Marvelous Health Benefits of Cardamom

Cardamom is the most popular spice with an intense and sweet flavor. It is widely used in many traditional Indian sweets and also added in several dishes because of its great aroma. 

Apart from the culinary uses, it contains many effective health benefits. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various diseases. 

It is beneficial for the respiratory system, heart, blood, digestive system, kidneys, and skin. It is the main ingredient in Sitopaladi Churna, which is a popular medicine for recurrent respiratory diseases, cold, cough, asthma, and several diseases. 

The outer skin of Green Cardamom Pod is used to enhance blood circulation and purify the blood. The whole pod with seeds is used to make Cardamom Tea. Cardamom contains the ability to boost your physical and mental health. 

It has an ancient history and time-tested practice of Ayurveda, so it is referred to as “Queens of Spices.” Cardamom is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla due to its huge demand.

About Cardamom

Cardamom can be obtained from many types of plants that belong to the Zingiberaceae family.

It can be easily found by the unique appearance,  small seed pods, a flimsy, papery outer shell containing some black seeds, and it is triangular in shape. 

The native of Cardamom plant is tropical and sub-tropical areas of Asia such as India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The lime color seed of the Cardamom plant is more preferred and available commercially. There are two varieties of Cardamom, such as green cardamom and black cardamom.

Green Cardamom: It is obtained from the plant called Elettaria cardamomum, and it is widely distributed from India to Malaysia. It contains a distinct and strong taste with perfumed odor. 

Black Cardamom: It is commonly found in the Himalayas. It is obtained from the Amomum subulatum plant that grows naturally in hilly areas of North-Eastern India, Bhutan, and Nepal, and it contains a cooling and minty flavored seed.

It contains notable levels of nourishing components that make it a great nutritional food. It includes rich amounts of proteins, particular quantities of vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin B3, magnesium, healthy fats, calcium, and potassium. 

Moreover, it contains powerful antioxidants like plant esters, flavonoids, and quercetin. It also contains powerful anti-inflammatory traits that make it an effective natural remedy for treating various diseases.

Common Names of Cardamom (Elakkai):

Botanical Name: Elettaria Cardamomum
English Name: Cardamom 
Tamil Name: Elakkai
Malayalam Name: Elam
Telugu Name: Elakula
Hindi Name: Elaichi

Medicinal Properties of Cardamom

Cardamom is a great digestive stimulant, carminative, and contains excellent aroma. Due to the essential oil present in cardamom, it contains these medicinal properties. Cardamom improves blood circulation, decreases toxins in blood, and promotes the elimination of toxins by stimulating mild diuresis. It contains anti-allergic effects that help in allergic skin rashes and urticaria.

• Antispasmodic
• Antioxidant
• Diuretic
• Antitussive
• Expectorant
• Antiacid
• Antiemetic
• Antiulcerogenic

Marvelous Health Benefits of Cardamom

Cardamom has a wonderful aroma and taste, so it is widely used for flavoring the food. It cures bad breath, mouth ulcer, stomach pain, and used for aphrodisiac purposes. 

It strengthens your lungs and improves immunity, so it is used for chest pain, chronic cough, common cough and cold with chronic bronchitis and purulent discharge. 

According to Ayurveda, it is mainly used to decrease Kapha, and it provides an effect on Vata and Pitta humor. It decreases burning sensation, increases appetite and feeling of well being. It is used to make tea and tonic that improves your immunity.

Cures Bad Breath

Cardamom acts as a breath freshener. The absence of dental hygiene allows the food particles to accumulate in your mouth that leads to the growth of bacteria. 

The bacteria breakdown the food particles and cause bad smell from your mouth. By maintaining regular dental hygiene and chewing cardamom pods, you can decrease bad breath and the growth of bacteria. 

The anti-bacterial property of essential oil present in cardamom also helps to protect your mouth from bacterias. 

