Date: 4 Jan 2010 Comments: 0

People have always been looking for cures for the problems they had. In almost all ancient cultures, herbal remedies have had an important role, either in a medical or in another sense.

Throughout our history, the knowledge related to medicinal plants and their properties and uses, increased gradually, so that today there is already a relatively large collection of various information in favor of treatment using medicinal herbs. Related to many natural herbal remedies, scientific studies were made, and with the help of the studies that were done, the activity of many medicinal plants has been also scientifically proven and verified. Of course, remedies based on medicinal herbs can not always compete with the artificial products of the pharmaceutical industry, but in many ways they can indeed help, and in many cases, they present a cheaper and healthier alternative.

One of the most often used, and most well known medicinal herbs is caraway (Carum carvi). Caraway is a biennial plant with angular shaped and branched stems. The leaves are formed of two parts, and are easily recognized by their small and thin form. The root of this plant is white colored, and has a form similar to a carrot. The flowers are white, gathered in blooms. The fruit is elongated and ribbed. It usually has five longitudinal ribs in whose concaves oil channels are located. The smell of the fruit (seeds) is very aromatic. It blooms in May and June. The seed are usually picked during summer. Caraway as a self-grown plant grows mostly on meadows. Because of the huge demand, this plant is commonly also grown in gardens and fields. In the fall, during maturation, along with seeds, the roots are also gathered.

Caraway is also reported and known to have a positive influence on the digestion of food, it can strengthen the stomach, and it is also known that it promotes excretion of urine. Another well known property of this plant is the reduction of flatulence, for what it is actually most commonly used.