Carvi fructus

Caraway fruit - see also caraway.

The quality of the following drugs or drug preparations is defined in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.):

HMPC monograph: Tradtional-use: indigestion, flatulence and bloating
ESCOP monograph: indigestion, flatulence, bloating, gastrointestinal cramps; also used externally in children (rubbing in the lower abdomen).
Commission E monograph: dyspeptic complaints, mild, crampy gastrointestinal complaints, bloating and flatulence.

Furthermore, it is used in the liquor industry as a spice component.

Empirical medicine: nervous heart and stomach complaints, promotion of lactation, externally for umbilical colic.

Caraway fruits contain between 3 and 7 % (but at least 3 %) essential oil with 50 to 65 % carvone and other monoterpenes such as limonene (up to 45 %).

Caraway fruits have spasmolytic, antimicrobial, carminative and appetite-stimulating effects. In addition, they promote gastric juice secretion and blood circulation.

Caraway fruits are used to treat dyspeptic complaints such as flatulence, bloating, gastrointestinal complaints, flatulence-related colic in children, Roemheld syndrome (internal use).

The daily dose of the drug is between 1.5 and 6 g or 3 to 6 drops of caraway essential oil. The freshly crushed drug is used as infusions and other galenic preparations for ingestion. Whole fruits are also available to chew. In addition, 10% of the essential oil can also be applied to the abdominal skin (especially for babies and small children) and massaged in.

However, overdose may cause central excitement, dizziness or impaired consciousness. Long-term intake of caraway oil may cause liver and kidney damage.

Allergies to umbelliferous plants (including fennel, caraway, celery, coriander or dill), liver damage, bile complaints.
Pregnancy or breastfeeding no studies on safety yet, also for children under 12 years of ageno
reservations about external application (rubbing).

There are no known interactions with other drugs.

Combinations of:

• Angelicae radix (Angelica root)
• Gentianae radix (gentian root) and
• Carvi fructus (caraway)

are used for mild, cramp-like complaints in the gastrointestinal tract, for loss of appetite and for dyspeptic complaints such as flatulence and a feeling of fullness. See and combination preparation: angelica root, gentian root, caraway.

The combination senna leaves, peppermint oil and caraway oil consists of:

• Sennae folium (senna leaves)
• Menthae piperitae oleum (peppermint oil)
• Carvi fructus (see caraway oil below)

has a lanxiering and antispasmodic effect and is used for constipation.

Squeeze caraway fruit slightly immediately before use, as the essential oil is located in secretion spaces within the fruit and this is the only way it can pass into the extraction medium.

Caraway oil is one of the stronger carminatives and is more effective than fennel and aniseed.

Caraway oil is a component of the four winds oil, which is mainly used by midwives for infants and small children to treat stomach aches. Chewing caraway seeds can also reduce severe bad breath.

1. Matsumura T et al. (2002) Water-soluble constituents of caraway: aromatic compound, aromatic compound glucoside and glucides. Phytochemistry 61:455-459.
2. Sadiq S et al. (2010)The reno-protective effect of aqueous extract of Carum carvi (black zeera) seeds in streptozotocin induced diabetic nephropathy in rodents. Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl 21:1058-1065.
3. Schilcher H (2016) in: Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag Munich, p. 196 f.
4. https://arzneipflanzenlexikon.info/kuemmel.php.
5. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/herbal-monograph/final-european-union-herbal-monograph-carum-carvi-l-fructus_en.pdf
6. Wenigmann M. (2017) Phytotherapy medicinal drugs, phytopharmaceuticals, application. Urban & Fischer, pp. 142-143