Cardamom is one of the world's most expensive spices. It is a staple of Indian, Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine. Did you know that cardamom has been used for medicinal purposes since well before our time?
Somewhat forgotten in our natural pharmacies today, it is more commonly used in cooking to flavor dishes. In this article, we invite you to take a fresh look at cardamom and its benefits for natural health and well-being.
Botanical description of cardamom
Cardamom, botanically known as Elettaria Cardamomum, is a large herbaceous plant of the Zingiberaceae family native to southern India. Today, it is cultivated throughout the tropics, particularly in Southeast Asia and Central America.
The dark, fragrant seeds are contained in a capsule that is the fruit of the plant's flowers. These flowers can be white, pink or blue.
The seeds contain an essential oil rich in camphor, borneol, pinene and carvone.
The benefits of cardamom throughout history
The Egyptians and Greeks were already using cardamom to make perfumes. The seeds are also used in traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda, to relieve digestive disorders, asthma and bronchitis. In China, it was said to be beneficial for stomach ailments.
In the Middle Ages, cardamom was recognized as a stomachic and then, in the Renaissance, as a diuretic.
Cardamom's recognized therapeutic properties
Today, it is thought to have carminative virtues, i.e. it facilitates the expulsion of gas from the intestines. It also facilitates la digestionIt calms nervous dyspepsia, ulcers, flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea and colic. It regulates gastric secretions, calms digestive spasms and encourages the proliferation of good intestinal bacteria.
Finally, chewing cardamom seeds freshens breath.
Cardamom, a remineralizing spice
The cardamom contains :
Significant amounts of calcium: Ca plays a role in building and maintaining bone mass, and regulates the nervous system and heart rate.
Du magnesium Mg regulates the nervous system, helps muscles function properly and reduces the risk of muscle cramps and aches. It also protects against the damaging effects of stress, which is a major consumer of magnesium.
Zinc: Zn is an ally of the immune system and fertility. It also helps the pancreas function properly and promotes cell renewal.
Vitamins B2 and B6 stimulate brain function and act as co-factors in the absorption of minerals and trace elements.
Using cardamom
Cardamom is mainly used internally. It is used as a tincture or infusion of the seeds in proportions of 30 g per liter.
For sluggish digestion, drink a cup before a meal or add cardamom seeds to your cooking.
However,cardamom essential oil can be used orally (in a dish, never pure) or diluted in a little vegetable oil to massage into painful, inflammatory areas such as rheumatism, muscle contractionsdental infections... Thanks to its analgesic properties, it soothes pain.
Choosing quality, ethical cardamom
To benefit from its gustatory and therapeutic virtues, it's essential to be careful when choosing cardamom. To avoid any risk of pollution through contamination, it is preferable to turn to ORGANIC labels, especially as ecological certifications are also a guarantee of ethical values, particularly as regards the working conditions and remuneration of growers and pickers.
Using cardamom in healthy cooking
To make the most of its health and taste benefits, here are a few ideas for blends. Cardamom is a wonderful addition to Indian and Asian cuisine, as well as to gingerbread, Turkish coffee and spiced teas. It goes well with white meats and vegetables, and enhances the taste of fruit. Cardamom goes very well with turmeric, ginger and lime.