Elaichi / Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a perennial herb valued for its fragrant seeds, commonly used in culinary spices and traditional healing practices. Cardamom, a spice from the Zingiberaceae family, is originally found in Indonesia and the Indian subcontinent. It is valued for its digestive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties and is often used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine to manage respiratory issues, digestive disorders, and oral health.

Cardamom Scientific Names

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Angiosperms
Class: Monocots
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Elettaria
Species: Elettaria cardamomum

Cardamom Common Names

English: Cardamom
Sanskrit: Ela, Truti
Hindi: Elaichi
Tamil: Elakkai
Telugu: Elakulu
Kannada: Elakki
Malayalam: Elathari
Bengali: Elach
Marathi: Velchi

Cardamom Uses

Digestive Health - Acts as a carminative and digestive aid. Helps in relieving flatulence, indigestion, and nausea.

Respiratory Health - Used as an expectorant in cough, asthma, bronchitis, and cold.

Oral and Dental Health - Freshens breath and is used in treating bad breath and oral infections due to its antimicrobial properties.

Anti-inflammatory & Antioxidant - Contains potent antioxidants that combat oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.

Urinary Health - Used to manage burning micturition and urinary tract infections in Ayurvedic practice.

Aphrodisiac - Traditionally known to enhance libido and reproductive health.

Phytochemical Constituents

Cardamom is rich in volatile oils and phenolic compounds which contribute to its therapeutic actions:

Essential Oils: 1,8-Cineole, α-Terpinyl acetate, Linalool, Limonene
Flavonoids: Quercetin, Kaempferol
Phenolic acids: Gallic acid, Protocatechuic acid
Sterols & Terpenoids: β-Sitosterol, Pinene
Alkaloids: Choline
Other Compounds: Tannins, Saponins

References

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API). Part I, Volume II. Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH.

Weiss, R. F. (2001). Herbal Medicine. Thieme Medical Publishers.

Bhowmik, D., et al. (2012). "Medicinal uses of cardamom and its health benefits." Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 4(3), 1240-1244.

Verma, R. S., et al. (2009). "Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) essential oil." Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 3(6), 386–389.

European Pharmacopoeia, 10th Edition, Council of Europe.

Chopra, R. N., Nayar, S. L., & Chopra, I. C. (1956). Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.

Sharangdhar Samhita, Chapter on Digestive and Respiratory Disorders.