Witnessed by: Ayurveda · Western · Unani
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), of the Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family. Slender annual herb with feathery leaves and small pink-white umbels; native range: Eastern Mediterranean to South Asia (Egypt through the Levant to India), cultivated since antiquity. Globally recognized as jiraka / ajaji in Sanskrit, zeera / jeera in Hindi, kammun (كمّون) in Arabic, and white cumin, jeera in English. The part used is ripe fruit (seed). Small ridged tan seeds, boat-shaped, with a warm earthy oil that turns nutty and sweet on dry-roasting.
In this cross-tradition database, we analyze how this substance operates across world medicine systems — tracking its traditional tastes, temperatures, tissue affinities, post-digestive effects, and planetary correspondences across Ayurveda, Unani, and Western herbalism.
CUMIN
IDENTITY
Name
- Common
- Cumin
- Scientific name
- Cuminum cyminum L.
- Family
- Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Form
- Part used
- ripe fruit (seed)
PROPERTIES
Nature
Taste
how the plant declares itself on the tongue
- Ayurveda
- pungent (katu) · bitter (tikta)
- Western
- pungent · aromatic
- Unani
- pungent · aromatic
Temperature
- Ayurveda
- heating (ushna)
- Western
- hot (& dry, 2nd degree)
- Unani
- hot (& dry, 2nd degree)
Affinity
where in the body it travels
Organs / channels
- Western
- digestion · stomach · bowels
- Unani
- stomach · liver · intestines
PRACTICE
Virtue
Actions
- Ayurveda
- dipana-pachana (kindles and digests), grahi (absorbent in diarrhoea), vata-kapha-hara, stanyajanana (galactagogue), garbhashaya-shodhana (post-partum uterine cleanser)
- Western
- carminative, stomachic, antispasmodic, galactagogue
- Unani
- kaasir-e-riyah (carminative), haazim (digestive), qabiz (astringent), mudirr-e-laban (galactagogue)
Cautions
Contraindications: high pitta and hot, acidic states; heavy medicinal use in pregnancy
Toxicity: a benign culinary seed; large doses merely add heat
Interactions
- Western
- antidiabetic agents: additive lowering of blood glucose
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