Ever looked in the mirror after brushing your teeth to notice a thick white coating on your tongue? Well, that’s typically a sign of digestive stagnation, and Cardamom is the perfect carminative spice to help move out congestion, dampness, and much from the lungs and the body. It comes via a small shrub with blue-streaked flowers and yellow tips in the rain forests of Malabar and India but is also cultivated in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Central America.It flavors curries, sausages, breads, cakes, and pastries. It’s harvested as a pod, which contains little black seeds. When bought fresh or freshly ground, it gives off a short-lived eucalyptus aroma. When taken internally, it relieves indigestion in the form of an upset stomach and gas brought on by dairy products for foods that commonly cause digestion, like bananas, ice cream, and yogurt. It also helps to break food down after a big meal.
To learn more, check this February 2021 article from Just Agriculture on Cardamom.
PROPERTIES: antibacterial, anticatarrh, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, decongestant, expectorant, nervine, tonic
SOURCES:
McBride, K. (2019). The Herbal Kitchen. Newburyport, MA: Red Barren.
Webb., M. A. & Craze, R. (2000). The Herb & Spice Companion. New York: Metro Books.