This section is from the book "The Materia Medica Of The Hindus", by Udoy Chand Dutt. Also available from Amazon: The Materia Medica Of The Hindus.
The fruits called shia jira in the vernacular, do not appear to differ from European caraway. The plant grows wild largely in the "high alpine region of Lahul in the Western Himalaya," but is rare in the plains. The fruits contain a volatile oil and are used as a carminative like cumin seeds.

 
Continue to: