Hippocrates recommended Cardamom essential oil, elettaria cardamonum, for sciatica, coughs, abdominal pains, spasm, nervous disorders, and retention of urine and also bites of venomous creatures. It has been used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for over 3,000 years, especially for pulmonary disease, fever, digestive and urinary complaints. Current in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia as a specific for flatulent dyspepsia. Employed in some carminative stomachic and laxative preparations; also in the form compound cardamom spirit to flavor pharmaceuticals. Extensively used as a fragrance component in soaps, cosmetics and perfumes, especially oriental types. Indian Cardamom essential oil has a warm, sweet, and spicy scent, while the inferior oil is harsher, with a slight hint of eucalyptus. Best to blend to accent other essential oils. Cardamom has a warmly romantic and aphrodisiac aroma. Use in salve or massage oil to ease coughs, muscle spasms, and help reduce swelling and irritation from inflammation. Improves your concentration by reducing drowsiness and irritability.
Cardamom is a perennial, reed-like herb up to 4m high, with long, silk blade-shaped leaves. Its long sheathing stems bear small yellowish flowers with purple tips, followed by oblong red-brown seeds. Essential oil is by steam distillation from the dried ripe fruit (seeds). An oleoresin is also produced in small quantities. Native to tropical Asia, especially southern India; cultivated extensively in India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Guatemala and El Salvador. The essential oil is produced principally in India, Europe, Sri Lanka and Guatemala.
Cardamom essential oil, elettaria cardamonum, blends well with the following essential oils: rose, olibanum, orange, bergamot, cinnamon, clove, caraway, ylang ylang, labdanum, cedarwood, neroli (orange blossom), and oriental bases in general.
Cardamom essential oil properties - Antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, carminative, cephalic, digestive, diuretic, sialagogue, stimulant, stomachic, tonic (nerve).
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