Bishop's Weed
Trachyspermum ammi
Ajwain, a spice of the carrot family long used in Persian and Indian medicine for digestion and breathing. Its oil eased dental injection pain in a trial in children.
Safety at a glance
- Pregnancy1 note →
- BreastfeedingNothing recorded
- MedicinesNothing recorded
- Who should avoid itNothing recorded
- AllergiesNothing recorded
- ToxicityNothing recorded
Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.
What is Bishop's Weed?
- Plant family
- Apiaceae, the carrot and parsley family
- Parts used
- The small seed-like fruits and their oil
- Where it grows
- Grown in many regions, including Iran and India
- Genus
- Trachyspermum
- Species
- ammi
Also called
Ajwain, Ajowan, Carom Seed, Carum copticum
Traditionally used for
- Spice
- Bloating
- Diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Asthma (traditional)
Traditionally described as
- Rich in thymol
Natural compounds
Safety
Pregnancy
Ajwain has been shown to be harmful to unborn babies and may cause miscarriage.[1]Study
What does the research say?
Traditional use
These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.
Ajwain has been used in Persian traditional medicine for thousands of years, for bloating, diarrhea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, tiredness and breathing problems such as asthma.[1]Study
Laboratory & animal research
Lab and animal results show what might be worth studying in people. They don't show that the herb has these effects in humans.
In lab and animal studies, ajwain relaxed the airways and calmed coughs in guinea pigs about as well as codeine. It also had antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant and anti-parasite effects and lowered blood fats. Its smell comes mainly from thymol, the same compound found in thyme.[1]Study
Research in people
In a trial of 52 children aged 6 to 10, ajwain oil rubbed on the gum before a dental injection reduced pain more than a standard numbing spray.[2]Study
In a small trial of 60 cancer patients with nerve damage from chemotherapy, ajwain cream used for four weeks worked no better than a placebo cream. The cream appeared safe.[3]Study
In short
May harm unborn babies and cause miscarriage.
Sources
- [1] Carum copticum L.: a herbal medicine with various pharmacological effects · DOI: 10.1155/2014/569087Peer-reviewed study
- [2] Effectiveness of topical ajwain oil in reducing pain during local anaesthesia administration in paediatric dental patients: A randomized controlled trial · DOI: 10.1016/j.jobcr.2025.09.008Peer-reviewed study
- [3] Exploring the Effectiveness of Ajwain Cream in Treating Taxane-induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Cancer Patients: A Pilot, Randomised and Double-blind Clinical Trial · DOI: 10.25259/IJPC_32_2023Peer-reviewed study
This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.