Black Caraway is an ancient Indian spice. It is widely used in after delivery care of the mother. It is good for eyes, bloating, vomiting etc. It is also used in children’s medicines. This little spice has huge health benefits with almost nil side effects.
Table of Contents
Vernacular names, Sanskrit synonyms
Names in different languages:
Hindi name –Syah jeera, Kali Jeera, Kala jeera, Krishnajeera
Bengali name – Kala Jeere, Krishna jeera
English name – Meridian Fennel, Black caraway, Black cumin.
Marathi name – Shahaajire, Shahajeeram, Kalejeere
Gujarati name – Shaahjeeru
Telugu name – Sheema jilkar, Shimaisapoo
Tamil name – Shimayishiragam, Shimah shombu
Kannada name – Kari jeerige, Karijeerake
Arabic name – Kamoone aramani
Farsi name – Jeera e syaah
Sanskrit Synonyms:
Kashmirajiraka, Udgarashodhana, Sugandha, Dantashodhani
Availability, varieties
Availability: It is available in Kashmir, Gadhaval, Kumavu, Afghanistan, Baluchisthan, at 6000 – 11000 feet height regions.
Varieties:
There are two herbs used in the name of Black cumin.
Carum bulbocastanum / Bunium bulbocastanum / Carum carvi – Black cumin, Black caraway
Nigella sativa – small fennel / Simple nigella / Kalonji
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 – Kaphavatashamaka – balances Kapha and Vata, increases Pitta
Deepana – improves digestion strength
Sangrahi – absorbent, useful in diarrhoea
Medhya – improves intelligence
Garbhayashuddhikara
Jvaraghna – Useful in fever
Pachana – carminative
Vrushya – natural aphrodisiac
Balya – improves strength and immunity
Ruchya – improves taste
Chakshushya – good for eyes, improves vision power
Ruchya – improves taste
Dantashodhani – cleanses teeth
Useful in the treatment of
Adhmana – bloating, gaseous distension of abdomen
Gulma – Abdominal tumor, bloating
Chardi – vomiting
Atisara – diarrhoea, dysentery
Shopha – inflammatory conditions
Jeernajvara – chronic stages of fever
Dose – 1 – 3 grams
Black Cumin after delivery
In South Indian custom, after delivery, A water decoction made with black cumin is administered to the mother from day 2 to day 10. In a dose of 15 ml in the morning, empty stomach. It is done to fight post delivery infection and to strengthen the mother’s internal system.
Black Cumin for PCOS
It helps to lose weight, reduce the size of the cyst and to regularize menstruation. People with PCOS can take this in a dose of quarter a teaspoon mixed with honey and swallow with water for 2 months time.
Morphology
Carum carvi biennial much-branched herb growing up to 30 – 80 cm in height. Leaves are dark green, finely cut and feathery. Flowers are white in color and produced on umbels.
Distribution
The plant is found in Europe, Siberia, the Caucasus, the near East, the Himalayas, Mongolia and Morocco. (a)
Ayurvedic medicines
Ayurvedic medicines using Black cumin seeds:
Madana Kameswari Lehyam – An Aphrodisiac herbal jam
Vayu Gulika – Used in cold, fever, bloating etc.
Virechana Gulika – Used to induce purgation.
Kombanchadi Gulika – Used in fever, cough and cold in kids.
Side effects
There are no known side effects with Kala Jeera in the said dosage. Like we saw, it is used in mothers, soon after delivery and also in kids. There is no record to say that it is unsafe during pregnancy. However, it is best to avoid during pregnancy.
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
of the 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.
Black cumin seed oil benefits
This oil is also widely used to improve skin tone, to treat acne, scar, dark spots and as moisturizer.
It is known to promote hair growth.
The oil contains omega-6 linoleic acid , omega-9 oleic acid, thymoquinone, nigellone, melanthin, nigilline, damascenine, and tannins. It is also known to help body produce prostaglandin E1, which is useful to treat erectile dysfunction.
However, its over-dosage must be strictly avoided, due to fear of toxic symptoms.
black seed or nigella sativa seems to be different.Doesn’t look like shahjeera.Google search for nigella is showing different pictures.Just FYI
Hi,
Kaduva jeera, Vana jeera, Somraj, Kali jiri, Kaduvo jiri, these names are applied to Vernonia anthelmintica. The seed is little elongatedand, ribbed and hairy. As the name is indicative it is used for antihelmenthic properties to evade worms etc.
Kalongi, Krishna jiraka, Kala jira, Black cumin names are for Nigella sativa. It is Galactagogue and a tonic. The seeds are dark black in color and smaller in size.
You can use. You can find the Vayu Gulika details here – http://ayurmedinfo.com/2012/05/18/vayu-gulika-benefits-dose-side-effects-how-to-use-ingredients/
kala jeeri is diffrent than kalongi and shah jira.
Then which is best kali jeeri or kalongi
Both are good and have their own benefits.
Sir,
Can we use Black cumin seed oil or kalongi oil in organic soaps and at what percentage.
Depends on other ingredients – it may range from 0.5 to up to 2 % v/w
Can black seed oil be used in cooking ? If so, what are the guidelines & precautions ?
Hi, Black seed oil should only be used in very small quantities of – 2 – 5 ml only. Hence, not advisable for cooking.
Thanks,Dr.Hebbar,for your valuable advice.
hi black ziri ajwayen &methi dana powder in the morning&night &biack Til after having lunch &dinner .both thing can be consumed.
Which is best for wt loss kalongi or Kali jeeri??
Both are very useful.
Madam, Any medicine for the kids are not advised without expert supervision.
Dr. what is kala jira it means shahi jira or kadu korhal in marathi pls tell me.
