The cumin seeds are very popular in India for its culinary uses. They are used in lot of indian cuisins unknowingly and knowingly.
The cumin plant is growing 30 to 50 cm in height. It is an annual herb with tender, glabrous, branched stem. Each branch has two to three sub branches which are equal in length so that it is called as uniform canopy. The leaves are bipinnate or long and pinnate with thread like leaflets. The flowers are pink or white and they are borne in umbels. Each umbel has five to seven umbelits. The fruit is a lateral fusiform or ovoid achene, containing two mericarps with a single seed. Cumin seeds are having eight ridges with oil canals.
Cumin plants are tropical and semitropical and resistant to drought condition. Its growth period is normally 100 to 120 days. even though it has the origin of Egypt, this cumin is grown all over the world for its wonderful and medicinal and flavor in various dishes.
The main consumer and producer of cumin seeds is our India. It produces 70% of cumin seeds of the world production and consumes 90% of its own production.
Seeragam means it regulates body function. So it is reasonable to name the cumin seeds as Seeragam. In Sanskrit it s called as Jira which means the seed which helps to digestion. The cumin seeds are possessing the anti diabetic,immunologic, anti-epileptic, anti-tumour and antimicrobial activities.
Cumin seeds possess nutrients like potassium, iron, calcium, copper including vitamins B, B6, E,C and A. There are also containing antioxidents and mineral oils to a certain extent. This spice is almost available all over the year in Supermarkets and grocery stores.
To identify the good quality of cumin seeds , squeeze the seeds and smell them. You will observe the peppery smell. If so, it is a good quality and original seeds.
Generally, the seeds come in three colors – white, amber, and black. The most widely available type is amber. Black cumin has a complex flavor and it cannot be substituted with any other type. This black cumin is of high medicinal value. They are widely used in Siddha and Ayurvedic world due to its powerful healing quality.
Simple ailments can be taken care at home. A normal cough, running nose or sore throat in the initial days, a mild stomach upset, headache, vomiting due to intake of unsuited food and some others can be dealt with herbs in the spice rack.
The word can be split into two – Seer+Agam. Seer means good state or condition and agam here is the inner body. The spice that sets the inner body in good condition is called Seeragam. Siddha and Ayurveda systems mention that seeragam reduces stomach aches and indigestion and heaviness of stomach. It also sets appetite right and purifies blood. It has vitamins B, C and E and iron.
Whenever there is a stomach upset, indigestion which might lead to loose motion or vomiting – try this. Even on normal days, not only to avoid the above problems but also to maintain a healthy system, Seeraga Thanneer can be had instead of water.
Ingredients
- water – 1 litre
- seeragam/cumin seeds – 4 tsp
Method of Preparation
- Boil 1 litre of water
- Turn off the stove
- Wash cumin seeds if muddy
- Add cumin seeds to the vessel of boiling water
- Close with lid
- Let it cool
- Each time you drink cumin water, keep draining the seeds
- Let the cumin seeds remain in the left over water
- If one litre seems too much, you can make half the quantity initially
- One tsp cumin seeds to one cup water would also make warm cumin tea
This seeraga water is very common in hotels and messes of Kerala and in some particular hotels of and houses of Tamil Nadu .
It also provides immediate relief to acidity. A pinch of cumin seeds can be chewed to get an immediate relief.
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Cumin seeds are considered to be an important source in traditional Indian medicine, and have the effect of drying up mucus. Hence, cumin does not allow mucus to form and be stored in the respiratory system. You can prepare cumin seeds tea with the addition of piece ginger mashed.
Seeragam stimulates the body energy and helps in recovering from low spirits and fatigue. It also relieves skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, acne, allergies, and boils. It acts as an anti-parasitic and helps in treating hemorrhoids, dysentery, and constipation.
It is a wonderful coolant too.
Since it is a good sleep inducer, you can consume the cumin seeds daily one spoon in night before going to bed in a regular basis for a sound sleep.
Since it is a mouth freshener, you can consume the cumin seeds with ginger and cardamom cooked well in the boiling water and cooled and gargle the mouth with this water. it is antibiotic and antioxident properties will cure the mouth ulcer, foul smell.
It de-worms the intestines when the regular consumption of the cumin seeds in any form.
It is a health drink for pregnant women and old age people and even young generation to prevent nausea and refreshing drink when it consumed with lemon juice.
It stops the excessive bleeding during menstrual period.
It helps to cure asthma and bronchitis if you use the cumin seeds whether in the powder form or in drinks hot or cool.
Cumin seeds contain thymol and iron and calcium, it administers the lactating mothers to increase the milk production and neutralize the nursing mothers health. It should be added with honey in milk and consume this milk. It acts smartly.
If you suffer with severe head ache, the cumin seeds in our kitchen is coming forward to help you. Add the cumin seeds 100 gm in one litre of gingelly oil and allow it to boil and store in the airtight container and apply over the forehead if you suffer with headache. It administers and treats very well.
Powder the cumin seeds and mix with the rock salt and apply the mixture over the bleeding gums. It prevents bleeding and also strengthens the gums.
It reduces the chances of piles disease if it is regularly consumed in our diet.
It contains excellent fiber content, it treats constipation.
In order to get relief from any irritable bowel syndrome, you can consume the cumin seeds powdered and hot water with palm candy. It reduces frequency of stools and digestion and stomach upset.
Since it contains rich iron, regular consumption of cumin seeds will cure anemia.
It has an anti-ageing property. so it triggers the anti-ageing process in our body and cause the youthfulness retaining in the body cells.
Moreover it is a powerful herb that fights Cancer.
The black ones have a complex flavor and cannot be substituted for the other two. Black cumin seeds or nigella are different from cumin seeds though both are similar in appearance. Known as “kalonji” in northern India and ‘kaalo jeere’ in Bengal, they have a pungent, powerful, sharp and slightly bitter flavor and a spicy-sweet aroma. They have a thin crescent shape. It is known as " the black cumin seeds cures everything except death."
So far we learnt the great uses of cumin seeds and came to know how far it is used in Indian siddha medical world and in our daily intake as in rasam, bread, jeera rice, jeera powder with lemon juice, and in all of our south Indian and north Indian dishes.
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