Jeeraka — Cumin Seeds

Ayurvedic herb Jeeraka (Cuminum cyminum) — Cumin Seeds. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Katu, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Vata, Kapha.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Cumin seeds are a superb digestive aid, improving absorption and relieving gas and cramps.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaKatuKatu (Pungent) — stimulates digestion, circulation, expectorant
GunaLaghu, RukshaLaghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness; Ruksha (Dry) — absorbs moisture, drying
ViryaUshnaUshna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
VipakaKatuKatu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
PrabhavaDeepana, Pachana, GrahiDeepana — kindles digestive fire without digesting ama; Pachana — digests ama and toxins; Grahi — absorbent, improves assimilation, stops diarrhea

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Jeeraka is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Jirana, Ajavaji, Deepyaka, Kana

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Jeeraka are: phala.

Main Indications

Jeeraka is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Ajeerna, Atisara, Grahani, Gulma, Krimi.

Dosha Effects

Jeeraka pacifies Vata, Kapha.

It may aggravate Pitta when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Jeeraka is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Kauu
Guna (Quality)Laghu, Rūkṣa, Tikṣḍa
Virya (Potency)Uṣḍa
Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Kauu
Karma (Action)Rucya, Dipana, P¡cana, Gr¡hi, Krmighna, Kaphav¡tahara
Dose1-3 g of the drug in powder form.
Therapeutic Uses: Agnim¡ndya, Atis¡ra, Krmiroga
Important Formulations: Jirak¡dyariṣua, Jirak¡di Modaka, Hi´gv¡di Cūrḍa, Hi
Botanical Name: Cuminum cyminum (Umbelliferae)
Part Used: Frt.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
fruitAbdominal painMESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9788172360481
fruitAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntinematodal agentsMESH:D000969,UMLS:C0003391, ICD-11:XM16G5ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntitubercular agentsMESH:D000995,UMLS:C0003448, ICD-11:XM6DX3ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntiviral agentsMESH:D000998,UMLS:C0003451ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAphrodisiacsMESH:D001046,UMLS:C0003567ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAppetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitAstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788171360536
fruitColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9788171360536
fruitDiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9788172361150
fruitDysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9788172361150
fruitDyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitEye diseasesMESH:D005128,UMLS:C0015397, DOID:5614, ICD-11:9E1ZISBN:9788171360536
fruitFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitGalactogoguesMESH:D056669,UMLS:C2717873ISBN:9788172361150
fruitGonorrheaMESH:D006069,UMLS:C0018081, DOID:7551, ICD-11:1A7ZISBN:9788171360536
fruitHelminthiasisMESH:D006373,UMLS:C0018889, ICD-11:1F90.ZISBN:9788171360536
fruitHypoglycemic agentsMESH:D007004,UMLS:C0020616ISBN:9770972795006
fruitInsecticidesMESH:D007306,UMLS:C0021576, ICD-11:XM3K66ISBN:9770972795006
fruitLeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788171360536
fruitOrchitisMESH:D009920,UMLS:C0029191, DOID:2518, ICD-11:GB02.YISBN:9770972795006
fruitParasympatholyticsMESH:D010276,UMLS:C0030511, ICD-11:XM3A77ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172360481
fruitGeneral tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788172361266
fruitScorpion stingsMESH:D065008,UMLS:C0238417, ICD-11:NE61ISBN:9770972795006
fruitSkin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9788171360536
fruitVeterinary medicineMESH:D014730,UMLS:C0042615ISBN:9788172361266
fruitCooling effect on bodyUMLS:C0678568ISBN:9788172361150
seedAbdominal painMESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9770972795006
seedAbortifacient agentsMESH:D000019,UMLS:C0000782, ICD-11:JA00.1ISBN:9788172362133
seedImmunostimulantMESH:D000276,UMLS:C0001551ISBN:9788172362133
seedAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9770972795006
seedAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9788172360481
seedAnti-infective agentsMESH:D000890,UMLS:C0003204, ICD-11:XM4TV0ISBN:9788172360481
seedAntioxidantsMESH:D000975,UMLS:C0003402ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172362133
seedAphrodisiacsMESH:D001046,UMLS:C0003567ISBN:9788172362133
seedCholinergic agentsMESH:D018678,UMLS:C0242893ISBN:9788172362133
