benefits
Cumin for Kapha –
Cumin naturally balances down Kapha Dosha. Hence, dry fried cumin can be readily given to Kapha persons. If you wish to enhance the taste of cumin, then you can administer it along with honey. Of all the liquids for Kapha balance, honey is said to be the best. Read related: Honey benefits
Right way to consume cumin in people of all Doshas
Interaction with medicines, supplements
Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.
Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.
With western
medicines
Seek your
doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western
(allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern
medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is
best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the
Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurveda medicines
Hingwastak Churna – useful in indigestion
Dhatri Rasayan – useful in indigestion, cold, cough, asthma etc.
Jeerakarishtam – useful in postnatal care of the mother
Yogaraj Guggul – useful in various joint disorders.
Chemical constituents, nutritional facts
Cumin contains thymol, which helps promote the production of saliva, bile and other enzymes responsible for food digestion. The aromatic compound Cuminaldehyde helps to induce secretion of digestive juices just by the aroma.
Cumin is a rich source of iron.
A spoonful of cumin is useful to reduce body fat and thus useful in weight loss treatment.
Cumin is an anti-congestive agent and is a good expectorant, due to its rich essential oils. Hence useful in cough, cold and bronchitis.
Cumin contains riboflavin, vitamin B6 and niacin – useful in improving cognitive functions of the brain.
Morphology
A slender annual plant
Leaves – 3 partite, ultimately segments are filiform
Inflorescence – Compound umbel, rays are few, has several bracts, petals are white in color, often unequal
Fruits – Cylindric with narrow tip
Useful part – Fruit
Research
Research carried out by the Cancer Research Laboratory in South Carolina, USA, found that cumin can help fight cancer, due to cuminaldehyde, which have been shown to slow the growth of tumors. It also has characteristics that accelerate the production of detoxifying and anti carcinogenic enzymes, which can aid the prevention of colon cancer.(1)
Cumin contains Vitamin E, hence useful to improve skin tone and texture.
Cumin with Coriander seed
Cumin powder and coriander – is a very good combination. It is useful to improve digestion strength but still has a mild coolant effect. This is ideal to improve digestion strength in people with sensitive stomachs, who cannot tolerate hard spices such as ginger or black pepper.
The best way to take it is – Mix them together in equal quantities. Take a teaspoon of it, soak in water at night. Filter and drink it the next morning, on an empty stomach.
Systemic Action (Sthanika Karma)
External – Analgesic, Anti inflammatory, and scraping action on dhatus. Its decoction can be useful in itchy types of skin lesions. Its paste is beneficial in Hemorrhoids, Scorpion bites. Powder can be used as Anjana in Eye disorders.
Digestive System – Appetizer, increases digestive fire, Antispasmodic, facilitates movement of vata dosha in normal direction, Absorbent, Anthelmintic. indicated in loss of appetite, anorexia, constipation, Colic pain, Malabsorption syndrome, indigestion, helminthiasis.
Circulatory System – Good for Heart, Indicated in various blood borne diseases. Stimulant.
Excretory System – Induce urine production. In conditions like Dysuria, Urinary tract infection, Renal calculi jeera powder can be administered along with sugar.Reproductive System – Aphrodisiac. Indicated in Leucorrhea. To improve breast milk production after delivery it can be administered along with Jaggery. It is an important medicine in post delivery care as it constricts the uterine muscles and helps to expel out the doshas.
Skin – it is indicated in skin disorders.
Satmikarana – Helps to regain body strength. Improve digestion and absorption.
Tapakrama – Indicated in chronic / acute fever
