Ajowan Essential Oil

Ajowan (or ajwain) seeds have excellent health benefits like settling an upset stomach. But what is ajowan essential oil good for? Find out right here. Learn about the properties, uses and benefits of ajowan essential oil.

Quick Glance of Ajowan Essential Oil
Pros: Ajowan oil is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial.
Cons: Ajowan oil may stimulate appetite, so it isn't the best oil to use while dieting.
Precautions: You should always check with your doctor before using ajowan oil.

Properties of Ajowan Essential Oil

Here are a few properties of ajowan essential oil for you to consider.

Name

You will realize ajowan actually has multiple botanical names. It's special like that I guess. The botanical names are: Trachyspermum ammi; Carum copticum and Trachyspermum copticum.

In addition to the many botanical names, ajowan has many common names too. Ajwain, carom and bishop's weed are all synonymous with ajowan. So you should check these names before buying the essential oil.

Color & Scent

Ajowan essential oil typically has a light orange to reddish color and a peppery, thyme scent.

Compounds

There are several compounds in ajowan essential oil. The main ones include: thymol, gamma-terpinene, p-cymene, and beta-pinene.

You can also find alpha-pinene, alpha-thujene, beta-myrcene, carvacrol, limonene, and terpinene-4-ol in ajowan oil.

Benefits of Ajowan Essential Oil

The compounds in ajowan oil are responsible for amazing health, skin and beauty benefits. Here are just a few benefits of ajowan essential oil.

1. Ajowan oil is antioxidant

Antioxidants are powerful agents that neutralize free radicals. And free radicals are terrible compounds that can damage your skin, cause wrinkles, and even cancer. Luckily, ajowan essential oil has strong antioxidant properties. And there are many studies that prove these benefits.

One 2014 study actually used two different methods for measuring ajowan's antioxidant effects to ensure accuracy and reliability. The results showed ajowan had very potent antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities, similar to those of Vitamin C and gallic acid.

What's more, researchers identified thymol as the compound responsible for these antioxidant benefits of ajowan oil.

2. Ajowan is anti-inflammatory

Another 2014 study demonstrated ajowan's anti-inflammatory benefits. The study tested the essential oil on white blood cells and measured the release of nitric oxide, a common inflammatory indicator. The results showed the oil was able to significantly reduce the release of nitric oxide, thus making it a strong anti-inflammatory agent.

Again, thymol was the key compound causing this benefit. But other compounds like gamma-terpinene, beta-pinene, and p-cymene also showed noteworthy anti-inflammatory effects.

3. Ajowan can help you breathe better

Ajowan oil is a bronchodilator, meaning it can relax your air passages and allow more oxygen to get into your lungs. That is according to a 1998 study which tested the oil on guinea pigs. The results found ajowan oil had significant relaxant and bronchodilator effects and thymol was not the cause. Researchers speculate alpha-pinene was the compound responsible for these benefits.

Nonetheless, you can use ajowan oil to ease your stuffy nose, sinus congestion, colds, coughs, and other respiratory problems.

4. Ajowan essential oil is antibacterial

A 2011 study tested ajowan's effects on fifteen common bacteria. And the results showed the oil was able to inhibit and kill all fifteen species.

Not surprisingly, the researchers found thymol to be ajowan's main antibacterial compound. But they also noted alpha- and beta-pinene added to the oil's effects.

5. Ajowan is antifungal

There are several studies proving ajowan essential oil is very toxic to a wide range of fungi. And you only need a little to get rid of molds, yeasts, and other fungi. Again, thymol and beta-pinene are the main antifungal components.

6. Ajowan kills insects

There is tremendous evidence proving this benefit of ajowan essential oil.

A 2012 study showed ajowan oil, at really, really low concentrations, killed the larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes being tested. And you should know this is the mosquito that transmits viruses that cause dengue fever and yellow fever.

Two days after adding ajowan to the larvae infested water, the oil could still be found in it. So ajowan not only killed the larvae, it also prevented more from hatching.

Another study published in 2009 tested the insecticidal properties of 26 essential oils (including caraway and geranium) on Japanese termites. Ajowan showed really good results. A little oil was able to kill all termites in under two days.

And finally, a 2012 study showed ajowan's potency on cockroaches.

You could probably guess which compound caused these benefits. Yep! It's thymol!

Summary
Here's a quick summary of all the ajowan essential oil benefits we've seen:

Uses of Ajowan Essential Oil

You've seen the properties and benefits of ajowan essential oil. Now let's get into the uses of ajowan oil.

Inhaling

Add a few drops of ajowan essential oil to your diffuser to clear up your sinuses, and ease your coughs.

You can also blend ajowan with other spicy essential oils like sage and thyme.

Massaging

Before using this oil on your skin, you absolutely must do a skin patch test. This is important to see if you may be allergic to ajowan oil. If you do not see any redness after the patch test, then you can dilute the essential oil with a carrier before applying it on your skin.

A good mix is adding 2-3 drops of ajowan oil with any carrier oil like coconut or jojoba oil.

More Precautions

Ajowan essential oil is known to stimulate appetite. So before mindful of this, especially if you are on a diet. Also, like with all essential oils, check with your doctor before using ajowan oil especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to use it on young children.

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