Like so many other favorite herb, caraway acquired its own folklore. Caraway's magical powers are protection, lust, health, anti-theft, and mental powers. It's nature is masculine or active,is of the element of air, and is ruled by mercury. It serves as protection against Lilth (the original succubus), evil spirits, entities and plain old negativity. It is often carried for this purpose. Any object which holds some caraway seeds is assumed theft-proof. This quality gave it power as a love potion: feed your lover caraway and he/she cannot be stolen from you. In the same spirit, country people fed caraway to the chicken, geese and pigeons to keep them from straying. Some pigeon keepers still place caraway dough in their lofts to keep the flock intact. The seed are also used to encourage fidelity and when baked into cookies, bread, or cakes they are lust inducing. They also strengthen the memory and a small bag of the seeds placed in a child's bed protects it from illness.

Caraway herbal properties are as a antispasmodic (helps relieves cramps or spasms), appetizer (excites the appetite), carminative (has a mild sedative effect), emmenagogue (promotes menstrual flow, this should be taken with care if you are pregant), expectorant (promotes the discharge of mucus from the lungs), galactagogue (increases the secretion of milk), and stomachic (strengthens, stimulates or tones the stomach). Caraway oil, extracted from the seeds, used to be given in very small amounts to relieve gassy indigestion or colic. Researches confirmed the use of caraway for relieving gas pain and suggest that they may also have antispasmodic properties. In this use it is effective, but according to some sources, heavy does may cause liver damage. It also promotes the onset of menstruation, relieves uterine cramps, promotes the secretion of milk and is mildly expectorant. Use caraway for flatulent colic, particularly in infants, also as a stomach settler after taking nauseous medicines.

To help with a weak stomach the following herb tea is suggested By John Lust in The Herb Book. TO STRENGTHEN STOMACH Anise seed, Dill seed, fennel seed, caraway seed, peppermint leaves (dries). Crush the 4 types of seeds together and nix in equal parts with the peppermint. Steep 1 tsp. of the mixture in 1/2 cup boiling hot water. Take 1/2 cup 30 minutes before eating; or take a mealtime, in mouthful doses.

One of the most popular herbs today, Caraway has long been prized for the excellence of its aromatic dried seeds ( actually fruits) as a condiment. Its gives rye bread and various cheese their characteristic flavors and is the base for a well known digestive liqueur, kimmel ( German for Caraway). Bakers scatter the seeds over cakes and cooks often add them to cabbage and sauerkraut not just for taste but for their gas relieving properties. Seeds have a charactertic, pungent flavor. Uses breads, rolls cheeses, sauerkraut, cabbage dishes including cole slaw, soups, goulashes and stews. The crushed seed heighten the flavor of salad or veggies. Use carefully because the taste turns bitter with long cooking. Add crushed seeds to waffle batter for a new taste to them or sprinkle crushed seed over popcorn.