Ajwain - a herb for every home

Ajwain is a herb which has an unusual smell and flavour and present almost in all households in India. This herb is used for cooking as well as medicinal purposes. Ajwain is called by different names in India like yavan in Gujarati, Omum in Tamil and Malayalam, Oma in Kannada, Vamu in telugu etc.

Thymol an oil is prepared by distilling the Ajwain seeds. The thymol oil is used as an antiseptic in surgeries all over the world. In India ajwain is grown in West Bengal, Bihar, Uttarpradesh, Madhyapradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Tamil nadu. You can also grow Omum / Ajwain in shallow pots at home. It will take about five months to flower and the seeds will be ready within two more months.

Ajwain is beneficial for the digestive ailments like, diaorhoea, dysentry, Dyspepsia and indigestion. There is a tasty churan which is prepared in many indian households which even children love to eat.
Mix equal quantities of ajwain and dry ginger and soak them in twice the amount / volume of the lime juice. Later, dry the mix , add enough rock salt  to it. Powder the mix nicely and store it.
If you  take a spoon of the mix in a little warm water, the problems of flatulence can be removed.
A tablespoon of ajwain seeds boiled in  a  glass of water and drunk will relieve colics.
Chewing Ajwain with a little rock salt and clove will help you with pharyngitis.
You can mix it with buttermilk and use it as an expectorant. Try doing it twice a day for clearing the problem.