Cumin is a spice that is obtained from a plant known as cuminum cyminum and has many culinary and medicinal uses. It provides many benefits, such as reducing weight by increasing metabolism rate and regulating cholesterol levels, providing iron to the body, controlling blood pressure, and protecting from indigestion. These benefits are a result of the presence of a chemical called cumin aldehyde in cumin.
Some of the animal studies also suggest that cumin can also help in preventing cancer. Due to its antioxidant properties, it also helps in boosting the immunity of the body. It can also be used on the face in order to get clean and glowing skin. Cumin is also used to treat certain insect bites and is also used to prevent irritation and pain. If you are on a diet and looking for something that can help you make your weight loss process easier, let me tell you cumin seed water can play a magical role. Soak some cumin seeds in a glass of water and let it stay overnight. In the morning, have this drink on an empty stomach. This can help you to reduce your weight faster as it improves the metabolism rate.
Historical Uses of Cumin
Cumin is a 4000 years old spice grown in Egypt and the middle east. It came from the parsley family and originated mainly in Iran and The Mediterranean. Earlier it was used as a spice as well as an element to protect mummies. Indians and Greeks have utilized cumin, and Romans since ancient times; however, it approached South American and Mexican dishes much later. Many Greeks also used cumin for medicinal reasons. Cumin is mostly used in two forms that are ground cumin and whole seeds. Whole seeds are mostly used for Indian cuisine, and ground cumin is used in Mexican and middle eastern dishes.
Benefits of Using Cumin in Ayurvedic Treatment
Since ancient India, Ayurveda has been one of the most reliable and effective ways to cure diseases. Even in modern times, Ayurveda has its own significance and is adopted by many people in order to live a healthy lifestyle. It enables us to combine our modern lifestyle with the ancient understanding of natural elements and live a life without tension and ailment. WHO acknowledged it in 1976.
Cumin has helped treat various types of diseases since earlier times. It helps to prevent indigestion and, eventually, gas formation. It also provides relief from abdominal pain due to gas formation. It also helps during menstruation and reduces menstrual cramps.
Treating disease/health problems using cumin
Given below are the uses of cumin in curing various diseases of scientific and ayurvedic view:
● Diarrhea
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Ayurvedic
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Diarrhea is the condition when the frequency of stool increases due to an increase in peristaltic movement, which results in the loss of water and electrolytes. Cumin consists of tannins, terpenoids, and flavonoids, which have antidiarrheal effects and helps to reduce stool frequency and peristaltic movement.
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In Ayurveda, diarrhea is called by the name atisar. According to Ayurveda, factors such as inappropriate food, dirty water, stress, and agnimandya lead to increased vata, which fetches fluids in the intestine from various tissues and mixes with stool. This results in a loss, watery motions, and diarrhea. Cumin helps to control diarrhea by regulating agni and vata and reduces the frequency of motion.
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● Flatulence
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Ayurvedic
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Impaired digestion leads to flatulence, which can be controlled by consuming cumin. Carminative and antiflatulent are present in cumin, which reduces indigestion.
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According to Ayurveda, deepan, and pachan properties in cumin help regulate agni and imbalanced vata, which prevents impaired digestion and gas formation.
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● Colicky pain
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Ayurvedic
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Cumin helps to regulate colic as it has carminative, stimulant, analgesic, and anti-ulcerogenic properties.
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Aggravation of Vata leads to shula, which is colic pain; however, cumin can help to cure shula through its property of regulating vata.
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● Menstrual Pain
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Cumin also helps regulate the menstrual cycle as it is a rich source of iron required by the body at the time of menstruation.
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According to Ayurveda, menstrual cramps and dysmenorrhea are a result of imbalanced vata dosha. Cumin helps to regulate vata and controls dysmenorrhea.
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Some other benefits of using Cumin
Cumin is quite rich in vitamin E. It protects us from different skin infections and allergies since it contains disinfectants and anti-fungal properties. Cumin also has antimicrobial activity against oral bacteria, which helps to prevent endodontic infections.
