Guide to essential oils

Essential oil of Organic ajwain

Also known as Indian thyme, ajwain is known in Ayurvedic traditional medicine as a stimulating and warming ingredient. Purifying and invigorating, the essential oil of ajwain is powerful and reputed to help relieve winter discomfort.

How to use

  • Skin application and massage

    Skin application and massage

    Appropriate

  • Cosmetic active ingredient

    Cosmetic active ingredient

    Possible but not recommended

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion

    Possible but not recommended

  • Food grade

    Food grade

    Suitable

  • Aromatherapy bath

    Aromatherapy bath

Features

Properties and uses

Precautions

Find out more

Features

Production process

Complete steam distillation

Part of the plant used

Seeds

Botanical name

Trachyspermum ammi

Warning

The properties, information and methods of use below are quotes from reference books or websites on aromatherapy, hydrolatherapy and phytotherapy. This general information is provided for informative purposes only and in no way constitutes medical guidance. Under no circumstances can this information be used as a substitute for a medical diagnosis, consultation or follow-up, nor can it incur our liability. We recommend that you consult the guide to essential oils before using them, so that you are aware of any precautions that need to be taken. If in doubt, consult a doctor before using essential oils.

Properties and uses

Ajwain essential oil is traditionally used for: Abscesses, boils, paronychia, diarrhoea, gastro and intestinal infections, immunity (stimulates it), urinary tract infections, intestinal worms

Health

Find out more

Properties

Ajwain essential oil is recognised for the following health properties:

  • Antifungal and pest repellent

  • Antiviral and immune stimulant

  • Very broad-spectrum, powerful anti-bacterial effects

  • General, physical, digestive and sexual tonic

  • Relieves gas and nausea, helps eliminate gas.

Uses

It is traditionally used to improve the following conditions:

  • Intestinal parasitic infections (amoebiasis, roundworm, taenia, etc.),

    viral and bacterial digestive****infections: infectious colitis, diarrhoea, etc.

  • Parasitic infections of the skin (scabies, ringworm, etc.), skin and nail fungal infections, gynaecological yeast infections, etc.

  • Urinary tract infections

  • ENT infections: rhinitis, bronchitis, flu, sore throat

  • Skin infections: abscesses, panaris

In practice

Purifying for the skin: Mix into your oil blend. Massage or rub your mixture locally into the area concerned.

Precautions

  • Not for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women or children.

  • Dermocaustic: never use undiluted on the skin. Always use well diluted on the skin (max 20% for localised use over a small area).

  • Very powerful; use only in small doses and for a limited period of time.

  • Not recommended for users with impaired liver function.

  • Keep out of reach of children.

  • Avoid contact with eyes.

  • Certain natural compounds contained in this essential oil may present a risk of allergy for certain sensitive individuals when the essential oil is incorporated into a cosmetic composition (in accordance with the 7th Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive (2003/15/EC)): linalool and, to a lesser extent, limonene.

  • As a general rule, always carry out a test application of your blend, in the crease of the elbow, at least 48 hours before use.

  • When diffused, this powerful essential oil should be strongly diluted (max. 5%) with other milder essential oils.

Find out more

Ajwain, also known as Indian thyme, is found in India, Nepal and Afghanistan in areas where climatic conditions are often harsh. Its seeds are similar to cumin, caraway and dill.

This seed is traditionally used in India as a general physical, sexual and mental tonic. According to ayurvedic medicine, its energetic properties are courage, strength, energy and enthusiasm.

Aromatherapy recipes from the bibliography

EO = Essential Oil VO = Carrier Oil or Macerated Oil

Skin abscess (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • 1 drop ajwain essential oil
  • 1 drop lavender essential oil
  • 1 drop tea tree essential oil
  • 2 drops tamanu carrier oil

Use: 3 topical applications of the mixture every day for a week.

Boil (D. Festy)

Health & wellbeingSkin problems

  • 1 drop ajwain essential oil
  • 1 drop tea tree essential oil
  • 1 drop Chinese cinnamon essential oil
  • 1 drop true lavender essential oil:
  • 1 drop geranium essential oil
  • Enough 60% alcohol to make up 30 ml

Use: Apply 1 drop of this formula to the boil twice a day.

Vulvitis (D. Baudoux)

Health & wellbeingGynaecological issues

  • 1 ml of True lavender essential oil
  • 1 ml bay laurel essential oil
  • 1 ml of Ajwain essential oil
  • 1 ml thyme CT thujanol (can be replaced by thujanol marjoram essential oil)
  • 20 ml of Calophylla inophyllum carrier oil

Use: 4 drops of the blend applied locally twice a day until improvement.

Equivalents

Essential Oils

1 ml = approximately 35 drops (with our Aroma-Zone dropper caps)

Carrier oils

1 pump (Aroma-Zone aluminium pump) = approx. 0.15 ml

Mass / Volume conversion (for a liquid)

Mass (g) = Density x Volume (ml) at 20°C

Further information

1 full teaspoon = between 3 and 4.5 ml

1 full tablespoon = between 7.5 and 10 ml


However, these spoon ratios depend on a number of factors (e.g. viscosity of the liquid, temperature, depth and size of the spoon, rheological behaviour of the liquid), and we strongly advise you to use precise measuring equipment, such as graduated test tubes, graduated pipettes, and precision scales.

Bibliography

1

'Huiles essentielles - 2000 ans de découvertes aromathérapeutiques pour une médecine d'avenir'

D. Baudoux

2

"Aromatherapy"

Dr Jean Valnet - Éditions Maloine

3

'L'Aromathérapie exactement'

P. Franchomme and Dr D. Pénoël

4

'La bible de l'aromathérapie'

Nerys Purchon

5

'L'ABC des huiles essentielles'

Dr Telphon

6

'Les huiles essentielles pour votre santé'

G. Roulier

7

'Les cahiers pratiques de l'aromathérapie française - Pédiatrie'

D. Baudoux - Editions Amyris

8

Aroma-News newsletters

NARD Association

9

'Aromatherapy - Healing with essential oils'

D. Baudoux - Editions Amyris

10

'Huiles essentielles chémotypées et leurs synergies'

Dr A. Zhiri and D. Baudoux

11

http://www.gedane.ch/fr/Ajowan.htm

12

Aromatherapy

Nelly Grosjean