The Ayurveda Experience May 14, 2019
Cardamom, also known as Ela in Sanskrit and Elaichi in Hindi, holds great significance in Ayurveda. Cardamom is often called the ‘queen of spices’ because of its pleasant aroma and taste.
Cardamom is an important culinary spice that has numerous health benefits and uses. Cardamom is also an ingredient in chyawanprash, a popular and time-tested Ayurvedic immunity booster.
Its seeds are commonly used as natural breath fresheners in India. It is the third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla.
Botanical Name: Elettaria cardamomum
Family: Zingiberaceae
Ela: Ela means it acts as a breath freshener and relieves bad breath (halitosis)
Sukshma: Green cardamom is smaller in size which is why its called sukshma. Sukshma means minute.
Triputa: This word means, it has three seed pods.
Chandrabala: In other words, it has a pleasant smell like camphor.
Tutha: This word refers to how it is small in size and pacifies Kapha dosha.
Korangi: It pacifies Vata dosha.
Sukshama Ela (Smaller Or Green Cardamom)
Its botanical name is Elettaria cardamomum.
Green cardamom has sub-varieties depending on the size of the fruits described below.
1. Var. major Thw.- This variety has larger fruits. Wild cardamom from Sri Lanka comes under this sub-variety
2. Vas. minor Watt.- This variety has smaller fruits. Cardamom cultivated in India falls under this sub-variety. The Indian Vas. minor variety of green cardamom is further divided into Malabari elaichi, which is comparatively smaller and Mysoori elaichi. This is larger than Malabari elaichi. 2
Brihat Ela (Greater Or Black Cardamom)
Its botanical name is Amomum subulatum. The shape, size, and color of the fruit is different from green cardamom. In the context of Ayurveda, black cardamoms have significantly different properties compared to green cardamom.
This is why black cardamom has been described independently in the classical Ayurvedic text Dravyaguna Vijnana (Ayurvedic Herbology).
Black cardamom has sub-varieties as described below. Black cardamom has many uses and benefits as well.
1. Morang ilaichi or Bengal cardamom: It is Amomum aromaticum Roxb. This variety is cultivated mostly in the eastern parts of West Bengal and Assam in India.
2. Malabar or Tavoy cardamom: It is Amomum xanthioides Wall. This variety is cultivated mainly in Burma, Vietnam, and Malaysia.3
In the market, cardamom usually goes by the following names:
1. Coorg-Mysore- This variety is mainly cultivated in Coorg and Mysore and is called Malabari elaichi.
2. Tuticorin- This variety is mainly cultivated in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu, Travancore, and Cochin. It is called Mysoori elaichi.4
Rasa or taste: Katu (pungent), madhura (sweet)
Guna or qualities: Laghu (light), rooksha (dry)
Virya or potency: Sheeta (cold)
Vipaka or taste conversion after digestion: Madhura (sweet)
Effect on dosha: Tridosha hara (balances all three dosha). Due to its guna (qualities) and rasa (taste), it balances Kapha dosha. Due to its vipaka (taste conversion after digestion), it balances Vata dosha. Due to its virya (potency), it balances Pitta dosha.
Parts used: Seeds
Recommended Dosage: 0.5-1 gm(s)
Read More: Ayurvedic Formulas List + Ayurvedic Formulations
The major compounds in the essential oil of cardamom seeds are 1,8-cineole (45.6 %), α-terpinyl acetate (33.7 %), sabinene (3.8 %), 4-terpinen-4-ol (2.4 %), and myrcene (2.2 %).6
According to Charak Samhita
It is included under shwashara mahakashaya. Shwasahara mahakashaya is a group of herbs which are helpful in relieving various problems related to the respiratory system.7
It is included under angamarda prashamana mahakashaya. Angamarda prashamana mahakashaya is a group of herbs which are useful in relieving body aches.8
Cardamom Uses According to Dravyaguna Vijnana (Ayurvedic Herbology)9
Elaichi flavored gum may even be effective in lessening nicotine withdrawal symptoms in individuals trying to quit smoking cigarettes.
Read More: Ayurvedic Herbal Smoking (Dhumpana) + Other Natural Ways To Quit
The oil extracted from cardamom seeds is a combination of terpene, esters, flavonoids, and other compounds6. Cineole, the major active component of cardamom oil, is a potent antiseptic that may help with killing oral bacteria associated with bad breath and other oral infections.
Recently, in a study done to explore the antimicrobial effects of cardamom extracts on oral bacteria, it was found that the extracts are effective against oral pathogenic bacteria like Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans.19
Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner or health care provider before introducing herbal supplements into your diet.
References
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