Ajwain Plant with Medicinal and Culinary benefits

Ajwain leaves are herb like mint but have more medicinal properties. Ajwain (Hindi) is also known as Doddapatre/ Sambarballi in Kannada, Karpuravalli in Tamil, Ova Paan in Marathi, and Panikoorka in Malayalam. This plant has hard , thick and fleshy leaves. They grow quickly and are very common in south Indian households.

Ajwain leaves are used as a Ayurvedic herb leaves for treating common cold, cough and fever in babies and adults.  The plant is also said to treat bronchial asthma and common ailments like arthritis, epilepsy, insect bites, stings, allergies, ulcer, indigestion, diarrhoea and urinary tract infection as well and also improves lactation in nursing mothers when taken as a juice.

Dried Ajwain leaves are also used for flavoring meat, vegetable dishes and are added to soups, stews, and other meals as an herb.

Some unknown facts of Ajwain leaves

• Ajwain leaves can be a mouth freshener?

YES, chewing 1 or 2 Ajwain leaves can act as natural mouth fresheners that it can help you in combating bad breath and they are like your quick fix for killing the odour, after a heavy meal.

• Ajwain leaves can also help you get rid of cockroaches naturally?

Ajwain leaves fragrance are known to naturally repel cockroaches. Plus, the fragrances also help you purify the air. 

• Ajwain leaves as medicine?

Cold, Fever and Cough in children

Children:- 

• Method 1: Wash Ajwain leaves properly under the running water or you can also leave it for few minutes in water and squeeze 1 leaf and extract juice in a teaspoon when given to babies. (repeat the process 2 times a day)
• Method 2: After washing the leaves, Heat the Ajwain leaves in a pan for few minutes and rub on baby's head (repeat the process  2 times a day) 

Adult:-  To cure their cough, cold, fever, sore throat, nasal congestion and chest congestion. 

• Method 1: Wash and directly chew the leaves in the mouth for few seconds and swallow it.  Repeat this process 2 times a day.
• Method 2: Add Ajwain leaves in steam water and inhale the same, repeat this process 2 times a day
• Method 3: As a soup, after washing the leaves add them in boiling water, boil it for few minutes and drink that water when it is lukewarm. You can take this drink 3 times a day also note prepare it fresh daily.

• Ajwain leaves in cooking?

1. Chutney:- You can prepare Ajwain leaves chutney in two methods (raw and other with temper) for idli or dosai. (Check out this link for Ajwain leave chutney)
2. Rasam(Soup): You can prepare Ajwain leaves rasam for rice. (Check out this link for Ajwain leaves Rasam)
3. Ajwain leaves paratha or chapati: You can prepare paratha using Ajwain and Mint leaves check out this blog.

How to grow Ajwain leaves at home?

The Ajwain plant is very easy to grow, you plant Ajwain stem directly in soil pot and water it regularly and the plant grows very fast and is equally good to look at. 

You can also purchase Ajwain plant from Amazon portal.