The properties of cumin in colics
Spasmodic and painful contraction of the colon, usually characterized by abdominal cramps or spasms, abdominal colic is quite common, especially in anxious subjects.
A help in this case is given by the use of cumin ( Cuminum cyminum ), the second most used spice in the world after the chili which is indicated in the painful gastric and intestinal forms accompanied by flatulence and eructations.
Used since ancient times for its beneficial effects on health and for the well-known medicinal uses (not wrongly included in the culinary recipes of the Romans to promote the digestion of heavy meals), it is experiencing a renewed recognition and appreciation for its therapeutic properties and culinary.
Its seeds, similar to those of fennel and anise, with a strong, oily, warm and sweet taste and an intense and strong odor, are rich in an essential oil whose most important fraction is terpenes, like carvone and limonene which represent the real secret of the digestive and anti-inflammatory intestinal activity of the cumin.
Cumin plays, in fact, a significant regulatory action on gastrointestinal function, stimulating gastric secretion (facilitating digestion) on the one hand and antispasmodic and carminative (eliminating putrefaction gases) useful on colic and abdominal cramps on the other also of nervous origin.
The seeds are also rich in iron useful for stimulating the secretion of pancreatic enzymes that can help absorb nutrients in the intestine, so much so that in India this spice is known as jiraka (which means "what helps digestion ").
Cumin, whose parts of the plant are seeds, is sold commercially in the form of dried seeds, powder, essential oil, etc. Let's look at them specifically.
Seeds and dust in the kitchen
The seeds, with their digestive and antispasmodic activity, are used whole or ground to flavor stewed meat, grilled meat, soups, vegetables, legume-based creams, etc. They can be used to flavor sandwiches, muffins and savory pies .
Compared to dust (another form in which trade is found) it is advisable to grind the seeds at the time of use in order to obtain immediate release of all the positive substances contained. The ground cumin, if it is not old, has a stronger aroma than the whole seeds.
Always to help digestion you can prepare a sauerkraut salad with cumin in this way: wash 1kg of cabbage, cut them into thin slices and mix them with 1 teaspoon of cumin, 2 of juniper seeds and 2 teaspoons of salt. Put everything in a jar, pressing with a weight and let it rest for 3 weeks.
Cumin herbal tea
A very frequent cause of abdominal colics is meteorism, in turn determined by the difficulty of digesting certain foods that tend to ferment producing gaseous bubbles that press on the intestinal mucosa and cause pain.
To promote the elimination of intestinal gases, combating meteorism and also helping to alleviate abdominal pains, alternate the herbal tea with a " hot seed " tea in the following way: in herbal medicine it is possible to have a mix made in equal parts, of anise , fennel and cumin seeds . Boil a tablespoon of the mixture in 600 ml of water for 15 minutes, filter and drink two cups a day (especially after meals).
When you want to use a herbal tea for therapeutic purposes, generally you must take it for a period of 3 weeks (with a break of one) and then again for another 3 weeks.
Cumin is among the 5 carminative herbs against meteorism, discover the others
Decoction of cumin
To mitigate the symptoms of swelling, the decoction of cumin is prepared by placing 2 g of cumin seeds in 100 ml of cold water and bringing to a boil for about 10 minutes. Serve warm, take a cup before or after meals.
Essential oil
Cumin essential oil is a liquid that can vary in color from light yellow to greenish and has a warm, spicy, yet delicate aroma.
Able to improve digestion through an increase in pancreatic and biliary secretions (antidyspeptic properties), just use two drops of cumin essential oil on a sugar cube, once a day .
The further carminative, antispasmodic and weakly anti-inflammatory actions of this plant extract allow to contrast also other disorders related to dysfunctions of the digestive system such as stomach and stomach pains. In this case, put two drops of cumin essential oil in two tablespoons of sweet almond oil.
Use this mixture to massage the painful area until completely absorbed. Cover with a warm woolen cloth and lie down until the disturbance has subsided.
