Greater (Larger) or Nepal cardamom is a very commonly used spice in India. It is the dried seeds of the plant Amomum subulatum. This leafy plant grows in swampy places of Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, Bhutan and Nepal. Like some other member of the plant family Zingiberaceae (ginger, turmeric, alpenia), it is a medicine as well. For the medicinal purpose the seeds of the plant are used. In Ayurveda, it is considered one that improves appetite and digestion, reduces mucous and vata/wind and cures oral diseases.
General Information
Latin Name: Amomum subulatum
Family: Zingiberaceae
Vernacular names
- Sanskrit: Bhadra, Bhadraila
- Bengali: Baara aliach
- English: Greater or Nepal cardamom, Big cardamom
- Gujarati: Elaicho, Mothi Elichi
- Hindi: Bari elachi, Badi elaichi
- Kannada: Dodda Yalakki, Nepdi Elakki
- Malayalam: Valiya Elam, Perelam
- Marathi: Mothi Elayachi
- Oriya: Bada aleicha, Aleicha
- Punjabi: Budi Eleichi
- Tamil: Periya Elam, Beraelam, Kattu Elam
- Telugu: Pedda Elakulu
- Urdu: Badi Elaichi, Heel Kalan
- Siddha: Peria Elam, Kattu Elam, Beraelam
- Unani: Heel Kalaan, Qaaqule Kubaar
- French: Cardamome German: Kardamom Italian: Cardamomo, Cardamone Spanish: Cardamomo Burmese: Phalazee
Plant Habitat
Greater cardamom is native to eastern Himalayas and cultivated in moist and swampy side of mountain streams and hilly slopes, at an elevation of 765 to 1675 metres. In India it is cultivated in Sikkim, Bengal, Darjeeling, Assam, Bhutan, North-eastern states and Tamil Nadu.
Plant description
Tall, perennial, evergreen plant with rhizomes, about 90-100 cm height;leaves oblong lanceolate, 30-60 cm in length, shoots formed by long sheath-like stalks encircling one another;spikes globose, very dense and shortly peduncled;spikes areglobose, very dense and shortly peduncled;flowers white in color;Fruit capsules 2.5 cm long, irregular obcordate, echinate, trilocular, dark red-brown in color, containing severalaromatic seeds in each cell which held together by a pulp.
Constituents
Seeds contain a chalcone (cardamonin), a flavonoid (alpinetin), petunidin-3, 5 diglucoside and leucocyanidin glucocide, aurone glycosid subulin. The essential oil (about 2.5%) contains 1, 8-cineol as the major constituents.
Cineole gives the seeds distinct aroma and medicinal properties.
Ayurvedic Properties and Action on body
Greater cardomom has the following Ayurvedic properties:
- Rasa (Taste): Tikta/Bitter, Katu (pungent)
- Guna (Characteristics): Laghu/Light, Ruksha/Dry, Tikshna/Sharp
- Virya (Potency): Ushna/Hot
- Vipaka (Post Digestive Effect): Katu/Pungent
Action: Deepana, Kapha-har, Vata-har, Rochaka, Mukhshodhak
The Dose of greater cardamom for medicinla purpose:1-3 gram in powder form.
Ayurvedic medicines that contain greater cardamoms are Sarivadysava, Kalyanka Ghrita, Manasmitra Vataka.
Medicinal uses of Large Cardamom
Greater cardamom is a spice with medicinal properties. It has an antioxidant stimulant, stomachic, antispasmodic, appetizer, alexipharmic and astringent properties and is useful in diseases of mouth, indigestion, biliousness, abdominal pains and respiratory ailments.
Mouth blisters
Make paste of Greater cardamom. Mix the paste with honey and apply on blisters.
Tooth ache, gum problem
Prepare a decoction for gargling. Boil 4-5 Greater cardamom in one glass water and use this for gargling and mouth rinsing.
Asthma
In asthma, oral intake of Greater cardamom oil (10-20 drops) is useful.
Hiccups
Boil 1-2 Greater cardamom in 150 ml water till it reduces to half. Filter and drink to get relief from hiccups.
Digestive weakness/impaired digestion
Prepare a powder by mixing equal amount of Greater cardamom powder and dry ginger powder/Sunthi. Take this powder in a dose of 1 teaspoon.
Abdominal pain, gas
Take one gram Greater cardamom powder with black salt.
Dysuria, painful urination, Mutrakriccha
Prepare a powder by mixing Greater cardamom powder and Misri. Take 2-3 grams of it.
Impotency
Prepare a powder by mixing Greater cardamom powder, Misri and Safed Musali. Take this powder in a dose of 2-3 grams.
Deranged Vata, Vata disorder
Take 1-2 grams, Greater cardamom powder thrice a day.