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Caraway

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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 SyndromeB1

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
Last Updated: 4/14/2020

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