Caraway oil

Caraway oil comes from Caraway (Carum carvi), a member of the Umbelliferae family.

Caraway oil is extracted from dried caraway seeds and is produced by steam distillation.

Caraway oil has an extremely long and rich history, largely characterized by superstition and a myriad of gastronomic and medicinal uses (although the latter are not scientifically proven).

In this article you can read about the properties, uses, precautions, side effects, interactions, etc.

Properties of caraway oil

Undocumented properties

There is no scientific evidence that caraway oil can be used to remedy the following health problems:

There is also no evidence that caraway oil can be used to:

• Kill bacteria in the human body
• Trigger menstruation
• Reduce menstrual pain
• Improve the supply of breast milk during breastfeeding
• Improve blood circulation in the body

It should be emphasized that there is no scientific evidence for the above uses of cumin oil. If you have any health problems, you should consult a doctor.

Investigated properties with lack of evidence

• Heartburn: There are numerous studies on the effects of caraway oil on the digestive system and especially on heartburn (functional dyspepsia). What most of them have in common is that they have shown that caraway oil – together with other essential oils (especially peppermint oil) – can relieve heartburn and even reduce some of the symptoms typically associated with heartburn (such as mild spasms in the gastrointestinal tract and the feeling of being “full” or bloated). However, these properties are not considered scientifically proven.

• Stomach problems: An herbal remedy called Iberogast, which is only available in some countries (excluding Denmark), appears to alleviate the symptoms of stomach upset. In addition, it significantly helps with other stomach problems such as stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and (too much) stomach acid. Iberogast consists of 9 ingredients:
  • Caraway seed (Carvi fructus)
  • Ribwort flower (Iberis amara)
  • Peppermint leaves (Menthae piperitae folium)
  • Chamomile flower (Matricariae flos)
  • Milk thistle fruit (Silybi mariani fructus)
  • Angelica root (Angelicae radix)
  • Licorice root (Liquiritiae radix)
  • Celandine (Chelidonii herba)
  • Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

It should be emphasized that there is no scientific evidence that caraway oil can be used to treat the above health problems.

Caraway oil uses

Besides its use as a dietary supplement and natural medicine, caraway oil is also used in the following areas:

Gastronomy

In the world of gastronomy, caraway oil is not used nearly as much as caraway seeds and ground caraway, but it is used in some hot dishes and desserts. The well-known and characteristic flavor of caraway comes from the oil of the caraway seeds; the caraway oil.

Aromatherapy

In aromatherapy, caraway oil is mainly used in massage oil and in hot baths. Caraway oil is suitable for blending with these essential oils:

Other applications

Caraway oil is also used in cosmetic products such as soaps, lotions, perfumes, etc. In addition, caraway oil is also used as a flavoring agent in some types of medicine.

Precautionary measures

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: Taking caraway oil may be harmful to pregnant women or nursing mothers and is therefore not recommended. Historically, caraway oil has been used to trigger menstruation, which in some cases has led to miscarriage

• Diabetes: Caraway oil may lower the body's blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic and consume caraway oil, you should monitor your blood sugar levels closely. In some cases, you may even need to adjust the dosage of your medication – talk to your doctor about this

• Surgery: Since caraway oil may lower blood sugar levels, this can also be a problem during and after surgery. It is therefore recommended to stop consuming caraway oil at least 2 weeks before the day of surgery.

Side effects of caraway oil

The side effects of caraway oil are only known in combination with peppermint oil and are as follows:

• Heartburn
• Burping
• Nausea

In people with sensitive skin, the two oils can also cause rashes and itching of the skin.

Interactions

Medications used to treat diabetes (i.e. diabetes medication) interact with caraway oil. This is because caraway oil can lower blood sugar levels, which the diabetes medication also does – and the danger is therefore that blood sugar levels become too low.