The bad breath can occur due to chronic bronchitis, specific foods, dry mouth, chronic inflammations of the nasal mucosa, throat, and sinus. Chewing cardamom pods helps to decrease bad breath, inflammation, and it provides fresh feeling and relief from the post-nasal drop. 

According to Ayurveda, Cardamom is used with betel leaf, and you can decrease bad breath and maintain good dental and gum health. 

Take an equal amount of Cardamom, Mulethi, Coriander leaves, and Mustak. Take 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture twice a day that decreases bad breath and relieves chronic Halitosis. Consume this remedy for at least 3 months to get complete relief from bad breath.

Attention & Memory Disorders

Cardamom is used as an effective traditional medicine to enhance intelligence and learning skills. Cardamom simplifies the acetylcholine activity that is important for memory, learning, and attention. 

This effect is used to reduce acetylcholinesterase and enhances acetylcholine effect. Cardamom seed powder is consumed with 500 mg of Vanshlochan powder two times for three months in Ayurvedic medicines. The regular consumption of this medicine enhances intelligence, memory, attention, and span.

Treats Respiratory Diseases

The ancient Indian medical system Ayurveda highlights the ability of cardamom to warm the body and eliminate phlegm and irritable mucosal secretions that clog the lungs and nasal. 

It also promotes blood circulation in respiratory organs. Inhale the steam with some drops of essential oil of cardamom that completely relieves cold, cough, and congestion.

Read also: Best Herbs to Support Lung and Respiratory Health

Reduces Frequent Urination

Frequent urination may occur due to many causes. Cardamom provides great relief from frequent urination that is caused because of diabetes, nephritis, interstitial, kidney infections, urinary incontinence, and higher bladder syndrome. 

Taking cardamom with Shilajit, Pippali Chura gives relief from frequent urination. Also, consume cardamom seed powder and Chandraprabha Vati to cure various Kapha and Pitta related urinary diseases. 

When frequent urination occurs with a severe burning sensation, consume cardamom seed powder with Gandhak Rasayan, Shatavari juice, and Chandanadi Vati. Typically, this combination is used for treating kidney infections and urinary tract diseases.

Read also: 10 Best Herbs to Cure Urinary Problems

Nausea & Vomiting

The powerful antiemetic properties of Cardamom helps to treat nausea and mild vomiting. It is very effective for vomiting with a sour taste and a burning sensation. 

Take two gms of cardamom seed powder to get rid of nausea. Repeat this for 3 to 6 times per day based on the condition. 

Take cardamom seed powder with Pippali Churna if vomiting occurs with sweet or tasteless , the patient may feel pain in the abdomen.

Read also: Top Natural Remedies to Stop Vomiting

Relieves Hiccup

Cardamom contains anti-spasmodic properties that provide a soothing effect, relief from hiccup, and relaxes diaphragm. Chewing 2-3 cardamom pods makes you feel fresh in acute cases. 

Consume cardamom seeds with one teaspoon of Holy Basil juice to treat chronic cases. Take cardamom seeds with 2-3 cloves and Tulsi juice for improving anti-spastic and anti-hiccup effects.

Vertigo

Cardamom pod contains an anti-vertigo effect, and it is used with jaggery for treating vertigo in Ayurveda. Most of the people take PROCHLORPERAZINE to treat vertigo, nausea, and dizziness. Cardamom also provides great relief for many people. 

In these cases, chew 3-4 cardamom pods with 2-3 gms jaggery thrice per day for 3 to 7 days. Extend the treatment duration up to 4-6 weeks to get rid of vertigo in chronic cases.

Treats Dyspepsia & Heartburn

Cardamom is an effective remedy for treating dyspepsia and heartburn. It enhances appetite and digestion system. 

Cardamom tea is very beneficial for these cases. Take three gms of cardamom pods powder with 200 ml of water and simmer it until it decreases to 50 ml. Consume this tea to cure dyspepsia and heartburn.

Treats Common Cold

Cardamon plays an important role in treating the common cold. It helps to decrease cough, throat itching, headache, congestion, stuffy nose, and fatigue that are caused by a common cold. 

