CARDAMOM - HEALTH BENEFITS

CARDAMOM - HEALTH BENEFITS

Cardamom (or cardamon) refers to several plants of the similar genera Elettaria and Amomum in the ginger family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to India, Nepal and Bhutan; they are recognised by their small seed pods, triangular in cross-section and spindle-shaped, with a thin, papery, outer shell and small black seeds. Today, Guatemala is the biggest producer and exporter of cardamom in the world, followed by India. Some other countries such as Sri Lanka have also begun to cultivate it. Elettaria pods are light green while Amomum pods are larger and dark brown.

It is the world's third most expensive spice by weight, outstripped in market value only by saffron and vanilla.

Wikipedia.

Cardamom too, is used for cooking as well as for medicinal purposes. It is used in a variety of dishes and is used to treat the teeth and gums just like clove is used. However, it is also used to treat throat problems, pulmonary tuberculosis and inflammation of eyelids, lung congestion and digestive disorders. It is also used to develop an antidote for venom of snakes and scorpions.

In traditional medicine, it has been used for treating constipation, dysentery, stomach aches and other types of digestive problems. It will serve as an excellent diuretic for the treatment of gonorrhea, cystitis, nephritis, burning micturation or urination and scanty urination. This can be used as a remedy for the treatment of depression. The herb is useful in sexual dysfunctions like impotency and premature ejaculation. But excessive use of cardamom at times may lead to impotency.

Gargling with an infusion of cardamom and cinnamon cures pharyngitis, sore-throat, relaxes uvula, or the fleshy conical portion at the back of  the tongue, and hoarseness during the infective stage of influenza. Indeed, cardamom is a herb that is widely used in foods as well as it is a remedy for a number of stomach and respiratory tract ailments. Cardamom is the only versatile herb that gives a cooling effect if used in any preparation in summer and gives a warm effect in winter.