Caraway by Wanderer MoonChild

Botanical Basics

1. Common Name(s): Caraway
2. Folk Name(s): Meridian Fennel, Persian Cumin, Karwi, Kummel
3. Scientific/Latin Name: Carum carvi
4. Family: Apiaceae (Parsley family)
5. Plant Type: Biennial herb
6. Botanical Description: Grows 1–2 ft tall; feathery, finely divided leaves resemble carrot tops. Small white-to-pink flowers form in umbrella-shaped clusters (umbels). Seeds are crescent-shaped, brown, with ridges, strongly aromatic and flavorful.
7. Growing Zones/Climate: USDA Zones 3–7
8. Best Zones for Growth: Cooler temperate climates; tolerates short summers and cold winters
9. Habitat & Range: Native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa; widely cultivated and naturalized worldwide in gardens and fields

Cultivation & Harvest

1. Soil & Sun Requirements: Prefers well-drained loamy soil, neutral to slightly alkaline; full sun
2. Propagation: By seed, sown directly in spring or autumn; germinates slowly (2–3 weeks)
3. Companion Planting: Good companion for peas, cabbages, and potatoes; helps deter pests with aromatic oils
4. Harvesting Guidelines: Seeds harvested in second year after flowering; cut seed heads when turning brown, hang to dry, and thresh out seeds
5. Drying/Preservation: Seeds dried in a warm, airy place; stored airtight; leaves may also be dried or used fresh

Traditional & Historical Use

1. Cultural Significance: Used since the Stone Age; seeds found in Neolithic food remains. Medieval Europe valued it for protecting food from theft and lovers from straying.
2. Traditional Medicine: Carminative for digestive complaints, colic, and flatulence; used in lactation teas for nursing mothers.
3. Symbolism: Represents fidelity, protection, and banishing of evil spirits.

Medicinal & Practical Properties

1. Active Constituents: Volatile oils (carvone, limonene), flavonoids, tannins, fatty acids
2. Medicinal Uses:
   
3. Digestive aid (relieves bloating, indigestion, colic)
4. Expectorant for coughs and bronchitis
5. Galactagogue (stimulates milk flow)
6. Mild antimicrobial and spasmolytic
   
7. Preparation Methods: Infusions, tinctures, essential oil (in very small doses), culinary spice
8. Dosage & Guidelines:
   
9. Tea: 1 tsp crushed seeds per cup boiling water, up to 3 cups daily
10. Tincture: 1–2 mL up to 3 times daily
11. Chewed seeds aid digestion after meals
    
12. Safety/Precautions: Generally safe in food/tea amounts. Essential oil is very concentrated—avoid large internal doses. Rare allergies in sensitive individuals.

Magical & Spiritual Properties

1. Elemental Association: Air
2. Planetary/Deity Correspondence: Mercury; linked to deities of hearth and protection
3. Magical Correspondences: Protection, fidelity, anti-theft, healing, banishing negativity
4. Ritual Use: Seeds placed in sachets or baked into bread to keep love true; sprinkled around home for protection; burned in incense for banishing
5. Symbolism in Divination/Dreams: Suggests protection from deceit, strengthening of bonds, or a call to simplify life

Ecological & Culinary Uses

1. Pollinator Value: Umbel flowers attract bees, wasps, and beneficial predatory insects
2. Wildlife Uses: Seeds provide food for birds; foliage occasionally browsed by herbivores
3. Culinary Uses: Seeds flavor rye bread, cheeses, sauerkraut, soups, stews, and liqueurs; leaves used as a mild herb like parsley; roots edible like parsnips

Household/Practical Uses

1. Quick Uses: Chewed seeds for digestion; spice for bread, cheese, and liquors; protective charm
2. Notable Traits: One of the oldest cultivated herbs in Europe; both food and medicine; folklore herb of fidelity
3. Special Notes: Strong link to kitchen witchcraft traditions—where healing and nourishment meet protection magic

Supporting Notes

1. Grieve, M. A Modern Herbal (1931)
2. Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine (2016)
3. Duke, James A. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs (2002)
4. Foster, Steven & Duke, James A. Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs
5. Rätsch, Christian. Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices (2005)