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Herb library

Ela (Green Cardamom)

Cardamom (Green Cardamom)

Elettaria cardamomum

Green cardamom — the sweet-pungent pod used to lighten digestion and freshen breath.

Green cardamom plant · Herb · Parts: Pod, Seed

Taste (rasa)
Pungent, Sweet
Energy (virya)
Heating
Balances
Vata, Kapha

What it is used for

Benefits

  • Eases bloating, nausea and heaviness after meals
  • Balances the mucus-forming quality of milk and dairy sweets
  • Freshens breath and clears mild throat congestion

How it has been used

Traditional uses & benefits

Ela is a tridoshic aromatic: pungent yet sweet, it lightens what is heavy and is added to milk, sweets and rich food to keep them from clogging.

Traditional uses

  • Bloating, nausea and post-meal heaviness
  • Balancing dairy and sugar in traditional sweets
  • Freshening the mouth and easing a tight throat

Practical guidance

  1. 1Crush the pod just before use — the volatile oil is the medicine and it fades quickly.
  2. 2One pod in warm milk at night is the classic pairing with ashwagandha or turmeric.
  3. 3Keep it culinary; concentrated extracts add nothing for everyday digestion.

How much

Dosage

2-3 pods a day, or 250-500 mg of ground seed.

How to take it

Preparation & usage

Cardamom milk

Crush 2 pods into warm milk with a pinch of nutmeg.

Before bed

After-meal chew

Chew the seeds of one pod slowly after eating.

After lunch and dinner

Read this first

Precautions

  • Culinary amounts are safe; keep concentrated extracts out of pregnancy
  • May lower blood pressure slightly — watch if already on medication
  • Avoid high doses with gallstones

Where this comes from

Sources

Used forDigestion & GutImmunity & Recovery

Where to buy

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