Botanical name: Elittaria cardamomum Other names: Cardamom, Elaichi, Ela Family: Zingiberaceae Part used: fruit Taste (rasa): pungent (katuk), sweet (madhur) Characteristic (guna): light and dry Energy (veerya): cooling (sheeta) Post digestive effect (vipak): sweet (madhur) Dosha effect: decreases vatta, pitta, kapha. Action (karma): appetizer, digestive, antitussive, stops hiccup, prevents nausea, aphrodisiac, aromatic, diuretic, redirects the flow of vata downwards (laxative). Dose: Up to 5 grams a day. Contraindications: Aggravated pitta

Cardamom is one of the spices used in chai, it can be used as an anti-mucous agent in diary products.  Cardamom is a useful herb children’s digestive upset and respiratory congestion.

Ref: ‘Ayurvedic Medicine’ by Sebastian Pole; ‘Ayurvedic Pharmacology & Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants’ by Vaidya V.M. Gogte; ‘Yogi of Herbs’ by V. Lad & D. Frawley; ‘Herbs Are Special’ by Isabel Shipard.