Forms of cumin in Ayurveda with a recommended dosage
Cumin in Ayurveda is used in different forms that are churma or powder and cumin oil to cure diseases. It is also used as cumin seeds (whole seeds) in Indian dishes. If you have not consulted any doctor regarding the dosage of cumin, you can proceed with these recommendations.
● Cumin churma or powder: Take ½ or 1 teaspoon two times a day. You can take it with lukewarm water after having your meal.
● Cumin oil: Take 1 to 2 drops twice a day.
If the doctor has prescribed you the dosage of cumin, then firmly follow that prescription.
Types of Ayurvedic care with cumin
1. Cumin Churna
● Take cumin powder around ½ to 1 teaspoon only.
● Gulp it with lukewarm water after eating your food two times a day.
2. Cumin seed essential oil
● Take a glass of lukewarm water.
● Add 1 to 2 drops of cumin oil to it.
● Have this drink two times a day after lunch.
3. Cumin seeds kwatha
● Take around 4 to 8 teaspoons of kwatha
● Have ikwacha lukewarm water two times a day after lunch.
4. Cumin water
● Take 1 to 2 teaspoons of cumin seeds.
● Please put them in a bottle filled with hot water.
● Soak it overnight.
● And have this drink in the morning on an empty stomach. (It helps in reducing weight)
5. Cumin seeds powder face scrubs
● Take some honey in a bowl.
● Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds powder to it.
● Apply the paste gently on the face and neck.
● Massage it.
● Then wash it with running water.
● Use this scrub 2 to 3 times a week in order to get rid of blackheads, skin allergies, and pimples.
6. Cumin oil with coconut oil
● Take some coconut oil.
● Add 1 to 2 drops of cumin oil to it
● Apply on your face and hair.
● You may use this remedy 2 to 3 times a week.
Side effects Of cumin
We have already seen several uses and benefits of using cumin. However, cumin has some disadvantages also. You need to be careful while using cumin if you are on therapy of blood thinners as cumin leads to an increase in bleeding. Consult a doctor before consuming any amount of cumin. Also, cumin helps in reducing blood sugar levels. Therefore when you consume ginger with anti-diabetic drugs, make sure to keep a check on your blood sugar levels.
Some of the after-effects of using an excess of cumin are:
● It can lead to excessive bleeding.
● It can lead to certain respiratory difficulties.
● It can lead to contact dermatitis.
● Excessive amounts of cumin can make the body vulnerable to liver cancer.
● It also causes a reduction in blood sugar levels.
● It might also affect fertility and sperm count.
Precautionary guide for using Cumin
Even though cumin provides us with many benefits, however, you need to be careful in certain situations while using cumin. It is not advisable to use cumin while consuming:
● Antituberculosis medicines
● Certain antibiotics
● Excess amounts of cumin can cause harm at the time of pregnancy.
Unknown facts
In earlier times, cumin was also used to pay taxes since it is one of the world's most popular spice.
Also, according to certain beliefs, cumin brings happiness with it and is carried at weddings.
Conclusion
Cumin is one of the oldest spices in use. It is widely used in India, South America, Mexico, and the middle east and is available in seeds, powder, and oil form. It not helps to add flavor (because of its great odor and bitter, warm taste) to the food but also has many health benefits such as its antioxidant property helps to enhance immunity, it also prevents indigestion and had formation, it can also be used to treat insects bite because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and can also be used on the face for glowing skin.
Ayurveda and even science have acknowledged cumin as one of the best herbs that can be used to prevent and treat various health problems. However, there are certain side effects also caused due to higher consumption of cumin. These are excessive bleeding, risk of liver cancer, and reduction in blood sugar levels. It would help if you also were careful while using cumin at the time of pregnancy.
According to some of the animal studies, cumin is also effective in preventing cancer. Even though cumin has many advantages and benefits, scientists are yet to perform more research, especially on human beings, in order to know the best benefits, supplements, and ideal dosage of cumin.
FAQ
Q What are the benefits of drinking cumin water daily?
A.
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According to science, drinking cumin water regularly early in the morning on an empty stomach helps reduce weight as it improves metabolism rate and prevents indigestion.
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Due to the presence of deepan and pachan properties in cumin, it helps to control flatulence, indigestion, and bloating.
