© H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Commons
Caraway
🐾Echter Kümmel · (Carum carvi)
Carrot family (Apiaceae)
Description
The small, crescent-shaped fruits of caraway are among Europe's oldest culinary and medicinal spices, traditionally flavouring bread, cabbage dishes and hearty fare. Its essential oil consists mostly of carvone and limonene and has an antispasmodic effect on gut muscles — the basis for the classic digestive tea used for bloating and mild cramps. Caraway tea is especially known as a gentle remedy for infant three-month colic, combined with warmth and abdominal massage, and is also valued in folk tradition as a milk-promoting nursing tea. More concentrated preparations such as caraway oil act more strongly against bloating but need careful dosing. Caraway-fruit tea is considered very safe; pure caraway oil, however, should never touch skin or mucous membranes undiluted and should be used on infants only externally as a diluted compress, never orally. Rare cross-allergies are possible in people sensitive to other umbellifers.
Classic digestive tea for bloating and mild cramps.
Preparation & dosage
Crush 1.5–2 g caraway fruit before preparation. 150–200 ml boiling water, steep 10 min, strain. 3× daily after meals. Classic combo with fennel + anise.
- Dry amount
- 1.5–2 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 12 years — From 12 years.
Sources: [1]
Traditional galactagogue nursing tea.
Preparation & dosage
Nursing tea variant. Traditionally galactagogue.
- Dry amount
- 1.5–2 g
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
Sources: [1]
Classic household remedy for infant tummy aches (three-month colic).
Preparation & dosage
Caraway-oil abdominal compress for babies/toddlers: 1 drop pure oil + 1 tbsp warm carrier oil — NEVER undiluted. Gentle clockwise massage.
- Liquid amount
- 2–5 ml
- Doses per day
- 2×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 0 years — External diluted compress — classical infant care. Max 1 % dilution.
Sources: [2]
Concentrated use for bloating and cramps.
Preparation & dosage
Adults only: 1–4 drops pure caraway oil on sugar cube or in warm water, up to 3× daily.
- Liquid amount
- 0.05–0.2 ml
- Doses per day
- 3×
- Max duration
- 2 weeks
⚠ Age restriction: ≥ 18 years — Oral essential oil not for under 18 per EMA.
Sources: [2]
Caraway-fruit tea very safe. Pure caraway oil never undiluted; in infants only external compress, never oral. ASPCA classification (accessed 2026-08-10): toxic to dogs and cats.
⏱ Max continuous use: 2 weeks
Culinary amounts safe. Medicinal use not recommended in pregnancy.
Traditionally galactagogue in tea amounts. Avoid concentrated oil.
Fruit from 12. Oral essential oil not under 18. External compress OK for infants.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to caraway or Apiaceae.
- Oral pure essential oil in under 18.
- Never apply pure oil undiluted to skin.
Harvested part: ripe fruits
- Time of day:
- Early morning while still some dew.
- Drying:
- Second year, brown umbels. Hang upside-down in paper bags 1-2 weeks at max 35 °C.
- Storage:
- 24 months — Whole uncrushed fruits airtight, dark — 2 years. Crush before use.
- Ätherisches Öl (Carvi aetheroleum)Essential oilContent: 3–7 %Fruit
Main active. Released by crushing.
- (+)-CarvonEssential oilContent: 50–65 %Fruit
Main component. Antispasmodic.
- (+)-LimonenEssential oilContent: 30–45 %Fruit
Second main component.
- Fettes ÖlOtherContent: 10–20 %Fruit
Accompanying compound.
- ProteineOtherContent: ~20 %Fruit
Nutritional component.
- Flavonoide (Quercetin-, Kämpferol-Glykoside)FlavonoidFruit
Small amounts, mildly antioxidant.
- [1]MonographEMA/HMPC/715092/2013 — European Union herbal monograph on Carum carvi L., fructus (Final, 10 September 2015)(accessed: 2026-05-18)
- [2]MonographEMA/HMPC/715094/2013 — European Union herbal monograph on Carum carvi L., aetheroleum (Final, 10 September 2015)(accessed: 2026-05-18)
- [3]MonographASPCA Animal Poison Control — Caraway (Carum carvi)(accessed: 2026-08-10)
Distribution in Europe
🤝 Permaculture Partners
In your garden, this plant acts as:
✨ Best symbiotic partners
- 🌿 Coriander Classic companion-planting partner.
⚠️ Better not planted together
- 🥬 Fennel Classic companion-planting partner.
Source: Gertrud Franck, Gesunder Garten durch Mischkultur (1980, eigene Kuration) | Helga und Margarete Langerhorst, Mein gesunder Naturgarten (eigene Kuration)