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Caraway Herb Description - Drug Interactions, Dosage and Some of its Useful Properties
Taxonomic Class
Apiaceae
Common Trade Names
Multi-ingredient preparations: Ajaka, BPC 1973, Cholosum N, Concentrated Caraway Water, Digestozym, Divinal- Bohnen, Enteroplant, Euflat I, Flatulex, Galloselect N, Gastricard N, Globase, Hevert-Carmin, Lomatol, Majocarmin, Metrophyt - V, Neo-Ballistol, Sanvita Magen, Spasmo Claim, Tirgon
Common Forms
Available as capsules, caraway oil, 5% volatile oil, caraway seed, caraway water, powder, coated tablets, film tablets, and tea.
Source
A volatile oil is distilled from dried ripened seeds of Carum carvi 1., a biennial herb that is native to Europe and Asia. Caraway water is obtained by soaking 1 oz of bruised seeds in 1 pt of cold water for 6 hours.
Chemical Components
Caraway oil is chiefly (53% to 63%) composed of a ketone, carvone, an optical isomer also found in spearmint oil. The oil also contains a terpene, D-limonene.
Actions
Caraway was found to relaxe the tracheal smooth muscle and increase the resting force (contracture) of ileal smooth muscle in guinea pigs . Although this herb has been claimed to have a laxative action, this effect was not seen in the guinea pigs.
Another study found that caraway oil may inhibit skin tumors in female mice . The oil, either applied topically or taken as a dietary supplement, inhibited croton oil-induced skin tumors as well as resulted in the disappearance of the tumor and a reduction in the incidence, delay in appearance, retardation, and regression of established papillomas. Topical administration appears to be superior to dietary supplementation in producing these effects . Human studies have not been performed to assess the efficacy of caraway oil in preventing toxin-induced skin tumors.
Antimicrobial activity has been demonstrated in vitro against Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Candida, and Dermatomyces.
Reported Uses
Caraway oil, an aromatic herb, is used in many pharmaceutical preparations as a flavoring agent. It is claimed to be an effective aid for abdominal distention, bronchitis, colic, constipation, flatulence, hiatal hernia, indigestion, menstrual cramps, mild spastic conditions of the GI tract, and stomach ulcers; a gargle for laryngitis; and a bath additive.
The role of monoterpenes, found in citrus fruits and caraway seed oil, in inhibiting carcinogen activation and preventing carcinogen-induced neoplasm is being evaluated. D-Limonene has been shown to inhibit a tobacco-specific carcinogen when administered immediately before carcinogen challenge, but the extent is unknown.
In a small study evaluating the laxative effects of an herbal combination containing caraway, all patients found relief from constipation within the first 2 days. The combination herbal product had no effect on gastric mucosa or ulcer healing rate. A combination of caraway and peppermint oil was found to decrease or eliminate pain in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia . This combination was found to act locally to cause smooth-muscle relaxation in six healthy volunteers.
A 4-week randomized, controlled, double-blind study compared a combination product containing caraway and peppermint oils with cisapride in the relief of symptoms associated with functional dyspepsia. Sixty patients received the combination herbal product (100 mg of caraway oil and 180 mg of peppermint oil) daily and 58 patients received cisapride (30 mg/day). The combination herbal preparation was comparable to cisapride in relieving pain associated with dyspepsia.
Dosage
For flatulence, the adult dose is 1 to 4 gtt of essential oil in 1 tsp of water or on a lump of sugar P.O., or 1.5 to 6 g of freshly crushed seeds for infusions b.i.d. to q.i.d. between meals. This dose is based on traditional practice.
Adverse Reactions
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GI: diarrhea, hepatic dysfunction (large doses of the volatile oil taken for extended periods).
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GU: renal dysfunction (large doses of the volatile oil taken for extended periods).
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Skin: contact dermatitis, mucous membrane irritation.
Interactions
None reported.
Contraindications And Precautions
Caraway is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to caraway oil or its components. Avoid using caraway in pregnant patients because of its theoretical relaxant effect on uterine muscle.
Special Considerations
Monitor for diarrhea and efficacy of administration.
Inform the patient that caraway's efficacy as an antiflatulent or a digestant is largely untested and that other drugs have been widely tested and may be equally as effective or more effective than caraway.
Advise the patient to check the label carefully to prevent confusing plain and concentrated caraway water.
Caraway oil should be stored in a glass or metal container and protected from light and moisture.
Points of interest
Caraway has been used by many civilizations. It is believed to have originated with the ancient Arabs, who called the seed Karawya. Dioscorides (A.D. 40 to 90), a Greek physician, recommended that the oil be used by "pale-faced girls;' possibly because of its claimed stimulant action.
Caraway oil is used to flavor such liqueurs as aquavit, Kummel, and L'huile de Venus.
An old superstition states that caraway has the power of retention, preventing the theft of items that contain the seed. It was used in love potions to keep lovers from losing interest and straying.
Caraway was traditionally used to improve lactation in breast-feeding mothers.
Commentary
Caraway, an established flavoring agent for many pharmaceutical and food products, has antiflatulent properties. Folklore has produced several therapeutic claims, few of which can be substantiated with clinical trial data. It might have laxative action and may be used to treat nonulcer dyspepsia. Studies performed to evaluate the efficacy of caraway in these roles are not definitive. Further human studies are needed to evaluate caraway's effect on neoplasms and whether it possesses anticancer properties.
When consumed orally for medicinal purposes, caraway has generally been recognized as safe in the United States and is approved for food use up to a maximum of 0.02%.
