Curated by Maria Rita Insolera, Naturopath
Carvi is a medicinal plant known since ancient times for its disinfectant and antispasmodic properties, which can also be used by women with poor menstrual flow. Let's find out better.
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Carvi properties
Rich in proteins and minerals, carvi has numerous therapeutic properties including digestive, diuretic and gut-regulating properties . The seeds are also expectorants and antiseptics and can be consumed simply by chewing them after a meal or as a decoction or herbal tea. Furthermore, carvi stimulates the appetite and helps lactating women in milk production.
Many pharmaceutical companies use it within antidiarrheal medicines thanks to the disinfectant capacity it has for intestinal walls. Thanks to its antispasmodic properties, it is also suitable for use against infant colic .
Its protein intake makes the caraway perfect to be used also by women with poor menstrual flow. The part of the plant containing the active ingredients is the fruit, which has a pungent taste. It is a plant rich in different essential oils ; the main ones are limonene and carvone, contained in percentages varying from 3 to 7%, depending on the origin.
The balsamic harvest time, when the concentration of the active ingredients is greater, is the moment in which the fruits are not yet fully ripe.
Method of use
The used parts of Carvi are the seeds (fruits or mertacarpi) that are used as flavoring, aperitifs, digestives, antispasmodics, antiseptics.
In the cosmetic industry the essence of Carvi is generally used for its fragrance.
In the herbal field, it can be used in the form of herbal tea, or as an ingredient in ready-to-use preparations in powder, tablets or drops.
In the kitchen it is used as a condiment and a spice . The plant's roots are edible and can be eaten boiled like carrots.
You can learn more about the properties and uses of carvi essential oil
Contraindications of carvi
The carvi must be absolutely forbidden in case of serious liver diseases (essential oil) or hypersensitivity to one or more components.
Caraway essential oil can cause headaches and dizziness . In some patients allergy may occur, usually with buccal symptoms such as tongue and gum inflammation with itching and burning.
Do not use during pregnancy.
Description of the plant
Carvi, scientific name Carum carvi, is a plant of the Apiacee family.
Similar to the wild carrot plant, Carvi is a biennial plant with an erect stem that can reach a height of 60 cm.
The leaves are similar to long feathers, the flowers are white or pink and gathered in umbrella-shaped inflorescences, while the fruits are small, striped and oblong and are improperly called seeds .
The plant flowers between May and September, while the fruits reach maturation between July and August.
Carvi roots can also be eaten after cooking in boiling water.
Carvi habitat
Native to Europe and western Asia, it is also widespread in North Africa. It grows between 800 and 2200 meters in a warm, sunny climate, on well-drained soils.
The carvi grows spontaneously in damp and grassy places, typical of the subalpine areas and of the northern Apennines. It can be found both in the hills and at high altitudes (up to 2300 meters) but needs a good exposure to the sun.
Background
Carvi was also known in antiquity, in fact, the Greek physician Dioscorides already extolled its digestive properties.
The " harira ", a characteristic vegetable and vegetable soup of Morocco, is traditionally prepared during Ramadam and wedding celebrations, and its aroma is enhanced by carvi, in Arabic karwîyâ.
