Cardamom(Elachi) - The Queen Of Spices.         

Cardamom is a well-known spice in Indian subcontinent, used in culinary and traditional medicine practices since ancient times. Cardamom, often referred to as queen of spices because of its very pleasant aroma, taste and antioxidant property, has a history as old as human race. It is especially common in the Indian subcontinent and is known for its delicious aroma, aphrodisiac properties. It is used for flavoring hot beverages such as tea and coffee as well as sweets. But the most common use of cardamom in India has been as an excellent breath freshner. It has Antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antiproliferative, antispasmodic, carminative, antidiabetic, and antiviral properties.

Cardamom oil is a precious ingredient in food preparations, perfumery, health foods medicines and beverages. India, a traditional exporter of cardamom to the Middle East countries where it goes mostly into the preparation of 'Gahwa' - a strong cardamom - coffee concoction without which no day is complete or no hospitality hearty for an Arab. Indian cardamom enjoys a premium preference in the Middle East, Japanese and Russians who relish it for its distinct enriching properties. It is one of the most highly priced and exotic spices in the world.

It has different names in different languages such as Marathi Name(Elachi,Velachi, Veldode), Hindi Name(Choti Ilaichi, Elaichi), English name(Lesser Cardamom), Kannada Name(Elakki), Telugu Name(Chinna Elakulu, Yelakkapalu), Malayalam Name(Elam), Tamil  Name(Yelakka), Bengali Name(Chot Elachi, Chot Elach), Gujarati Name(Elachi, Chot Elach), Arabian name(Kakul), Farsi name(Heelabak, Ilaichi Khurd).

Types of cardamom  

 There are two main types of cardamom:

    • Small green cardamom (Eletteria cardamomum) 

    • Large red/black cardamom (Amomumsubulatum Roxb)

-The most common type is the small green cardamom while large cardamom is mainly grown in India, with some in Nepal and Bhutan is shown in figure 3. They both come from the Zingiberaceae family of plants

Vitamins and minerals content in cardamom

Vitamins : vitamin A, vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, Pyridoxine.

Minerals : calcium, iron copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sodium.

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.

Properties and benefits of cardamom

Properties

• Taste – Katu (pungent), Madhura (sweet)

• Qualities – Laghu (lightness), Rooksha (dryness), sheetala (Cold potency)

• Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha and Vata Dosha.

Benefits

• 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

 

Intake or remedies of Elachi

1) Having a cup of warm elaichi herbal tea before bedtime is an excellent way to reinforce sexual vigour and vitality.

              - Elaichi is a powerful stimulant, that boost stamina for sexual activities. It also comprises valuable antioxidants that balance the reproductive hormones in the body, to effectively manage impotency and infertility.

2) Bad breath : Apart from its overpowering scent and delightful essence, elaichi contains vast reserves of antibacterial compounds. These assist in combating the microbes causing a foul mouth odour.

             - Cardamom is chewed or simply kept inside mouth and the juice is swallowed slowly.

3) cardamom can indeed help people cope with depression. Just powder a few seeds of cardamom and boil them in water along with your everyday tea. Take the tea regularly for better results.

4) A mixture of cardamom, Cinnamon, and black pepper can work wonders for treating a sore throat. While cardamom soothes the sore throat and reduces irritation, cinnamon offers antibacterial protection. And black pepper improves the bioavailability of the two ingredients. You can take 1 gram each of cardamom and cinnamon powders, 125 mg of black pepper, along with 1 teaspoon of honey. Mix all ingredients and lick the mixture thrice a day.

5) Applying a cardamom and Honey mask (a mixture of cardamom powder and honey) to the affected area can give relief from acne and wounds.

6) It is also added to fruit juices, especially to lemon juice to enhance digestive effect and also to improve flavor.

7) Cardamom, rock salt and ginger are taken in equal amount and fine powder is made. This is consumed in the dose of 1-2 gram twice or thrice a day along with warm water. This pacifies farting, abdominal bloating and food poisoning.

8) Cardamom and jaggery are taken in 3:1 ratio in powdered format. This is chewed in the dose of 1-2 gram 3-4 times a day. This is very effective in the conditions like cold, cough, throat congestion, asthma, dryness of the mouth etc.

9) Dried cardamom pod and matured banana leaf are taken together and burnt into ashes. This is taken in the dose of 2-3 gram along with honey and licked. This is effective for gastric irritation.

10) For nausea take elachi powder along with jaggery which is very effective.

11) Elaichi is used along with Betel leaf. Chewing both together reduces bad breath and maintains good dental and gum health.

12) 3 grams cardamom pods should be crushed and added in 200 ml water, simmer it and when it reduces to 50 ml, then tea should be taken for heartburn and dyspepsia.

13) Elaichi seeds(1 gram) can also be taken with cinnamon(500mg), Pushkarmool (Inula Racemosa)[250mg] and honey(1 tablespoon). This mixture can be taken thrice a day for 5 to 10 days. This mixture clears lungs and provides relief from productive cough.

Note : 1) It can stimulates metabolism, given its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

            2) Cardamom is also known to stimulate the secretion of bile acid in the stomach, further aiding in digestion.

            3) It also prevents other gastrointestinal ailments like acid reflux, heartburn, diarrhea, etc.

            4) Its antioxidant properties can promote heart health. 

            5) Cardamom plays a role in fighting asthma symptoms like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. The spice makes breathing easier by enhancing blood circulation within the lungs. It also fights related inflammation by soothing the mucus membranes. 

             6) Cardamom is often used in cosmetics to impart fragrance. Due to its distinct spicy, sweet scent, both cardamom and cardamom oil are used in perfumes, soaps, body washes, powders, and other cosmetics.

             7) The antioxidant properties of cardamom, and especially the black type, nourish your scalp and improve its health. The spice also nourishes the hair follicles and enhances hair strength. 

             8) According to ayurveda, it mainly reduces KAPHA, and then it has effect on PITTA and then on VATA.

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Refrance : 1) spices board of India

                   2) sciencedirect.com

                   3) Journal of biological and chemical research

                   4) Bhojana Kutuhala

                   5) Journal of agriculture and food chemistry

                   6) NCBI

                   7) PUBMED

                   8) AYU (An international quarterly journal of research in Ayurveda)

                   9) local traditions and uses

                 10) charak and Sushruta samhita

                 11) Dravyaguna Vijnana by Aacharya Priyavrat Sharma, Volume 2

                 12) Aadrash Nighantu, vol. 2

                 13) Ashtanga Hridaya