Do you know the power of cardamom?

In the ancient scripts, it is written that spices have been given to humanity by the Gods to balance and heal the human body.

Cardamom, or cardamon, is a powerful spice, derived from the spindle-shaped seeds of the plant with the same name. Cardamom seeds grow in green, paper-like pods. In the ancient texts, cardamom was called “the grain of paradise.”

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There are three types of cardamom - green, black and white.

The green variety represents the real spice. The black variety is made by smoking the green seeds, and the white by bleaching them.

For centuries, cardamom was used to flavor dishes, cookies and hot drinks, but it was also used as a powerful medicine.

Cardamom originated in the East. Its existence is as ancient as the Sumerian and the Babylonian cultures. Major production of the spice started on the Asian continent. Nowadays, its presence is worldwide. In Western culture, cardamom is mostly known as the spice used to make Christmas cookies and breads. This is especially true for Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Cardamom is very fragrant and its flavor can be overpowering to some people. The production of this interesting spice is very labor intensive, making cardamom the second most expensive spice in the world, after saffron. Cardamom had great trading power in the times when caravans crossed the continents to deliver goods.

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Cardamom is not just for seasoning; there are published studies about the medicinal properties of this interesting spice.

Cardamom has been used in the management of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, nausea, and much more.

It has been found to assist in lowering high blood pressure (Verma et al, Indian J Biochem Biophys, 2009). The study of Ila Das et al, published in 2012 in the British Journal of Nutrition reported anti-cancer properties. The researchers demonstrated that mice that were fed cardamom developed skin cancer three times less often than the control mice when they were challenged with carcinogenic (tumor-generating) substances.

The spice has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties (Souiki et al, Anaerobe, 2020) and anti-ulcer effects (Jamal et al, J. Ethnopharmacol, 2006). It has been used for motion sickness, nausea, cramps and high cholesterol. The essential oil produced by cardamom is believed to have anti-bacterial properties.

In Ayurveda, which is a 5000 year-old medicinal system of knowledge, the spice is used to balance the three doshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Ayurveda teaches that there are three major types of energy, which are the three doshas listed above. If cardamom can balance all the doshas then it really has a very special quality. The meaning of the word Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit’s “ayur”, which means life and “veda”, which means knowledge.

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Nutritional values

One tablespoon of cardamom has 18 calories and is a rich source of calcium, kali magnesium, phosphorus and iron. Cardamom has 10 gm of protein per 100 mg raw mass.

One of my favorite drinks, at any time of the day, is a pinch of cardamom, nutmeg and cloves into a cup of boiling hot water. At times, I throw a bit of powdered black pepper in it. I find this drink delicious and soul nurturing.

Taken in moderation cardamom’s use is considered safe. However, some people may react to the spice with diarrhea, glossitis (inflammation of the tongue) or skin inflammation.

I often think how incredible it is for Nature to give us so much good infused in such a small volume. But, on the other hand, Nature has always been awesome.

Enjoy this incredible spice with zest.

From my heart

Dr. Ani

Disclaimer:

Though I am a medical doctor and I share my experience and knowledge with you, please be advised that I am not your medical doctor, so you will need to seek and follow the directions of the medical professionals involved in your case. This article is purely informational and cannot be taken as medical advice.

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