Kala jeera & shahjeera is one & same thing . But it not kalonji.
Kala Jeera & Shahjeera may not be same It is just difference like kala til & white til Normal Jeera taste & Kala jeera taste is same
Jeera mathi & ajwain ke mixture mein kadu jeera effective hai ki Kali jeera&
Kali jeera madam.
Hello doctor,
Which home remedies can be used on a daily basis to improve insulin sensitivity of cells.
Thanks
What is the active compounds present in Kalijiri (Vernonia anthelmintica) seed in relation with bitter taste.
Kya such me weight loss karta hai or kitne din me plz reply
Hello Madam, Abhi jo research hua he uske hisab se Black seed oil ke massage se weight loss hota he.
You can chew one tsp of jeera, chew and swallow.
Whether Kaala jeera or nigella sativa which is availble in market can be used for diabetes treatment or not.If so how to take & what is the dose? Wherher to take raw or heated on pan Please clarify my doubt
When I contacted an Ayurvedic doctor,he told that he does not have knowledge of Kalonji oil seeds.Further Dr Hebbar not confirmed to take seeds raw or warmed.pl advise us to take dose of Kalonji seed oil for diabetes.
Doctor, kalonji and black cumin are same or different?
Black cumin is used for Kalonji.
Look at the picture above. Only this is Kalonji.
I am confused which is black cumin or nigella sativa seeds. There are two different spices shown in the net. One that looks like black sesame and the other which looks like a blacker version of cummin. So when the concoction says black cummin which do I use. I have a combination of black cummin (1part) : fenugreek (5part) : ajwain (2part). All to be toasted lightly n ground. A teaspoon to be consumed with a glass of water after food for cleansing and well being of body. Lease advise if this is okay Abd which black cummin to use. Thanks.
Hi, Black cumin is black variety of cumin.
Nigella sativa is this – easyayurveda.com/2015/02/03/kalonji-nigella-sativa-uses-side-effects-research/
Does black jeers help to reducensure oetroporosis
Hello Dr hebbar,
I made mixture of Methi,Ajwain and Nigella sativa(Kalonji) .AS there is difference betwwen Kala Jera and Kali jeeri.What are best to use from there.?
i made power of Methi (200) ,Ajwain (100) and Kalonji (50gm).Shall i add Kali Jeeri(centratherum anthelminticum) (50gm) to it?Would it have any effects?I think there ratio will be different.
please guide me..thank you.
Good combination. 3 grams, 2 times a day, after food with water for 2 months is good to take.
Is it helpful to gain weight n to increase height even after 18 ??
It is more used for cleansing and detoxifying, rather than nutrition purpose. Hence, it would not be very useful for the said purposes.
Is it harmful during pregnancy ?
Not if taken just for two weeks. It is cleansing in nature. And cleansing action is not required during pregnancy
Recently ,i have purchased Manjistha.Would this combination of Methi (200) ,Ajwain (100) and Kalonji (50gm) Kali Jeeri(centratherum anthelminticum) (50gm) and 50-100 gm Manjistha be helpful?
Please suggest me..
Dear Sir Pls. kalonji in Gujarati Names ???
I think it is called Kalonji itself. I am not sure.
Dr whether black cumin has any role in treatment of auto immune disease like SLE
Hi
Doc.
Kala jeera is same as shaha jeera or different.
Black variety of Shah jeera is Kala jeera.
It is slightly bitter.
Plz give the combination kahi jeera, kalonji,mentya,ajwain is quantity for weight loss
Thanks for giving a proper proportion. Please also brief again the benefits of taking this powder.
Useful in diabetes, bodyache, high cholesterol, high BP, recurrent fever, low immunity, low metabolism, to relieve ama and obesity.
Dear sir
Which is better kalajira or kalajira oil for good health??????
Both are equally good.
Is kari jeera an kalonji one and the same?
Does kala jeera ajwain n methi seed powder increases acidity
Kala jeera can slightly increase acidity. The other two do not.
Back pain regarding suggest sir
sir black pepper good against sugar and how do we control sugar when we re not diabetic yet
There is no need to control blood sugar when we are not diabetic. Just adopting healthy eating and lifestyle habits are good enough.
Exercise.
Avoid junk foods, aerated drinks, soda and fizz drinks.
Is it useful for renal patient to reduce creatinine ??
Dear Sir, could you kindly suggest a remedy for flatulence and bloating. Thank you.
hello sir,plz tell me how to loose weight,,,plesas please
There seems to be another one called Kala Jeera (aka ‘black cumin’) used in cooking in northern India. I believe it’s called Bunium persicum. Vernonia is not outdated, and is replaced with Centratherum (anthelminticum). All of them have been indiscriminately called ‘black cumin’. Can you beat that thickheadness?!
Hi, black variety of cumin is Centratherum.
Black cumin = Kalonji = Nigella sativa.
Doctor, what is the shelf life of these prepared powders? Can we keep it for 1year?
6 months to 1 year.
Doctor, please clarify whether the proportional combination of these three (mehthi, ajwain and karunjeera) will detoxify the allopathic medicines taken earlier for szhizophrenia for the past 5 years from the body and back to normal body shape ?
Its paste can be applied for hair wash
Krishna jeeraka is Katu rasa Katu vipaka and ushna veerya then how it is vrusya, and balya
Rarely the taste and veerya rule does not apply to vrushya action. For eg ashwagandha pippali etc
These seeds are unpalatable and difficult to chew. Anyone have ideas on how best to take them? Also is a teaspoon about a gram? I don’t have a scale.
half a teaspoon of this can be fried dry or with ghee and be consumed.