Cardamom Uses, Research, Home Remedies, Side Effects

Cardamom is a very good Indian spice with sweetness. Being an excellent anti oxidant, it is used in treating blood pressure, asthma, indigestion, dysuria etc. It also is an ingredient of Chyawanprash. 

Botanical Name- Elettaria Cardamomum Maton
Family- Scitamineae

Vernacular names

Names in different languages:
Hindi Name- Choti Ilaichi
English name- Lesser Cardamom
Kannada Name- Elakki
Telugu- Chinna Elakulu, Yelakkapalu
Malayalam- Elam
Tamil  Name- Yelakka
Marathi Name- Velachi, Veldode,
Bengali Name- Chot Elachi, Chot Elach
Gujarati – Elachi, Chot Elach
Arabian name – Kakul
Farsi name – Heelabak, Ilaichi Khurd

Sanskrit Synonyms

Chandra, Chandrabala – Coolant, similar to moon
Dravidi – cultivated extensively in South India
Kapotavarna – having colour of a pigeon.
Korangi, Tuttha, Triputa, Truti, Bahula, Korangi, Upakunchika, Tutha.

Classical Categorization

Charaka-
Shvasahara – Group of herbs useful in asthma, dyspnoea
Angamarda prasamana – group of herbs useful in relieving bodyache
Katuka skandha – pungent tasting group of herbs
Shiro Virechanopaga – Gruop of herbs useful in  Nasya treatment
Sushruta- Eladi
Vaghata- Eladi, Trijataka, Caturjataka

Varieties, distribution

Sukshma Ela – Lesser cardamom – smaller variety  – Elettaria cardamomum
Brihat Ela – Greater cardamom – Bigger variety – Amomum subulatam
Indian cardamoms are divided into:
Malbari Ilaichi and
Mysoori Elaichi
Distribution: Cultivated in different parts of India(Mainly in Western ghats and south India).

Chemical constituents

Elettaria cardamomum chemical Constituents:
Bornneol, Camphene, p-cymene, geraneol, Heptane, D- Limonene, Linalool, Menthone, Methylheptenone, Myrcene, Nerol, Nerylacetete, a- & B- Pinenes, saibenene, a- & B- terpeneols, N- alkanes, Ascaridole, Camphor, Citral, Citronellal, Farnesol, Sitosterol, Thijene etc.
(Reference: Illustrated Dravyaguna VIjnana, Vol. II, by Dr JLN Shastry)

Medicinal properties

Cardamom medicinal properties:
Rasa (taste) – Katu (pungent), Madhura (sweet),
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (lightness), Rooksha (dryness)
Vipaka- Katu – Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.
Veerya – Sheeta – Cold potency
Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Vata Dosha.

Part used, dosage

Part Used: Seeds
Dosage:Powder – 0.5 -1 g

How to take?
A small piece of it can be added to your regular tea.
Its powder in a dose of 250 – 500 mg can be taken along with ghee or honey.
For bad breath problem, or in cases of diarrhea, cardamom is chewed or simply kept inside mouth and the juice is swallowed slowly.
It is also added to fruit juices, especially to lemon juice to enhance digestive effect and also to improve flavor.

Sanskrit verse

Cardamom Uses

Mutrakrichrahara – Relieves dysuria(painful micturition), urinary retention, acts as diuretic
Arshahara – useful in piles, hemorrhoids
Shwasahara – useful in treatment of asthma and chronic respiratory disorders.
Kasahara – useful in cough and cold
Kaphahara – balances Kapha, useful in productive cough, asthma
Kshayahara – useful in chronic respiratory disorders, tuberculosis
Hrudya – acts as cardiac tonic, congenial for heart
Rochana – improves taste, relieves anorexia
Deepana – improves digestion strength
Vatahara – useful in treating disorders of Vata Dosha imbalance  such as neuralgia, paralysis, constipation, bloating, etc
Pittartihara – relieves pain and burning sensation
Pumstvaghna – excessive usage may harm fertility
It helps to relieve burning sensation and gastritis
It is useful to relieve vomiting sensation, irritable bowel syndrome, gas build up in stomach,

Qualities as per Bhojana Kutuhala

According to Bhojan kutuhalam as mentioned in the section of sambhara, Taste(Rasa) – Bitter (Tiktha), Pungent (Katu)
Potency(Veerya) – Hot (Ushna)
Properties(Guna) – Laghu ( Light to digest)
Alleviates vata and kapha doshas, Helps in treating dyspnoea, bodyache, heartburn, dysuria, toxicity, removes bad taste from the mouth, acts as aphrodisiac, is cardio tonic, not much advised during pregnancy, stimulates the digestive fire and promotes digestion, enhance intellect, treats hemorrhoids, wounds, itching and cough.

For bad breath, xerostomia

Bad breath problem can occur due to indigestion. Because of its pleasant smell and due to its digestive properties, keeping a small piece of on or two  cardamom helps in improving digestion and relieving bad breath.

Cardamom for dry mouth – xerostomia:
Chewing a pod of cardamom will moisten the mouth as well as eliminate bad breath associated with dry mouth.
Chew a pod after every meal or whenever your mouth is dry.
Add 1 tablespoon of cardamom powder to a glass of hot water. Let it steep for 10 minutes and then drink. Do it twice or thrice daily.
You can also rinse your mouth with lukewarm tea of cardamom.

Research

Effect on blood pressure and anti oxidant activity
Antimicrobial activity
Liver-protecting activity
Anti-ulcer activity

Side effects

Excess usage is not good for fertility, as per Ayurvedic text – Raja Nighantu.
It can be safely used in limited quantities during pregnancy, lactation and in children.

Interaction with medicines, supplements

Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.

Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.

With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.

Ayurveda medicines

Ayurveda medicines with cardamom ingredient:
Elakanadi Kashayam –  widely used in the treatment of chronic respiratory conditions, asthma.
Eladi Ghrita – Herbal ghee for the treatment of Abdominal bloating, weakness, anaemia, diabetes, etc
Eladi Thailam – Very famous Ayurveda oil used in treating allergic dermatitis,  urticaria, scabies etc.
Chaturjata Churna – A combination of cardamom, cinnamon, Cinnamon leaves and Mesua ferrea – useful in anorexia, skin disorders, etc

Cardamom home remedy

Learn about a home remedy with cardamom as ingredient, useful to relieve burning sensation, repeated oral ulcers, gastritis and anorexia Read more