Black cardamom is an Indian spice that is commonly known as ‘Badi Elaichi or Kali Elaichi’ in Hindi and “Brihad ela” or “Sthula ela” in Sanskrit.Black cardamom, also known as Bengal cardamom, hill cardamom, Indian cardamom, greater cardamom, winged cardmom, Nepal cardamom, brown cardamom, and the scientific name is “Amomum subulatum”.
Its aromas a bit like camphor or mint and are mostly used in
savory dishes rather than sweet or salty dishes. People do consider black
cardamom little inferior to green cardamom, but it’s not true as black
cardamoms have it on importance. Black cardamoms are uses are numerous; it is
not only benefits for health but also for hair and skin maintenance.
Types of Cardamom
1.Black
Cardamom (Amomum)
These types of cardamom are not so popularly known than the
regular green types of cardamom. Black Cardamom is larger than common cardamom;
it is a thick, rough, blackish-brown pod filled with black seeds. The tastes
are more mintier than green cardamom and smell like smokier.
Black cardamom is also known by different names such as kravan,
brown cardamom, Bengal cardamom, Java cardamom, Siamese cardamom, etc. Black
cardamom uses are popularly known for making “biryani” and other savory dishes.
2.Green Cardamom
(Elettaria)
These are the main types of cardamom or so-called “elaichi”
variety, which comes in color green. Green cardamoms are smaller in size and
are thin and papery; the green pod is filled with small blackish seeds.
Black Cardamom Indian Names
§ Bengali:
Badh elach
§ Gujarati:
Elcha
§ Hindi:
Badi elaichi
§ Kannada:
Dodda elakki
§ Sanskrit:
Brihad ela/ Sthula ela
§ Tamil:
Peria Elam
§ Telugu:
Tengu elakulu
§ Marathi:
Velchi
§ Tamil:
Elakkai
§ Malayalam:
Elakkai
Cardamom In Other Languages
§ English:
Black cardamom, Greater cardamom, Nepal cardamom
§ French:
Cardamome
§ German:
Kardamom
§ Italian:
Cardamomo, Cardamone
§ Spanish:
Cardamomo
§ Burmese:
Phalazee
§ Chinese:
Ts’ao-k’ou
§ Indonesian:
Kapulaga
§ Malay:
Buah pelaga
§ Sinhalese:
Enasal
§ Thai:
kravan
Black cardamom Ayurveda
Black cardamom is an
important spice of Ayurveda, which has been used for many ailments for ages. It
has been used for cough and cold (Kasa), for itching and pruritis (Kandu),
urinary tract-related diseases (Vastiroga) for the throat, and sore throat
(Kantaruja) and more.
According to the principles of Ayurveda, Black cardamom spice are
light to digest and absorbs moisture. It is bitter and spicy to taste and
tendency to dry up fat deposits in the body.
Black cardamom ayurvedic
properties
§ Taste
(Rasa): Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent)
§ Qualities
(Guna): Ruksha (Dry), Laghu (Light)
§ Resultant
(Vipaka): Katu (Undergoes Pungent taste after digestion)
§ Potency (
Veerya): Ushna (Hot)
§ Dosha
(Actions): Pitta vardaka (increase pitta dosha) and Kapha Vata shamaka (reduces
Kapha and Vata dosha),
Cardamom Medicinal Uses
Black Cardamom is widely
used in the preparation of several kinds of food items, drinks, medicine, etc.
Beside this it is known to contain powerful antioxidants, black cardamom health
benefits offer protection against countless health conditions like
cancer, blood pressure below are some of the health benefits of black
cardamom and Cardamom Medicinal Uses.
1. Ensures gastrointestinal
health
Black cardamom
is a spice that has its own importance in Ayurveda; it is believed to be a most
powerful mucus destroyer. The Black cardamom seeds are very effective when it
comes to ensuring a healthy gastrointestinal tract. It is due to its
various biological properties it such as metal chelation, antioxidant, gastric
antiallergenic, lipid peroxidation, etc.
