Caraway Seed Essential Oil (Carum carvi)

Overview

Caraway may also be referred to as Meridian fennel, Persian cumin, Caraway Seed, or Caraway Oil. It is typically processed using steam or hydro distillation as a method for extracting oil from the seeds.

Summary

Caraway seeds lend unique flavor and are widely utilized within culinary applications including pickles, breads and cheeses.

Essential Facts

  • Aroma Description:

    Herbaceous Slightly spicy Warm

  • Common Name(s): Meridian fennel, Persian cumin, Caraway Seed, or Caraway Oil
  • Botanical Family: Apiaceae
  • Botanical Genus: Carum
  • Chemical Family: Ketones, Monoterpenes
  • Major Compounds: (+)-Carvone, (+)-Limonene, B-Myrcene
  • Perfumery Note: Middle
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Strength of Initial Aroma: Medium
  • Aroma chemistry: The anti-bacterial and antifungal actions found in both carvone and d-limonene have been research proven to be ulcerogenic with activity against Helicobacter pylori.
  • Color: Clear
  • Indigenous Country: Hungary
  • Cultivation: Distiller is Certified Organic
  • Processing Methods: Steam or Hydro Distillation
  • Part Typically Used: Seeds
  • Shelf Life: 4 years
  • Vegan Vegan

Essential Details

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Caraway:

Tisserand and Young do not indicate any special precautions when using Caraway Seed Oil. However, they precaution to avoid use of the oil if it has oxidized. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 231.]

Safety Precautions for Caraway:

According to Tisserand & Young, Caraway essential oil can cause skin sensitization if it is oxidized.    1.2% for skin sensitization but only for (-) carvone. Dermal limit for (+) carvone is 23% for toxicity.

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read there commended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, readEssential Oil Safety by Robert Tisser and and Rodney Young.

Traditional Folklore

Traditional Folklore of Caraway:

Caraway essential oil is typically used in many digestive blends. The anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, carminative and immunomodulatory effects have been used in laboratory studies for IBD, specifically colitis. Botany Caraway is similar in appearance to other members of the carrot family, with finely divided, feathery leaves with thread-like divisions, growing on 20-30cm stems. The main flower stem is 40-60cm tall, with small white or pink flowers in umbels. Caraway fruit (erroneously called seeds) are crescent shaped.  Traditional Folklore The herb Caraway is traditionally used to treat dyspepsia, intestinal colic, menstrual cramps, poor appetite, laryngitis, and bronchitis. A curious superstition was held in olden times about Caraway. It was deemed to confer the gift of retention, preventing the theft of any object which contained it, and holding the the if in custody within the invaded house.

Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities