When Debs over at Herbaholics Herbarium announced the theme for this months blog party I didn’t know how I’d ever choose what to write about. The world of spices has always captivated people’s imagination and, in times gone by, some were worth more than gold. Here in Western Europe, where we have few local spices but can so benefit from their warming actions, the Spice Trade has been big business since Ancient times. Spices are the only non-local plant medicines I would never want to manage without, especially at this time of year when all I want is to settle down by the fire with a book, a cat and a cup of fresh ginger tea with a splash of elderberry syrup. Initially I wasn’t sure whether to take a more general look at spices and their uses as medicine and share some of my favourite recipes or whether to focus on one in particular and, if so, which one. My decision boiled down to black pepper or cardamom, both of which I use regularly in food, medicine and aromatherapy. In the end cardamom won the day, though don’t be surprised if a black pepper post pops up here too sometime over the colder months!
I have already written about cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and it’s natural affinity with rose in this post and in my chocolate recipe here. They both resonate with the heart and are famed for their aphrodisiac properties. Even though many spices are considered aphrodisiacs, for me, cardamom is the true spice of love.This is because it has a very balanced effect, being slightly stimulating- as are all spices to some extent- but also calming and centring. In Ayurvedic medicine cardamom has been used to enhance meditation for this very reason- whilst helping to pacify the mind it also aids in restoring focus and preventing you from dropping off to sleep on your meditation cushion! By increasing vitality, calming the spirits and improving concentration it is a great tonic for our busy 21st Century minds. In Asia it’s also been used in the treatment of depression.
Though it is native to India and South East Asia, Guatamala and Mexico are now also large exporters, though the Indian cardamom is said to be highest in quality. Part of the ginger family, Zingerberaceae, it is a perennial herb with large leaves and fleshy underground rhizomes. The part we use medicinally is the pale green seed pods containing the small dark seeds which are rich in volatile oils.
Cardamom is best known in herbal medicine as a digestive remedy, especially when the problems are caused, or made worse by nervous tension. It has proved useful particularly for gas, bloating and nausea and can help calm vomiting. It is helpful to chew or drink as a tea after a heavy or rich meal or when one has the sense of having overeaten. The Ancient Egyptians are said to have used it in this way to sweeten their breath. It has also been found useful for headaches which are caused by indigestion. It is a helpful remedy for stimulating the appetite and some have used it with success in cases of anorexia. It’s ability to stimulate digestive secretions combined with its mood lifting properties would certainly make it a remedy worthy of consideration in such cases. As one of the safest digestives it is also suitable for children.
In my experience, Cardamom is a wonderful medicine for those constitutions who have a tendency to nervousness, over-thinking, anxiety and poor digestion. They can be prone to muscle contractions, stiffness, fatigue, low libido and poor concentration. This makes it beneficial for the Ayurvedic Vata types, or in Western energetic terms, those with a constricted tissue state. This is the person who never seems quite relaxed, who feels the cold and tends to worry, both of which may result in a stiff or contracted body posture.
In Ayurvedic medicine, cardamom is used as a remedy for clearing phlegm from the GI tract and the respiratory system. It helps drain damp and mucus from nose and sinuses and is warming and drying but not excessively so, therefore it is considered tridoshic, meaning it can be used with all constitutions, though in my small experience it’s true affinity is for those with a Vata constitution. To find out more about the Ayurvedic constitutions, or doshas, and take a quiz to help you determine which one you are, have a look at this website here. Of course you really need to see a practitioner to get a true assessment!
Cardamom is also thought helpful for genito-urinary complaints. Anne McIntyre writes that it can help strengthen a weak bladder and according to some writers, it can help ease symptoms of PMT, though I have no expeience of using it in this way.
Here are some of my favourite Cardamon teas blends. Always crush the pods a little in a mortar and pestle to release the volatile oil containing seeds:
- Cardamom and Rose – (of course.) To lift the mood, pacify the mind and instil feelings of love and wellbeing.
- Cardamom, Chamomile and Peppermint – As the perfect after dinner beverage to settle the stomach, improve digestion and relieve gas.
- Cardamom, Orange Peel and Elderberry – Make as a decoction for a warming and immune supporting winter tea.
- Cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, black pepper and rooibos – A delicious chai enjoyed with a little almond milk and honey.
Cardamom can also be taken in tincture form and a little is a great addition to many formulas where digestion is a factor. It’s also lovely infused in honey or in a mixed spice vinegar or you can make a delicious electuary with ground cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, a little nutmeg and a little clove mixed with honey.
Cardamom as an essential oil is warming, invigorating, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic and aphrodisiac. It can be used in blends to massage the stomach to improve digestion or to ease muscle fatigue and it can be smelt straight from the bottle to alleviate nausea.
I love a few drops, mixed with a tablespoon of base oil, and added to the bath. Some of my favourite blends include – you guessed it – cardamom and rose; cardamom, black pepper and juniper; and cardamom, chamomile and mandarin, a blend which is also suitable for children in very small amounts.
Cardamom is of course also wonderful in foods. I use it to flavour rice and in curries and I also buy the ground cardamom to flavour cookies, smoothies, chocolates and cakes. Delicious.
I hope you get chance to enjoy this delightful, gentle and warming spice this autumn.
References:
The Complete Herbal Tutor – Anne McIntyre
The Yoga of Herbs – Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad
Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine – Thomas Bartram
The Directory of Essential Oils – Wanda Sellar
Picture of botanical illustration of cardamom curtesy of wikipedia.com.
Ground Cardamom in fresh lemonade is my summertime staple!
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That sounds delicious! I’ll be trying it for sure next summer.
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Excellent post Lucinda, have you ever tried Black Cardamon (Amomum subulatum sic Amomum costatum)? Sarah drew them to my attention a couple of years ago, they have a smoky flavour and aroma that is generated by the drying method. They’re used a lot in Indian cusine where they’re known as Moti Elaichi.
I have to say that cardamon isn’t one of my favourite spices, I do use it but I’m more of a cinnamon & ginger girl. I do like it in Chai and curry blends and like you I throw a couple of pods along with some cloves into rice when I’m making it to go with curries. It’s odd how many people don’t recognise the medicinal benefits of dried spices, most people just throw them into culinary recipes and don’t see the benefits, they should be valued a lot more medicinally.
I love the sound of some of your oil blends, I may give them a try over the winter months, I make a spice chai similar to yours but I put coriander in it and black tea, I’ll pop a few cardamon pods in next time. Make sure you try the recipe for Chocolate Orange Liqueur from Julie Bruton-Seals new book Kitchen Medicine, it has cardamon in the recipe and is delicious.
Thanks for sharing!
Herby Hugs – Debs x
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Hi Debs, I’ve never added coriander to my chai before, will have to give it a go! I know the black cardamom pods but I’ve never used them medicinally before. I know the green is thought to be superior but that the black is still used as medicine in India. They are quite smoky, I didn’t realise that was due to the drying process, very interesting. Am very much looking forward to buying Kitchen Medicine, I read your review which was very inspiring!
xx
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Yum!
What tempting recipes!
I think I should give them a go…
I never used cardamon in the kitchen but bought some to make an Antinausea powder (http://www.myherbcorner.com/blog/?p=2991) which is a effective medicine.
I am also very curious and sow some cardamon seeds just to see if they will grow 🙂
Will post if they pop out of the soil *g
Thanks for commenting my post… I wrote it in such a hurry I had to update after reading your comment because I not even mentioned to open the vanilla beans before infusing in oil!
And I also reckoned I use Heilala vanilla since living in NZ and not Bourbon like back in Europe!
Gosh, I think I should try your cardamon to calm my mind down which is faster then my finger can type 🙂
Take care!
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[…] warm by wrapping up well and consuming plenty of warming spices in my food and drinks. Apart from Cardamom, which I have already waxed lyrical on, the spice I enjoy most is probably ginger. It’s so […]
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Hello, I like your materia medica style. Cardamon is one of my favorite spices and essential oils yet I’ve really used it very little in my herbal practice.I sometimes add some cardamon spirits to my clients tinctures when I feel they need the digestive and pyschospiritual support. My own blog has an entry on the use of medicinal plants for supporting spiritual practice and meditation.
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Thank you for sharing your experience about cardamom. I add it in the soup and the soup taste more delicious with cardamom. I also chew a piece of cardamom after eating whenever I want to enjoy the sensation taste of essential oil in cardamom and get the benefits for health. I will try to use cardamom oil as aromatherapy as you describe in your article.
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Adding cardamom to tea makes it so delicious. I always add 3 cardamoms to my tea. I feel energetic also. Cardamom oil has therapeutic properties. It helps in healing breakouts.
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