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Q Is cumin helpful in preventing colon?
A. According to scientific studies, cumin inhibits toxins and enzymes that damage the colon mucus membrane, which protects from colon cancer caused due to colon-specific carcinogens. It also helps to improve the excretion of neutrals, sterols, and bile juices.
Q Does cumin helps in curbing diabetes?
A.
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Due to the presence of cumin aldehyde and cuminol in cumin, it boosts the secretion of insulin in the body and reduces the blood glucose levels. The antioxidant property of cumin shields the pancreatic beta cells and helps to prevent diabetic difficulties.
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According to the Ayurvedic view, diabetes or madhumehai is a result of impaired digestion and aggravation of vata. Due to the deepan and pachan properties of cumin, it improves impaired digestion and reduces ama, which impairs the function of insulin.
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Q Can cumin intake help in curbing cholesterol?
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The antioxidant property of cumin helps control fasting cholesterol, bad cholesterol ( LDL) and triglycerides, and prevents lipid peroxidation. It also boosts the levels of good cholesterol (HDL).
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According to Ayurvedic theory, pachak Agni and impaired digestion are responsible for the aggregation of bad cholesterol (LDL) and blockage in blood vessels, which leads to high cholesterol levels. Cumin utilizing its deepan and pachak properties reduces the accumulation of bad cholesterol in the body.
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Q Can cumin help in boosting immunity?
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The immunomodulatory property of cumin stimulates the T cells and Th 1 cytokines, which increases immunity.
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According to the Ayurvedic view, the value or tonic property of cumin boosts immunity.
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Q What is the role of cumin in epilepsy?
A. According to the scientific study, the anti-epileptic property of cumin has an analgesic effect and also attenuates convulsions.
Q What is the role of cumin in the case of osteoporosis?
A. Cumin has phytoestrogens that help boost the amount of calcium in the body as it decreases the excretion of calcium through urine and makes the bones strong.
Q Can cumin help in decreasing blood pressure?
A. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of cumin increase the amount of nitric acid in the blood, helping in relaxing blood vessels and thus reducing blood pressure.
Q Is cumin helpful for anemic people?
A. Cumin is highly rich in iron. It can be used as a remedy for anemic people as it has 5 times more iron as compared to the daily need of an adult.
Q Can cumin help in reducing weight faster?
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Drinking cumin water on an empty stomach early in the morning helps to reduce weight faster. It controls bad cholesterol (Low-Density lipoprotein LDL ) and triglycerides and enhances good cholesterol.
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Weak and poor digestion of the food leads to the accumulation of fat in the body. However, cumin's deepan and pachan properties can help to flush out the body's fat, which reduces weight.
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Q What are the advantages of using black cumin?
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Black cumin has many advantages, such as it can be used to remedy rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, inflammatory diseases, diabetes, and indigestion due to the presence of antioxidants, anti-cancer, wound healing, immunomodulatory and anti hyperlipidemia properties. It can be used for skin infections such as acne and burns. Though in high doses, it can cause toxicity due to the presence of melanthin.
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Diseases caused by an imbalance of vata and kapha dishes such as arthritis, asthma, and diabetes can be cured by using cumin. It also has ushna properties, which prevents indigestion.
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Q Are there any side effects of using cumin?
A. Higher consumption of cumin can lead to:
● Excessive bleeding
● Contact dermatitis
● Respiratory problems
● Risk of liver cancer
● Reduction in blood sugar levels
Q Can cumin help to reduce abdominal pain?
A. Cumin in the form of a poultice or moist mass can be applied externally to prevent pain or irritation due to worms or insects.
Q How can cumin help to treat a scorpion bite?
A. Cumin can be used to treat scorpion bite since it has antiseptic as well as anti-inflammatory properties.
Procedure to use cumin in case of a scorpion bite
● Take honey, salt, and butter in a bowl.
● Add cumin seeds powder to it.
● Mix all of them.
● And then apply to the affected area.
Q Is cumin beneficial for improving oral health?
A. Cumin aldehyde present in cumin seed oil has antimicrobial properties that are effective against oral pathogenic bacteria called streptococcus mutans.
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