Ajmoda

Description

• Ajmoda or Celery seed is a popular Ayurvedic medicinal herb worldwide. It consists of the dried seeds obtained from the herbal plant Apium leptophyllum, Apium graveolens, and Trachyspermum roxburghianum. In medicinal properties, it is very identical to Ajwain.
• Ajmoda is pungent in both the beginning, and post-digestive tastes (Rasa, and Vipaka) and hot in potency (Virya). It gives relief in Vata, and Kapha disorders, and increases pitta. It is carminative, and antiemetic. 
• The seeds are deobstruent, and resolvent, and given in bronchitis, cough, and asthma.
• Ajmoda is very useful in the treatment of disorders of the digestive respiratory, urinary, and circulatory systems. Since it elevates bile, it is indicated in low appetite and digestive fire weakness. 
• It promotes digestion, and assimilation of food. As it is hot in potency it shows beneficial results in cold, cough, and fever. 
• It kills parasitic worms in the human body. As it is warming, it detoxifies the body, and burns Ama, and used as a preventive treatment for gout, and rheumatism.

Information about plant

• Ajmoda is an annual plant that can grow up to two feet. Flowers have both male and female flowers and are hermaphrodite. It grows in acidic, neutral, and basic (alkaline), soils. The seeds of the plant are used as a seasoning.
• The seeds of the plant are small and yellowish-brown in color. They are aromatic (flavoring) and slightly bitter-pungent in taste. Oral consumption gives a sensation of warmth to the tongue.

Scientific Classification

Botanical name – Apium graveolens. 

1.   Kingdom: Plantae
2.   Subkingdom: Tracheobionta (vascular)
3.   Superdivision: Spermatophyta ( plant with seed) 
4.   Division: Magnoliophyta (Flowering)
5.   Class: Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
6.   Subclass: Rosidae
7.   Order: Apiales
8.   Family: Umbelliferae (Carrot family)
9.   Genus: Apium L. (celery)
10.   Species: Apium graveolens L. ( wild celery)
11.   Parts which are used for medicinal purpose: Leaves, Root, Seeds
12.   Distribution: Middle, and southern states of India
13.   Habitat: Swamp, by rivers, and in other damp locations, especially near the sea
14.   Group: Dicot

Vernacular Names

1.   Botanical name: Apium leptophyllum
2.   Ayurvedic:  Ajamoda (literal meaning = Goat’s delight), Ayamoda, Ajmoja, Dipyaka
3.   Siddha: Ashamtagam
4.   Assamese: Bonjamani, Yamani, Ajowan
5.   Gujrati: Bodi Ajamo, Ajamo
6.   Unani: Karafs-e-Hindi
7.   Bengali: Randhuni, Banyamani
8.   Hindi: Ajmuda, Ajmod
9.   Kannada: Oma, Ajavana, Omakki
10. Kashmiri: Fakhazur, Banjuan
11. Malayalam: Ayamodakum, Omam
12. Marathi: Oova
13.   Punjabi: Valjawain
14.   Tamil: Omam
15.   Telugu: Naranji vamu
16.   Oriya: Banajuani
17.   Urdu: Ajmod

Constituents of Ajmoda

• Ajmoda contains volatile essential oil, mucilage, and salt. The essential oil contains Meethers of thymol, and thymoquinol, used as a carminative. 
• The oil has antifungal activity against Candida albicans fungus, and moderate action against Gram-positive, and Gram-negative bacteria.
• Preparations: Infusion, seed powder, decoction, oil.

Ayurvedic Properties of Ajmoda

• Ajmoda is bitter, and pungent in taste, pungent after digestion, and is hot in effect.
• It is an Ushna Virya ayurvedic herb. Ushna Virya subdues Vata (Wind), and Kapha (Mucus), and increases Pitta. 
• It has the property of digestion, vomiting, and purging. It is not considered good for sperms, and the fetus.

1.   Rasa (taste on the tongue): Katu, Tikta 
2.   Guna (Pharmacological Action): Laghu, Ruksha
3.   Virya (Action): Ushna (Hot)
4.   Vipaka (transformed state of the herb after digestion): Katu (Pungent)

Action

1.   Deepana (Enhance appetite but do not help in digesting undigested food)
2.   Pachak (Digestive)
3.   Vidahi (Things that cause a burning sensation)
4.   Kapha–Vata har (Remove the Humor of Kapha-Vata)
5.   Pitta vardhak (Elevate pitta)
6.   Ruchikarak (Enhance taste)
7.   Krimighna (Kill worms)
8.   Shulaghna (Pain relieving)
9.   Mutrala (Promote urination)
10. Shvas (Benefit in breathing)
11. Ama Nashik (Toxins remover)
12. Anulomna (takes Vata downward and mild laxative)
13. Dhatuvardhak

Main Ayurvedic Preparation

1.   Ajamodadi Arka
2.   Ajamodadi Churna

Medicinal properties along with the meaning:

1.   Abortifacient:  Induces Miscarriage .
2.   Analgesic:  Pain reliever.
3.   Anthelmintic:  Antiparasitic, kill parasitic worms, and other internal parasites from the body.
4.   Antiplatelet: Reduce platelet aggregation, and stop thrombus formation.
5.   Antiarthritic: Reduce the symptoms of arthritis
6.   Anticonvulsant / Antiepileptic: Prevent the severity of fits or other convulsions.
7.   Antidiabetic: Controls blood sugar level.
8.   Anti-inflammatory:  Helps in reducing inflammation by acting on mechanisms.
9.   Antirheumatic: Alleviating rheumatism.
10. Carminative: Preventing the formation of flatulence.
11. Choleretic: Stimulating bile formation by the liver.
12. Deobstruent: Clearing obstructions; having the power to open the natural ducts of the fluids.
13. Depurative: Purify body.
14. Digestive: Aids indigestion.
15. Diuretic: Promoting excretion of urine.
16. Emmenagogue: Stabilize menstrual flow.
17. Expectorant: Promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passage.
18. Hepatoprotective: Repair cells of the liver.
19. Lipolytic: Bad lipid breaking.
20. Nervine: Calm the nerve cells.
21. Uterotonic: Increase tone of the uterus.

 Medicinal Uses of Ajmoda Powder

1.   Gulma (tumor, enlargement, or cluster)
2.   Shula (Pain)
3.   Hikka (hiccups)
4.   Aruchi (anorexia)
5.   Adhmana (abdominal bloating)
6.   Chardi (puke)
7.   Krimi Roga (intestinal parasites)

• Ajmoda is a popular drug for digestive disorders, respiratory diseases, rheumatic diseases, and gout. 
• The Ajmoda seeds can be consumed in powdered form. The recommended quantity is 1-3 grams, two or three times a day with warm water. Children should be given 125 to 500 mg, twice or thrice a day.
• Externally, the poultice, made of the seeds can be applied to the affected joint of the body.
• Ajmoda Churna / Ajmoda Powder, can be used safely in the following conditions.

• Joint pain in conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and non-specific arthritis (such patients should avoid eating sour, and cold items).
• Colic, indigestion, bloating in the abdomen
• Cough, cold, asthma, bronchitis

Contraindications

1.   It should be given safely in the recommended dosage or quantity.
2.   It should be taken cautiously in the aggravated pitta, hyperacidity as it increases Pitta.
3.   As a medicine it should not be consumed in pregnancy. As a spice, it can be added in small quantities to dishes.
4.   It is drying (Raksha)in nature.
5.   It does not interact with other allopathic medicines.
6.   It should be used with caution in cases of renal disorder under observation.