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Principal Proposed UsesOther Proposed Uses


Caraway

Uses

Principal Proposed Uses

Other Proposed Uses

  • Oral:
  • Topical:
Caraway has a long history of use as a “carminative,” an herb said to relieve gas pain. Mentions of caraway for digestive problems can be found in Egyptian records, and the herb has been used in Europe for this purpose since at least the Middle Ages. The seeds, or their essential oil , are the part of the plant used medicinally

What is Caraway Used for Today?

Only double-blind , placebo-controlled studies can prove a treatment effective, and thus far such studies have not been performed on caraway alone. (For more information on why such studies are essential, see Why Does This Database Rely on Double-blind Studies? ) However, a few double-blind studies have been reported on combination products containing caraway oil for the treatment of dyspepsia (non-specific stomach distress).
For example, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 39 people found that an enteric-coated peppermint oil and caraway oil combination taken three times daily by mouth for 4 weeks significantly reduced dyspepsia pain as compared to placebo. 1 Of the treatment group, 63.2% of participants were pain-free after 4 weeks, compared to 25% of the placebo group. In other double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, a combination of caraway, bitter candytuft, feverfew , peppermint leaves , licorice root , and lemon balm also proved effective for dyspepsia. 2,3
Double-blind comparative studies have also been reported. One such study of 118 people found that the combination of peppermint and caraway oil was about as effective as the standard drug cisapride (a drug used for dyspepsia that is no longer available). 4 After 4 weeks, the herbal combination reduced dyspepsia pain by 69.7%, whereas the conventional treatment reduced pain by 70.2%. Finally, a preparation of peppermint, caraway, fennel, and wormwood oil was compared to the drug metoclopramide in a double-blind study enrolling 60 people. 5 After 7 days, 43.3% of the treatment group was pain-free, compared to 13.3% of the metoclopramide group.
Far weaker evidence hints that caraway extracts may have anti-cancer , 6 antibacterial, 7,8 and antidiabetic9 actions. However, the evidence for these potential benefits is far too weak to rely on.
Caraway oil is said to be helpful for irritable bowel syndrome . Teas made from caraway are recommend for periodontal disease and canker sores . However, there is no meaningful supporting evidence for any of these uses.

Dosage

A typical dose of caraway is 0.05–0.2 ml of the essential oil taken three times daily.

Safety Issues

Caraway is generally regarded as safe when used in recommended doses. However, essential oils can be toxic to very young children, and excessive doses could be dangerous for adults as well. Maximum safe dosages in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with severe liver or kidney disease have not been established.

References

1 May B, Kuntz HD, Kieser M, et al. Efficacy of a fixed peppermint oil/caraway oil combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Arzneimittelforschung . 1996;46:1149–1153.

2 Madisch A, Holtmann G, Mayr G, et al. Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a herbal preparation. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Digestion . 2004 [Epub ahead of print].

3 Gundermann KJ, Godehardt E, Ulbrich M. Efficacy of a herbal preparation in patients with functional dyspepsia: a meta-analysis of double-blind, randomized, clinical trials. Adv Ther . 2003;20:43–9.

4 Madisch A, Heydenreich CJ, Wieland V, et al. Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a fixed peppermint oil and caraway oil combination preparation as compared to cisapride. A multicenter, reference-controlled double-blind equivalence study. Arzneimittelforschung . 1999;49:925–932.

5 Westphal J, Horning M, Leonhardt K. Phytotherapy in functional upper abdominal complaints. Results of a clinical study with a preparation of several plants. Phytomedicine . 1996;2:285–291.

6 Zheng GQ, Kenney PM, Lam LK, et al. Anethofuran, carvone, and limonene: potential cancer chemopreventive agents from dill weed oil and caraway oil. Planta Med . 1992;58:338–41.

7 Singh G, Kapoor IP, Pandey SK, et al. Studies on essential oils: part 10; antibacterial activity of volatile oils of some spices. Phytother Res . 2002;16:680–2.

8 Iacobellis NS, Lo Cantore P, Capasso F, et al. Antibacterial activity of Cuminum cyminum L. and Carum carvi L. essential oils. J Agric Food Chem . 2005;53:57–61.

9 Eddouks M, Lemhadri A, Michel JB, et al. Caraway and caper: potential anti-hyperglycaemic plants in diabetic rats. J Ethnopharmacol . 2004;94:143–8.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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