20 Health Benefits of Cardamom
“Cardamom is one of the best all-around herbs that everyone should be taking.”
Cardamom or “Elettaria cardamomum” grows in Asia, India, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Laos, Guatemala, Nepal, and other tropical places… and it has so many amazing healing qualities that make it very important for good health.
There are many different types–red, white, black, green, Java, brown, Siamese, Kravan, and Bengal. All of which have slightly different qualities. Green is probably the most common for use in cooking… and because it’s the least expensive and easies to find.
Cardamom can be added to coffee, tea, chai tea, cold drinks, soups, stews, curries, lentils, beans, casseroles, meats, fish, poultry, and sweets of all kinds including rice puddings, cakes, breads, candies, and many wonderful foods. And cardamom is one of the main spices used in Garam Masala seasoning.
To date there are no known side effects of cardamom. But those with gallstones should avoid it because it stimulates the gallbladder.
Most people recommend for making cardamom tea using 1.5 grams per cup of hot water – and steeping for 15 minutes. And in other forms such as capsules and powders taking 1.5 grams per day.
20 Health Benefits of Cardamom
1. Great for Digestion – Cardamom is one of the best herbs for soothing away stomachaches, gas, hyperacid stomach, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, that bloated feeling, and more. It is great if you ate too much and feel too full and need something to bring relief. Take 3 crushed cardamom seeds and a small amount of ginger and mash them together and make a tea… this will sooth away indigestion.
2. Lowers Blood Pressure – Cardamom lowers blood pressure.
3. Lung Problems – Cardamom is great for colds, flues, asthma, phlegm, chest congestion, and helps to warm the body. Studies at University in Mangalore in India showed that it improved blood flow to the lungs.
4. Depression – Cardamom is good for helping with depression and anxiety plus it helps with stress.
5. Lowers Cholesterol – Studies at Pharmacology and Toxicology Division at Hindustan Antibiotics Limited in Pune in India showed that cardamom lowers cholesterol.
6. Diuretic – Cardamom also helps to get rid of excess water weight and flush the kidneys.
7. Antimicrobial – Cardamom is a powerful antimicrobial agent, especially its oil, which contains antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal compounds. Studies at the University of California verified the presence of anti-microbial compounds in cardamom oil.
8. Spasms – Cardamom soothes away muscle spasms such as hiccups and spasms of the GI tract.
9. UTI – Cardamon is used in many countries to fight UTI. It is sometimes combined with banana leaf and alma juice in tea… for treating the symptoms of kidney, bladder, urethral infections, and inflammation.
10. Cardiovascular Health – Studies at College of Pharmacy of King Saud University in Arabia showed that cardamom lowers heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and helps to control heart rhythm.
11. Clotting – Cardamom prevents excess blood clots formation… thus helping to prevent cardiovascular disease and strokes.
12. Cancer – Cardamom in animal studies prevents the formation of cancer cells and kills cancer cells. It contains agents such as indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane which are important for preventing and fighting cancer.
Studies at Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute in Kolkata showed that cardamom was very effective for treating rectal cancer almost 50% of the time. Studies in the British Journal of Nutrition found that it regulated the activity of genes associated with cancer, thus helping to prevent cancer.
13. Anti-inflammatory – Cardamom is a wonderful anti-inflammatory agent for the mucus membranes of the mouth. Plus it also helps with arthritis and joint pain with swelling and redness.
14. Fiber – Cardamom contains a good amount of fiber that prevent constipation, lowers cholesterol, promotes the growth of probiotics in the colon… and thus boosts your immune system.
15. Detoxing Agent – Because cardamom is a good diuretic it also helps to remove toxins from the body.
16. Antioxidant – Cardamom is full of powerful antioxidants that help to prevent and repair DNA damage and help to prevent disease. It contains powerful oils that help protect the body from disease such as nerol, trans-nerolidol, linalool, sabinese, pinene, limonene, terpineol 4 oil, cintronellol, and many more agents.
17. Ayurvedic Medicine – In Ayurvedic Medicine cardamom is used for many different condition including weakness, respiratory problems, GI problems, UTI, and for also counteracting the effects of caffeine. In India cardamom is also known as “ela” and a small amount helps to balance all three doshas – Kapha, Vata, and Pita.
18. Traditional Chinese Medicine – In TCM cardamom is used for treating mouth sores, GI challenges, kidney problems, gallbladder problems, inflammation of the eyelids, and more.
19. Oral Disease and Bad Breath – Cardamom is great for healing mouth, throat, and gum sores, plus it also helps with bad breath and prevents tooth decay. Chewing on a few seeds after meals will create great smelling breath.
20. What it contains – Cardamom contains lots of Vitamin C and A which are powerful antioxidants to prevent disease. Also B Vitamins for vitality and good mood, potassium for water regulation and heart health, copper and iron for anemia, phosphorus and calcium for strong bones, zinc and magnesium for boosting up your immune system, and manganese for bone health.
Finding Cardamom
You can order it on-line, just google “Buy Cardamom” and lots of places will come up… and they also have it on Amazon. Plus you can find cardamom at your local supermarket spice section, Asian Market, and at your local health food store.
Cardamom can be found as whole pods, as a ground spice, in tea bags, capsules, and many other forms of the spice.
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About the Author
Dr. Paul Haider is a Master Herbalist and Spiritual Teacher for over 20 years, helping people to recover and feel healthy. You can also find Dr. Haider on FB under Dr. Paul Haider, Healing Herbs, and at: www.paulhaider.com
