Ealichi (Cardamom) – A versatile spice

India produces more than thirty five spices.Of these, more than twenty are exported and hence is known as the ‘Land of Spices‘.Next to black pepper,cardamom is the most important spice produced and exported from India. Cardamom is a versatile spice. The true cardamom of commerce is the dried fruit obtained from the plant Blettaria cardamomum Haton, belonging to ginger family. viz.. zingiheraceae. and is known as ‘cardamom’ or ‘small cardamom‘ or ‘elettaria cardamom‘.

Queen of spice Cardamom in medicines

Cardamom flavour is smooth, spicy, slightly bitter, camphoraceous, cinolic, sweet, cooly, lemony with a tingling, mentholic after-taste. “Cardamom is rich in protein, carbohydrates,calcium, phosphorus, iron etc. It is the volatile oil, which is present to the extent of 6 to 8 per cent in the seeds,that gives cardamom its characteristic aroma and related properties.Cardamom oil is volatile. It is easily soluble in alcohol. This is advantageous in its use for flavouring.

Cardamom  in ayurvedic medicines

Ealichi also finds an important place in ayurvedic medicines. Cardamom is a powerful aromatic, carminative,stomachic, and diuretic and checks nausea and vomiting.Cardamom is also said to be an effective cardiac stimulant and is indicated to be good for bronchial ailments.It is also believed in certain countries to be an aphrodisiac.”Due to its pungent and bitter taste, it works as a stimulant, digestive and cooling character bitter and sweet ‘rasa’, it subsidises the vitiation of ‘pitha‘ (controls biliousness, stimulates enzymes and digestive.It is effective in ‘kasaswasa’ (respiratory diseases) ‘arsos’ (piles), ‘mutra kricha’ (dysurea) and burning sensation. In respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, bronchiectasis, emphysema and asthama it is used as an expectorant, mild bronch dilator and stimulant of respiratory centre .  In short, “cardamom is used in as many as of the most important preparations in Ayurvedic, in the form of decoctions, oils and powders as well as medicated fermented beverages like, ‘arishta’ and‘asava

Cardamom according to the Unani system of medicine

In unani medicines cardamom “checks nausea, vomiting, headache,refrigerant, resolvent, cardiac stimulant,absorbs moisture, expels wind, helps digestion, hepatic colic”.

In the Chinese system of medicine, cardamom oil is described as an aromatic, carminative and stomachic.

Cardamom in  allopathic medicines

Cardamom is used preparations like tincture,carminative mixture etc., and in medicines like disogel,digene is used as flavour. However, in no other country other than India, cardamom is used as a medicine or flavouring agent in medicine.

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Cardamom – ‘Queen of spices’
Cardamom is a spice, originated in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. It is also called by the name Elaichi. It is one of the most common spices seen in an Indian household.
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