The decoction formulation of cardamom is very effective in providing instant relief from a common cold. Take an equal amount of cardamom seed, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, and coriander leaves. Add one teaspoon of this mixture with one glass of water and boil it until it reduces up to 50 to 60 ml. Consume this decoction thrice a day.

Read also: 10 Best Traditional Herbs That Help Treat Cold 

Cures Tachycardia

Cardamom helps in treating tachycardia with Sharbat Unab and Vanshlochan. According to the causes of tachycardia, other medicines can also be taken in the treatment. 

It is effectively used to treat stress diseases, high blood pressure, smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeinated beverages, etc.

Cures Cough

Cardamom seeds have mucolytic and antitussive properties, so it is an essential ingredient in Sitopaladi Churna to cure all types of cough. 

Take Cardamom seeds with Pushkarmool, cinnamon, and honey in the cases of productive cough. Take 1 gm of cardamom seed powder, 250 mg of Pushkarmool, 500 mg of cinnamon, and one teaspoon of honey. Consume this mixture thrice per day for 5-10 days that will relieve productive cough and clear lungs.

Treats Pyuria

Pyuria occurs due to the bacterial infections. The essential oil present in cardamom seeds helps to prevent the growth of microbes and bacteria. 

It contains diuretic action that increases urination and clears the urinary tract from infection. The anti-bacterial action of cardamom is not as powerful as the anti-biotics, but it plays a vital role in managing pyuria. 

The cardamom seeds powder can be taken with Vanga Bhasma, Chandraprabha Vati, and Chandanadi Vati in Ayurvedic medicines.

Treats Nose Bleeding (Epistaxis)

The combination of cardamom and Ayurvedic medicine such as Vanshlochan, Tragacanth gum, Praval pishti, Giloy sat, and sugar provides effective treatment for nose bleeding. Take an equal amount of these ingredients and mix them well. 

Take this mixture for 4-6 weeks which helps to prevent frequent nose bleeding and also helps to treat other bleeding diseases and checks bleeding.

Leucorrhea

Leucorrhea is the most common issue in women that can be treated using cardamom seeds at home. It provides effective treatment when the discharge has a greenish-yellow color and foul smell. 

The cardamom seed powder is recommended to be taken with rice water and Vanshlochan for 1-3 months based on the severity of the patient.

Nicotine Withdrawal

Cardamom is a natural remedy for those who want to stop nicotine use. By chewing cardamom pods 4-6 times per day, you can decrease craving for restlessness, impatience, nicotine, and anxiety. It also enhances the quality of your sleep and inhibits depression. 

Take some anti-stress and anxiolytic herbs with cardamom for better results. The herbs are Brahmi, Licorice, Vacha, Gotu kola, Ashwagandha, etc.

Dysuria

Cardamom contains powerful diuretic properties. Take cardamom seed powder with Amla powder and Amla juice. Consume 2 gms of this mixture thrice a day that provides great relief from dysuria. The mixture of Cardamom and Amla helps to decrease burning micturition.

Cures Excessive Thirst

Cardamom is an effective remedy for treating excessive thirst. The decoction and tea made by cardamom provide great relief from excessive thirst. Consume cardamom seeds with honey to get rid of excessive thirst.

Remedies Iron-Deficiency Anaemia

Cardamom contains rich sources of vitamins and minerals, so it helps to fight against the symptoms such as lethargy and dizziness. 

It is filled with a huge amount of vitamin C that promotes the cells to increase the absorption of iron. Take some amount of cardamom powder with a glass of milk after food, which is a great way to fight against fatigue and anemia.

Improves Heart Health

Potassium is an important mineral for maintaining electrolyte balance in your body. It is very important to maintain the level of blood pressure, so it improves the cardiac function. 

Cardamom contains a specific amount of potassium that helps to control blood pressure in hypertension. To improve your heart health, add some cardamom powder in Indian foods such as sambar, dals, curries, and kootu, which is a great way to improve cardiac function.

