CARDAMOM HEALTH BENEFITS ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA BY DR.KRISHNA
Introduction
Sanskrit name: Chandra, Chandrabala – Coolant, similar to moon
Hindi Name- Choti Ilaichi
English name- Lesser Cardamom
Kannada Name- Elakki
Telugu- Chinna Elakulu, Yelakkapalu
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- Seeds
Dosage- Powder – 0.5 -1 g
Health benefits:
Headache:
Cardamom gives instant relief from the headache. (Applying the paste over forehead gives the relief.)
Indigestion:
1)Take a two to three pods of cardamom, a small piece of ginger, 2- 3 cloves and few dhania (coriander) seeds.
Grind
them well and consume it with warm water. It acts as an instant remedy
for indigestion, bloating and gasDyspepsia & Heartburn
Cardamom gives relief from heartburn and dyspepsia (indigestion). It improves appetite and
promotes
good digestion of food. For this purpose, cardamom tea is highly
beneficial. 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
2)To relieve from headache caused by indigestion, drink the Elaichi tea to get rid of the problem.
3)Mix 1 teaspoon each of Elaichi and Fennel seeds. Crush them and add 1/4 teaspoon of the
resultant powder in a cup of water. Drink this water 2 times in a day after having meals.
Appetite:
For increasing appetite, combine 5 drops of Elaichi tincture and 15 drops of Gentian tincture and take 3 times a day.
Hiccup:
1)Cardamom
(Elaichi) has smoothening effect and anti-spasmodic properties, which
helps relaxing diaphragm and gives relief from hiccup. In acute cases,
chewing 2 to 3 cardamom pods is very helpful. In chronic cases, cardamom
seeds should be taken with one teaspoon of Holy Basil (Tulsi) juice.
2-3 cloves can also be taken along with cardamom seeds and Tulsi Juice
for enhancing anti-hiccup and anti-spastic effects
2)Make an infusion by boiling 2 pounded whole Elaichi in a cup of water along with 5 leaves of Mint
and drink.
Flatulence:
1)A fine powder of Elachi with Hing (Asafetida) helps relieving flatulence.
Cardamom 1 grams
Hing (Asafetida) 100 mg
This combination gives quick relief from gas, flatulence, bloating, abdominal distension and heaviness in the abdomen.
2)To
get rid of abdominal gas take a mixture of Elaichi, Ginger and Fennel
seeds in equal quantities. Add 1 teaspoon of this mixture in a cup of
water and put a pinch of Asafoetida and consume it.
Common Cold:
Cardamom
(Elaichi) plays a supportive role in management of common cold. It
reduces stuffy nose, throatitching, congestion, cough, headache and
fatigue that occur due to common cold. The following decoction
formulation is highly beneficial for quick relief from common cold.
Cardamom Seed
Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)
Cinnamon (Dalchini)
Ginger
Coriander seeds all are in equal quantites
1 teaspoon of this mixture should be added in one glass of water. Boil and then simmer this mixture until
liquid remains around 50 to 60 ml. This decoction should be taken thrice daily.
Cough:
Cardamom (Elaichi) seeds have antitussive and mucolytic properties, so it is an important ingredient in
Sitopaladi Churna, which is commonly used for all types of cough.
In productive cough, Elaichi seeds can also be taken with cinnamon, Pushkarmool (Inula Racemosa) and honey.
The proportion of these herbs should be as follows:
Cardamom Seed 1 grams
Cinnamon 500 mg
Pushkarmool (Inula Racemosa) 250 mg
Honey 1 tsp.
This mixture can be taken thrice a day for 5 to 10 days. This mixture clears lungs and provides relief from
productive cough
Fights anaemia
Another major component of elaichi is copper, iron and essential vitamins like riboflavin, vitamin C and niacin.
Known for its immense importance in the production of red blood cells and cellular metabolism, copper, riboflavin,
vitamin C and niacin in addition to iron are great to fight anaemia and relieve the symptoms that one experiences due
to the condition.
Add a pinch or two of elaichi powder and turmeric to a glass of warm milk.
You
can add a little sugar for taste (if you like). Drink this every night
to help relieve weakness and other symptoms of anaemia.
Vertigo:
1)Elaichi
(cardamom) pod (with outer skin and seeds both) has anti-vertigo
effect. In ayurveda, Elachi is used with jaggery (gur) for the treatment
of vertigo. Many people taking PROCHLORPERAZINE for nausea, vertigo
(reeling sensation)and dizziness can get promising relief by using
cardamom pods. For this purpose, 3 to 4 cardamom pods with 2 to 3 grams
jaggery should be chewed thrice a day for 3 to 7 days. In chronic cases,
treatment duration with cardamom may take up to4 to 6 weeks to get
complete relief from the vertigo.
2)Take a few pods of Elaichi and crush them. Add water and Jaggery to make decoction. Take
1 ounce of this decoction 3 times a day.
3)For dizziness and lightheadedness, take Lemon juice mixed with some sugar and a pinch of Elaichi and consume it.
To improve eyesight:
Take Elaichi mixed with Honey at least once in a day.
Bad breath:
Chew
on a pod of elaichi after every meal. You could alternatively drink
some elaichi tea every morning to help detoxify and strengthen your
digestive system thereby preventing bad breath.
Memory increase:
In
Ayurveda, Elaichi (Cardamom) seed powder in dosage of 1 gram is given
along with 500 mg Vanshlochan powder twice a day for 3 months. Its
regular use improves intelligence, attention span, and memory.
Sore throat:
To clear sore throat, take Elaichi seed powder and a bit of cinnamon and boil them in water.
Add salt to the boiling water, cool it and drink.
Stomach ache:
To
cure stomach ache, take Elaichi seeds and root of Long pepper. Grind
them together to make a fine powder and mix it with ghee. Take this
mixture orally to get relief.
Vomiting:
Elaichi prevents nausea and morning sickness and when eaten with banana it controls vomiting
Diarrhea:
For diarrhea, make decoction out of Elaichi root and leaves with boiling water. Cool down and drink at normal temperature.
Toothache:
To
cure toothache, mix equal amounts of dried Ginger, Licorices, Elaichi
seeds and crush them to make a fine powder. Consume a teaspoon of this
powder along with Honey.
Depression :
To
recover from depression and exhaustion, take 1/4 teaspoon of powdered
Elaichi seeds in water and boil them for 3 to 4 minutes. Then consume
this solution.
Erectile dysfunctions and premature ejaculation:
For erectile dysfunctions and premature ejaculation, a pinch of Elaichi powder is boiled in milk, add some Honey and consume it.
.
Dysuria:
Cardamom
has diuretic property. Along with Amla Juice or curd (yogurt), cardamom
seed powder in dosage of 2 grams thrice daily gives relief from dysuria
(difficult or painful urination).
Leucorrhea:
Leucorrhea
is a very common problem in women, which can be treated at home with
cardamom seeds. It is effective whendischarge has yellow-greenish color
and foul smelling. In ayurveda, along with Vanshlochan and rice water,
cardamomseed powder is given for 1 to 3 months depending on the
condition of the patient.
Nicotine Withdrawal:
Cardamom
(Elachi) can also help people want to quid nicotine use. Chewing
cardamom pods 4 to 6 times a day reducescraving for nicotine,
restlessness, irritability, impatience, and anxiety. It also improves
sleep quality and preventsdepression. For effective results, some
anxiolytic and anti-stress herbs should also be used along with
cardamom.
These herbs include Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri), gotu kola (Centella asiatica), Licorice (Mulethi), Vacha (Acorus Calamus),