The properties in Black cardamom help to stimulate intestinal and
gastric glands to secrete essential juices in the body. Besides this, it also
regulates the juice emission procedure that ultimately helps to control stomach
acids. Since black cardamom is gastric antiallergenic in nature, it can
contribute relief from abdominal gas.
2. It provides respiratory
relief
Black Cardamom
is an Indian spice that has its own importance in Ayurveda due to multiple
benefits of it. It is a spice that can be the best remedy for the people
suffering from respiratory problems; such as Asthma, Pulmonary tuberculosis,
Bronchitis, Whooping cough, cough, etc. It is due to its warming effect and
antioxidant properties in it helped in relieving cold and cough.
The antioxidant properties in black cardamom help alleviate the
mucous membrane, in addition to normalizing the mucous flow through the
respiratory tract. Simply a way to use is by inhaling steam contains cardamom
seeds or cardamom essential oil helps in nasal congestive.
3. It Prevents Cancer
Consuming black
cardamom can have many health benefits and one benefit among it is that it
reduces the causes of cancer. It is very effective due to its antioxidants
properties called “3’-Diindolylmethane” (DIM) and “Indole-3-Carbinol” (I3C) in
black cardamom.
The antioxidant properties of cardamom act as “Anti-Carcinogenic”
which help to combat colon, ovarian as well as prostate cancer. The properties
of cardamom spice raise the amount of glutathione (an antioxidant) in the body
and prevent the generation and growth of cancerous cells.
4. It maintains
cardiovascular health
The other health benefit of Black cardamom is that it
can help keep your heart healthy and fit. It is due to its antioxidant
properties, vitamin “C” and the essential mineral potassium that helps
safeguard cardiac health. The Vitamin C black cardamoms help to strengthen
arteries and prevent the patch arteries with “plaster casts” (atherosclerosis).
Besides this, Vitamin C also prevents coronary artery disease by
boosting the body’s level of natural glutathione, a powerful free radical
scavenger that protects the arteries. In addition to that it, furthermore,
maintains the blood pressure which can be helpful to people with blood
pressure. It can also reduce the probabilities of the clotting of blood.
5. It Maintains Oral
Disorders
Black
Cardamoms are also widely known for their oral hygiene and for the
prevention of teeth and gum problems. It is a natural treatment of teeth
and gum that has been used in Ayurveda for dental problems ever since ancient
age. It is good for oral care due to its anti-microbial properties and a good
source of calcium and magnesium in it, which are essential for dental health.
In addition, it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help to
prevent gums swelling due to oral infection. So to keep stay from oral
disorders, eat one cardamom daily after a meal, it will increase saliva flow
that helps to cleanse the teeth.
Black Cardamom Side Effects
In most of the cases, Black cardamom
is found safe to use when taken by mouth. In a few cases, some people may have
black cardamom side effects, but not major, it is generally found in excess of
intake below are some of it.
1. Respiratory
Problems: Due to excess intake of black cardamom some may experience
respiratory problems such as difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath
tightness in the chest, etc.
2. Skin
Problems: People sensitive to cardamom can problems related to skin.
The problems such as swelling of the skin, it is mostly found aggravated in the
winter season.
3. Interactions
of drugs: It is the most common side effects found in most of the
cases. People unknowingly experience as some spices have a tendency to react to
a few medicines. So people taking medicines such as Anticoagulants, Liver
medicines, Antidepressants, Aspirin, Anti-platelet drugs must take advice from
your doctor.
4. Gallstones: The
person with stone must not take cardamom in amounts greater as cardamom spice
seed can trigger gallstone colic
5. Hyperactivity: The
person suffering from hyperacidity must minimize the use of cardamom as
excessive use can cause hyperactivity and mouth ulcers.
How to use black cardamom: Cardamom starts
losing its aroma and flavor as soon as it is ground. So it is better to buy
cardamom pods and cook with the whole or crushed or grinds pods during use.
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