Cardamom (Elachi)

Name: Cardamom

Biological Name: Elettaria cardamomum, Elettaria repens

Zingiberaceae

Other Names: Bastard cardamom, cardamom seeds, cardamon, Malabar cardamom, cardamom, Ela, Elachi

Yelam

Description:

Cardamom is a perennial plant found commonly in southern India. The simple, erect stems grow to a height of 6 to 10 feet from a thumb-thick, creeping rootstock. The leaves are lanceolate, dark green and glabrous above, lighter and silky beneath. The small, yellowish flowers grow in loose racemes on prostrate flower stems. The fruit is a three-celled-capsule holding up to 18 seeds.

Parts Used: Seed

Active Compounds:

The seeds and pods contain a volatile oil which is used in perfumes and as a stimulant.

History:

It is said that cardamom grew in the gardens of the King of Babylon in 720 B.C. The ancient Egyptians chewed cardamoms to whiten their teeth and simultaneously sweeten their breath. As early as 4 B.C., Indian Ayurvedic medicine texts used the spice to remove fat and as a cure for urinary and skin complaints. Cardamom was used in perfumes by ancient Greeks and Romans, and also recommended by Apicius, a famous Roman epicure, to counteract over-indulgence.

Medicinal Uses

Action

appetizer, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive stimulant, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic.

Uses

asthma

belching

biliousness

bronchitis

colds

cough

diarrhea

headache

hoarseness

indigestion

involuntary urination

nausea

respiratory disorders

stomach complaints

to stimulate the mind

vomiting

Cardamom seeds are useful for flatulence, but they are usually used as adjuvants with other remedies. They are also used as a spice in cooking and as a flavoring in other medicines.

The seeds and pods contain a volatile oil which is used in perfumes and as a stimulant. The aphrodisiac properties of cardamom are extolled in Arabian Nights- the people in Middle East still believe that cardamom possesses such properties. Cardamom is a stimulant, it cools the body in extreme heat and it aids digestion.

Remedy for Celiac Disease:

Chinese use powdered cardamom sprinkled on cooked cereal to correct celiac disease (intolerance for the gluten commonly occurring in children, marked by frequent diarrhea and continual digestive problems.)

Dosage:

Infusion (don't boil seeds), powder, milk decoction

Safety:

No information available.