What is it used for?
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine (as a stomachic) to aid digestion and to help stimulate appetite [Source note 3].
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine (as an antispasmodic) to help relieve digestive spasms and indigestion (Bradley 2006; ESCOP 2003; Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal 1998; Felter and Lloyd 1983a,b; Grieve 1971).
(Traditionally) used in Herbal Medicine (as a carminative) to help relieve flatulent dyspepsia (Bradley 2006; ESCOP 2003; Hoffmann 2003; Blumenthal 1998; Felter and Lloyd 1983a,b; Grieve 1971).
For multi-ingredient products:
To prevent the product from being represented as a "traditional medicine", any indicated traditional use claim must refer to the specific active ingredient(s) and recognized traditional system of medicine from which the claim originates when 1) both traditional and modern claims are present or 2) when claims originate from multiple systems of traditional medicine (e.g., Caraway is traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to aid digestion and to help stimulate appetite).
When ALL of the active ingredients (MIs) in the product are used within the SAME identified system of traditional medicine AND the product makes ONLY traditional claims, listing of MIs in the traditional claim(s) is not required.
What this guide covers
The solidus (/) indicates that the terms and/or statements are synonymous. Either term or statement may be selected by the applicant on the label.
Who does this guide cover?
As specified below.
How is it taken?
Oral
Which forms are covered?
this reference excludes foods or food-like dosage forms as indicated in the Compendium of references Guidance Document.
Acceptable dosage forms by age group:
Infants 6-12 months, and Children 1-2 years: The acceptable dosage forms are limited to emulsion/suspension and solution/liquid preparations (Giacoia et al. 2008; EMA/CHMP 2006).
Children 3-5 years: The acceptable dosage forms are limited to chewables, emulsion/ suspension, powders and solution/liquid preparations (Giacoia et al. 2008; EMA/CHMP 2006).
Children 6-11 years, Adolescents 12-17 years, and Adults 18 years and older: The acceptable dosage forms for oral use are indicated in the dosage drop-down list of the source’s list of accepted product forms.
Quantities
Methods of preparation: Dry, Powdered, Non-Standardized Extracts (Dry extract*, Tincture, Fluid extract, Decoction, Decoction concentrate, Infusion, Infusion concentrate)
| Subpopulation(s) ¹,² | Subpopulation(s) ¹,² | Caraway dried seed (g/day) / Minimum | Caraway dried seed (g/day) / Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infants | 6-12 months | 0.06 g | 1 g |
| Children | 1-3 years | 0.3 g | 2 g |
| Children | 4-9 years | 0.3 g | 4 g |
| Children | 10-11 years | 0.3 g | 15 g |
| Adolescents | 12-17 years | 0.3 g | 15 g |
| Adults | 18 years and older | 0.3 g | 15 g |
¹ The use of caraway seed in infants, children and adolescents is supported by the following references: Bradley 2006, McIntyre 2005, ESCOP 2003, Schilcher 1997.
² Adult dose supported by the following references: Bradley 2006, Wichtl 2004, ESCOP 2003, Hoffmann 2003.
*Note: Solvents allowed for the method of preparation “Non-standardized extracts (Dry extract)” as part of this reference are ethanol and water only.
Methods of preparation: Oil, Essential (water steam distillation)
| Subpopulation(s) ¹,² | Subpopulation(s) ¹,² | Caraway essential oil (μl/day) / Minimum | Caraway essential oil (μl/day) / Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infants | 6-12 months | 0.26 μl | 130 μl |
| Children | 1-3 years | 18 μl | 260 μl |
| Children | 4-11 years | 18 μl | 390 μl |
| Adolescents | 12-17 years | 18 μl | 390 μl |
| Adults | 18 years and older | 18 μl | 600 μl |
¹ The use of caraway essential oil in infants, children and adolescents is supported by the following references: Bradley 2006, McIntyre 2005, ESCOP 2003, Schilcher 1997.
² Adult dose supported by the following references: Bradley 2006, Blumenthal 1998.
How is it used?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
How long is it used?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
Warnings and precautions
Ask a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or worsen [Source note 4].
Ask a healthcare professional before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Ask a healthcare professional before use if you have acute abdominal pain [Source note 5].
When should it be avoided?
The reference does not require an additional label statement in this section. This does not establish an absence of risk.
Possible side effects
Stop use if hypersensitivity/allergy occurs [Source note 6].
Storage
Must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the applicable product regulations.
Conditions for combined preparations
No permitted combinations between the two active ingredients listed in Tables 1 and 2.
Preparation details
Ingredient identity, preparation requirements, and other details that define the scope of this guide.
Ingredients and preparations
Caraway dried seed
| Proper name(s) | Common name(s) | Source information / Source material(s) | Source information / Part(s) | Source information / Preparation(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carum carvi | Caraway | Carum carvi | Seed | Dry |
References: Proper name: USDA 2024; Common name: Gardner and McGuffin 2013; Wiersema and Léon 1999; Source information: Bradley 2006; Blumenthal 1998.
Caraway essential oil
| Proper name(s) | Common name(s) | Source information / Source material(s) | Source information / Part(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carum carvi | Caraway essential oil | Carum carvi | Seed |
References: Proper name: USDA 2024; Source information: Bradley 2006; Blumenthal 1998.
Other ingredients
Must be chosen from the current source ingredient database and must meet the limitations outlined in the database.
Preparation and quality requirements
The finished product specifications must be established in accordance with the requirements described in the source authority source’s product quality guidance.
The active ingredient must comply with the requirements outlined in the source ingredient database.
Guide change history
Updates to this SupplementSafety.org guide.
Minor updates
Updated guide wording, organization, and source presentation. Added our editorial change history.
Initial release
Initial SupplementSafety.org guide prepared from source reference material.
Validation: Not yet completed. Editorial updates do not constitute clinical validation.
Sources
Source information
This guide organizes source material about uses, preparations, amounts, and precautions. Read the conditions alongside each statement; the information may apply only to particular preparations or populations.
The source document includes supporting references. We have not independently summarized or assessed every cited study for this guide.
- Source document version
- January 31, 2025
- Source captured
- Aug 15, 2026
- Editorial work
- Editorial preparation. Independent clinical review has not been recorded for this guide.
Full citations are available through the link above. Verification is required to open them; reading this guide does not require verification.
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Explore our supplement–medication interaction checker. Its coverage and review status are shown with the results; a missing finding does not establish that a combination is safe.