What is Cardamom Seed?
Common Names: Ela / Elachi, Grains of Paradise
Body System Affinity
Digestive System, Circulatory and Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Nervous System, Reproductive System
Herbal Actions
Carminative, Circulatory Stimulant, Vital Stimulant, Stimulant Expectorant, Diaphoretic, Bronchodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Antimicrobial, Aphrodisiac, Mucolytic, Cholagogue, Restores Digestive Fire, Aromatic, Anti-emetic
Energetics
Warming, Drying
Tastes: Pungent, Sweet, Bitter
Indicated in conditions of depression, excess cold, and excess kapha + vata
Cardamom is native to the moist forests of southern India, Burma, and Sri Lanka. They were worked with in Ancient India, Mesopotamia, and Greek cultures, and are referenced in Sanskrit texts. The ancient king of Babylon was said to grow cardamom in his garden, and Assyrian doctors and chemists used it as well. Their documentation as an herb for culinary use, medicine, death rituals, and perfumery spans thousands of years. In India, cardamom is still used to communicate with the gods and is an offering during religious festivals. This “Queen of Spices” is a member of the ginger family and has long been leaned upon as a warming vital stimulant. Their properties are actually very similar to ginger root, but they are less heating and have a stronger aromatic quality. Like many aromatic dominant herbs,
Cardamom seeds have the strongest affinity for the mucosal membranes of the Gastrointestinal and Respiratory Tracts. They are especially indicated in conditions of excessive dampness in the system, and for depleted digestive fire.
Cardamom is an amazing addition to formulas for depression, convalescence, colds, damp afflictions of the lungs, chronic indigestion, bloating, sluggish digestion, nausea, vomiting, cold stagnation during menstruation, and generally nervous + ungrounded energy. Cardamom is also considered a corrigent in herbal medicine, which is a category of herbs that increase compliance with clients due to their delicious taste, and are added to smooth out a formula by balancing its warming, cooling, moistening or drying properties.
We love supporting people in deepening their relationships to kitchen spices as medicine, because all foods have medicinal properties and actions upon the body! Cardamom is a key ingredient in Indian, Middle Eastern, Egyptian, Arabic, and Swedish cuisine, and is considered to be one of the oldest spices in the world (dating back at least 4000 years!). We love adding this seed to meals to support our digestion, and also love brewing cardamom into our coffee to cut the acidity and mitigate the more negative potential side effects.
Cardamom seeds are considered to be an aphrodisiac and have long been utilized in magical workings surrounding love, passion, and sexuality. It is said that chewing on cardamom increases one’s magnetism, making them a great addition to glamour magic rituals and spell work!