seedCholinergic antagonistsMESH:D018680,UMLS:C0242897ISBN:9770972795006
seedCommon coldMESH:D003139,UMLS:C0009443, DOID:10459, ICD-11:CA00ISBN:9770972795006
seedContraceptive agentsMESH:D003270,UMLS:C0009871ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172362133
seedDigestive system diseasesMESH:D004066,UMLS:C0012242, ICD-11:DE2ZISBN:9770972795006
seedGalactogoguesMESH:D056669,UMLS:C2717873ISBN:9770972795006
seedHypercholesterolemiaMESH:D006937,UMLS:C0020443, ICD-11:5C80.0ISBN:9770972795006
seedHypertensionMESH:D006973,UMLS:C0020538, DOID:10763, ICD-11:BA00.ZISBN:9770972795006
seedLabor painMESH:D048949,UMLS:C0474368ISBN:9770972795006
seedMalariaMESH:D008288,UMLS:C0024530, DOID:12365, ICD-11:1F4ZISBN:9770972795006
seedSnake bitesMESH:D012909,UMLS:C0037379ISBN:9788172361266
seedUrination disordersMESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0YISBN:9770972795006
seedVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006
whole plantAnti-infective agentsMESH:D000890,UMLS:C0003204, ICD-11:XM4TV0ISBN:9788172360481
AnalgesicsMESH:D000700,UMLS:C0002771, ICD-11:XM49F7ISBN:9788173717031
AnorexiaMESH:D000855,UMLS:C1971624, DOID:8689, ICD-11:MG43.7ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717031
AnthelminticsMESH:D000871,UMLS:C0003158, ICD-11:XM4EC0ISBN:9788172361150, ISBN:9788173717031
Anti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9770972795006
Anti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9788173717031
Antineoplastic agentsMESH:D000970,UMLS:C0003392ISBN:9770972795006
AntipyreticsMESH:D058633,UMLS:C0003419, ICD-11:XM1RS7ISBN:9788173717031
Antirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9770972795006
Appetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9788173717031
AstheniaMESH:D001247,UMLS:C0004093, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9788173717031
AsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717031
AstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9770972795006
BronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788173717031
CoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9788173717031
DiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788173717031
DiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717031
DysenteryMESH:D004403,UMLS:C0277526, DOID:12384, ICD-11:1A40.ZISBN:9770972795006
DyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, ISBN:9788173717031
EczemaMESH:D004485,UMLS:C0013595ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172361150
Eye diseasesMESH:D005128,UMLS:C0015397, DOID:5614, ICD-11:9E1ZISBN:9788173717031
FeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9788173717031
FlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717031
GalactogoguesMESH:D056669,UMLS:C2717873ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717031
GastritisMESH:D005756,UMLS:C0017152, DOID:4029, ICD-11:DA42ISBN:9788171360536
GonorrheaMESH:D006069,UMLS:C0018081, DOID:7551, ICD-11:1A7ZISBN:9788173717031
Graves ophthalmopathyMESH:D049970,UMLS:C0339143, ICD-11:5A02.0ISBN:9788173717031
HelminthiasisMESH:D006373,UMLS:C0018889, ICD-11:1F90.ZISBN:9788173717031
HemorrhageMESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27ISBN:9788173717031
HiccupMESH:D006606,UMLS:C0019521, ICD-11:MD11.6ISBN:9788173717031
HoarsenessMESH:D006685,UMLS:C0019825, ICD-11:MA82.10ISBN:9788172361150
Kidney calculiMESH:D007669,UMLS:C0022650, ICD-11:GB70.0ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717031
Lactation disordersMESH:D007775,UMLS:C0022927, ICD-11:JB46.7ISBN:9788173717031
LeprosyMESH:D007918,UMLS:C0023343, DOID:1024, ICD-11:1B20ISBN:9788173717031
LeukorrheaMESH:D007973,UMLS:C0023533, DOID:3766, ICD-11:MF3AISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717031
MalariaMESH:D008288,UMLS:C0024530, DOID:12365, ICD-11:1F4ZISBN:9788171360536
Menstruation-inducing agentsMESH:D008600,UMLS:C0025346ISBN:9770972795006
OxytocicsMESH:D010120,UMLS:C0030094ISBN:9788173717031
PainMESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3ZISBN:9788172361150
Scorpion stingsMESH:D065008,UMLS:C0238417, ICD-11:NE61ISBN:9770972795006
Skin diseasesMESH:D012871,UMLS:C0037274, DOID:37, ICD-11:EM0ZISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788173717031
Snake bitesMESH:D012909,UMLS:C0037379ISBN:9770972795006
UlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:9788173717031
Urinary bladder calculiMESH:D001744,UMLS:C0005683, ICD-11:GB71.0ISBN:9788171360536
Urination disordersMESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0YISBN:9788173717031
VitiligoMESH:D014820,UMLS:C0042900, DOID:12306, ICD-11:ED63.0ISBN:9788173717031
VomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9788173717031