Caraway
Introduction
Caraway is a plant. Its small berries are dried and referred to as seeds. The seeds have been used to ease digestion. They can be taken as a pill or powder. The seeds can also be made into both liquid and oil extracts. Caraway seeds can also be made into a tea.
Dosages
There aren’t any advised doses for caraway.
What Research Shows
May Be Effective
- Dyspepsia —may ease pain and improve quality of life, especially when used with peppermint A1-A4
Not Enough Data to Assess
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome B1
Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.
Safety Notes
It is likely safe to take caraway for a short time. Not enough studies have been done to say whether it is safe to take for a long period of time.
Interactions
Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some can interfere with treatment or make conditions worse.
References►
A. Dyspepsia
A1. May B, Kuntz HD, et al. Efficacy of a fixed peppermint oil/caraway oil combination in non-ulcer dyspepsia. Arzneimittelforschung. 1996 Dec;46(12):1149-1153.
A2. Madisch A, Heydenreich CJ, et al. Treatment of functional dyspepsia with a fixed peppermint oil and caraway oil combination preparation as compared to cisapride. A multicenter, reference-controlled double-blind equivalence study. Arzneimittelforschung. 1999 Nov;49(11):925-932.
A3. May B, Köhler S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of a fixed combination of peppermint oil and caraway oil in patients suffering from functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2000 Dec;14(12):1671-1677.
A4. Rich G, Shah A, et al. A randomized placebo-controlled trial on the effects of Menthacarin, a proprietary peppermint- and caraway-oil-preparation, on symptoms and quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017 Nov;29(11).
B. Irritable Bowel Syndrome
B1. Lauche R, Janzen A, et al. Efficacy of Caraway Oil Poultices in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome--A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial. Digestion. 2015;92(1):22-31.
Last reviewed May 2020 by EBSCO NAT Review Board Eric Hurwitz, DC