How to Use Cardamom in Cooking?

It is one of the costliest spices in the world. You can use it as a whole and ground it into powder to add in different dishes ranging from dals, curry powders, masalas to drinks and desserts. When cooking the seeds, grind them with the back of a knife or with other spices before frying.

Here we’ve given some tips to use cardamom in cooking.

1 Cardamom is the essential and primary constituent of garam masala in India. It can be used in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. In Indian cooking, cardamom is considered as the main ingredient in the preparation of curry powders.

2 You can add cardamom to coffee or tea to get the refreshing aroma. You can also include some cardamom into your ground coffee before brewing.

3 Whole green cardamom pods can be added to curries, hot dishes, and pulaos. As it comes with a shell, it will give essence and a refreshing aroma to the dishes.

4 In addition, you can also use cardamom in savory dishes, desserts such as firni, kheer, and sweets such as gajar ka halwa, gulab jamun, etc. to enhance their flavor.

5 Instead of cinnamon, cardamom is used as the flavor in all types of sweet pastry and bread dishes in Scandinavian countries.

6 In pates, purees, soups, stews, and rice dishes, the ground cardamom seeds can be used. To enhance the taste, you can add some seeds to the homemade rice pudding, custard, ice cream or sprinkle them on the top of fruit salad.

7 You can marinate the chicken in cardamom, honey, and pepper. After that, roast them on the stove and bake them to make yummy cardamom honey chicken.

8 Prepare citrus fruit salad that consists of citrus fruits like grapefruit and oranges. Then season them with cardamom and lime juice.

9 Preserve the lemon in the cardamom and use it for different dishes.

10 We all know that lassi is one of the popular refreshing drinks in India. To get a distinct taste, you can add cardamom powder to the lassi. Take some curd in a glass, add some powdered sugar and cardamom powder.

Then mix them in the mixer for 3 minutes. Serve with sugar cubes and have it.

Nutritional Values of Cardamom (Elakkai)

The various nutritional contents and their values in Cardamom.

Nutrient	Value
Calories	18
Total Fat	0.4 g
Carbohydrates	4 g
Protein	0.6 g
Sodium	16 mg
Potassium	64.9 mg
Calcium	22.2 mg
Iron	0.81 mg
Magnesium	13.3 mg
Fiber	1.6 g
Phosphorus	10.3 mg

Dosage of Cardamom (Elakkai)

Consume this medicine anytime in a day. In digestive problems, it is good to take one hour before food for better results. For vertigo and headache, you should take one hour after food.

The general dosage of Elaichi (Cardamom) is as follows.

Infants (Age: Up To 12 Months)	250 mg
Toddler (Age: 1 – 3 yrs)	500 mg
Preschooler (3 – 5 yrs)	750 mg
Grade-schooler (5 – 12 yrs)	1 g
Teenager (13 -19 yrs)	2 g
Adults (19 to 60 yrs)	3 g
Geriatric (above 60 yrs)	2 g
Pregnancy	500 to 1000 mg
Lactation	1 to 3 grams
Maximum Possible Dosage	12 grams Per Day (in divided doses)

Side Effects of Cardamom

Cardamom is considered a safe, natural medicine for every person, and it is used in many foods because of its great aroma and benefits. Cardamom has no proven side effects in its all formulations.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

It is safer to consume Cardamom in food amounts than taking the extract of Cardamom. Natural, raw, and crude forms of cardamom are safer than the extract.

Conclusion

Cardamom is a traditional spice that has been widely used since ancient times. It contains amazing flavor so it can be added in many dishes and also, it works as a herbal solution for numerous diseases such as hypertension, anemia, and coughs. You can simply add the cardamom powder in many recipes and top desserts. The roasted seeds can be used to make hot cardamom tea, and it provides incredible health benefits.

Hope our article about the health benefits of cardamom was helpful for you.