In this article, I’ll introduce you to another very common and useful spice/herb found in our kitchen. It is the cumin seed or ‘jeera’. I believe there is hardly any dish in Indian cuisine (especially North Indian cuisine) in which these seeds are not used.

The Latin name for cumin seeds is Cuminum cyminum. ‘Jeera’ is known as ‘shukla (or white) jeera’ in Sanskrit and is one of the ‘jeerak trai’ (or 3 jeeraas) comprising of  ‘shukla jeera’ (cumin seeds), ‘krishna jeera’ or ‘syah/shah jeera’ (caraway seeds) and ‘kalaunji’ or ‘mangrela’ (black seed or black onion seed).

It is an annual herb and its seeds are the part of the plant with culinary and medicinal properties. Cumin is a drought tolerant herb and is mostly grown in Mediterranean climates. The essential oil in cumin seeds is responsible for its flavor and warm aroma. Properties ascribed to it in Ayurvedic literature are – light in digestion, pungent in taste and hot in potency.

Cumin seeds are a good source of iron and manganese. However, since in regular Indian cooking, they are used in small quantities, one cannot get their daily requirements from it. They also contain certain Vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C and A) and Minerals (calcium, iron, phosphorous, potassium, sodium) in small amounts.

The therapeutic and health benefits of cumin seeds as described in Ayurveda are:

-    Cumin seeds have digestive, anti spasmodic and anthelmenthic (expels worms) properties.
-    External application of paste of the seeds is recommended in any kind of swelling – as in Arthritis, Piles, etc.
-    Paste of seeds is also recommended for external application in skin disorders like eczema, discoloration, etc. or a wash with an infusion of seeds will also help.
-    Roasted cumin seed powder is given with honey, black salt, butter milk and/or warm water in – indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, weak digestion, colic, intestinal worms and other ailments of the digestive system. In these disorders, it can also used in combination with carom seeds and fennel seeds, which have similar properties.
-    It stimulates the functioning of the heart and is also a blood purifier.
-    Roasted cumin seed powder is given with ‘mishri’ or unprocessed sugar in retention of urine and kidney stones, because of its diuretic and antispasmodic properties.
-     Because of its anti-inflammatory and blood purifying properties, it is effectively used in white discharge in women and also for cleansing and toning of the uterus post delivery.
-    Cumin powder when administered mixed with jaggery is an effective galactogogue (stimulates and increases production of milk).
-    A warm infusion of cumin seeds helps bring down fever because of its diuretic and digestive properties.
-     It is also considered as a mild aphrodisiac.

Modern research supports a number of these above-mentioned actions of cumin seeds. Wow! That is one action packed seed. I am so glad it is readily available in the kitchen and I am sure that after reading this article, you will be too.

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