Black Cardamom - Boon From Himalayas

Abstract

Black Cardamom is a very common Indian spice called as 'Badi Elaichi' or 'ali Elaichi'. This is used in every home for making vegetables and plays a very important role in Garam Masala powder. This varies in colour from dark brown to black along with being small and sticky with the appearance of tough and wrinkled skin. Black Cardamom is cultivated in Nepal, Sikkim and many parts of Darjeeling and its seeds are grown in September-October in dribbled areas. Its seeds germinate after 25 to 30 days after implantation. Forest-loamy soil under shades is the perfect environment to grow this herb well. Its seeds are cultivated when the seed's outer covering turns to brown. In this article we are going to discuss the health benefits of Black cardamom and its uses in various types of health disorders.

Introduction

Black Cardamom's scientific name is Amomum subulatum, it belongs to the family of Zingiberaceae. India is the largest producer of Black Cardamom with a 50% share in world population, Nepal, Sikkim and some parts of Darjeeling give the maximum contribution in the growth of this herb. Black cardamom has numerous distinct species of different sizes, ranging about 2-5cm with divergent tastes. It has a smoky flavour included in warm spices, and has a pungent aroma with a citrus and eucalyptus flavour with great coolness similar to mint. This contains many essential oils which gives many health benefits, and helps to cure many health related conditions. This herb can be used on a daily basis, in a wide range of beverages and sweets, is a very popular ingredient in biryani or achari pulao, ginger chutney, and many other rice preparations.

How To Select And Use Black Cardamom

Those who are plumped and firm pods are in touch, to ensure it is packed with seeds. Use the whole cardamom with the pod as it is brimmed with aromatic fragrance and full of flavour. Take the whole black cardamom and grind it in a mixer in fine powder then sieve it to remove hard or non blended particles. Blend the cardamom powder in smaller quantities, because when we preserve it for a long time it can lose its flavour. Store it in an air-tight container for its further use. It will stay healthy or good for a year in dry conditions.

Therapeutic Properties

• Rasa - Katu (pungent), tikta (Bitter)
• Guna - Laghu (light), ruksha (dry)
• Veerya - Ushna (hot)
• Vipaka - Katu (pungent)
• Karma - Dosha karma - pacifies kapha-vata dosha and elevates the pitta dosha.

Other Properties

eliminates the smell, diminishes the pain, lessens skin related disorders, and good wound healer, mentioned in vedana sthapak mahakashaya, acts as diuretic, enhances the digestive fire, metabolic rate, and a great vata-anulomana, abolish the kapha, relieves fever and maintain the temperature, and is detoxifying in nature.

Culinary Uses

Black cardamom is edible in various types of dishes, like biryani rice, pulao, or basic malvani Gravy, soups, chowders, is also used in garam masala, by making crushed black cardamom powder and add in these dishes to enhance and intensify the taste of other ingredients.

Medicinal benefits of Black Cardamom

1. In Digestion

This herb is very beneficial for GI Tract and helps to enhance the gastric juices that helps to digest the food properly, improves the appetite and also relieves chronic constipation, flatulence and demolishes the pain. It is widely used in the diminished digestive fire conditions, bloating, loose motions, liver-related disorders, or also in diminished urine capacity. It gives a soothing effect after digestion.

2. Supporting The Heart Health

This herb is very famous to treat the heart related diseases, like thrombosis, hardening of arteries or venous system, used to enhance the strength of weak heart muscles, arrhythmias, coronary heart diseases, valvular diseases or many other cardiomyopathies etc.

3. Respiratory Health

Acts as an expectorant and helps to remove the excessive kapha from the respiratory system, helps to relieve the cough, breathlessness, pain related symptoms during breathing, also be used to treat the asthmatic symptoms and respiratory spasms.

4. For Kidney

It has great diuretic effects, and helps to maintain the good kidney functions, by maintaining its supportive health, prevents the stone formation as it helps to strengthening the muscles of kidney, has anti-inflammatory effects, you can use it with pumpkin seeds and gives the positive effects by removing the stones successfully.

5. For Dental Health

It helps to protect the dental health, and ensures the oral cavity stays away from bacterial infections or dental caries. This is done by making the decoction of black cardamom and gargling with this decoction to improve the hygiene of buccal cavity.

6. For Skin

This herb is rich with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and that's why it helps to remove the toxins from the body and keeps the skin healthy. It is a natural home remedy for many skin disorders that helps with eczema, irritation, itching and other skin allergies.

7. For Hair

As we have discussed this herb has Anti-oxidant properties that also helps with the growth of hair and skin disorders that affect the scalp specifically. It can be used on a daily basis that shows its positive effects on the skin and hair both. It makes the hair thick, shiny and long by regular use. It is also used as the best remedy for removing the dandruff

8. For Mental Health

This herb helps to stay calm and has antidepressant actions that enhances and strengthens mental health. It helps the patient to recover from the stressful conditions and make them mentally calm as well as physical wellness.

9. Reduces Pain

Black Cardamom has anti-inflammatory properties, reducing various types of congestion, has pain relieving effects and that also helps the person to keep calm and healthy.

Conclusion

Black cardamom is filled with aromatic fragrances and helps the person to deal with many type of health disorders, stimulates gastric juices, is carminative, clears the respiratory tract, expectorant in nature and is anti-emetic in properties, used traditionally by our mother at home to maintain or digestive system and supports our health. It is used as an important ingredient in many recipes, and helps to make them aromatic and flavorful. Thus consuming the black cardamom can have wonderful effects.