Caraway contains 3–7% volatile oil, with the main components divided into carvone (50–60%) and limonene (40%).⁵ The fruit also contains approximately 10% fixed oil along with 20% carbohydrate and 20% protein. Caraway belongs to a class of herbs called carminatives, which are plants helpful in easing gastrointestinal discomfort, including gas. The volatile oils derived from this group of plants may help alleviate bowel spasm.⁶

There are no human clinical trials on caraway as a single entity. However, it has been used with success in combination with enteric-coated peppermint oil in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).^{7, 8} People using this combination reported experiencing less pain and noted an overall improvement in their bowel symptoms compared to those who took a comparable placebo. A combination of caraway with the other carminative herbs anise and fennel has shown to be helpful in dealing with conditions of flatulence and mild abdominal cramping, especially in children.⁹