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Recipes with Cardamom: Oatmeal with Cloves, Cardamom & Maple Syrup
Cleansing the Stomach
Cardamom offers more than its delightful and appetizing flavor, it is chock full of medicinal benefits. Cardamom is highly aromatic. Like perfume, it has a strong smell. This aromatic quality is the source of its use as an herbal pharmaceutical for centuries. Aromatic spices are a powerful friend to those with a myriad of digestive difficulties, from belching to vomiting and sluggish digestion. When food stagnates or moves up, cardamom moves it back down. It accelerates the gastric emptying rate, meaning it relaxes the stomach valves that prevent your food from entering the small intestine. That makes aromatic spices especially useful when your 'eyes are bigger than your stomach,' i.e. after thanksgiving or any heavy meal that bogs down your digestion, making you feel like there is a brick in your stomach. In the process, cardamom relieves nausea and has been used as an aid in morning sickness.
Muscle Relaxant
Remember the "fresh and clean as a York Peppermint Patty" commercials of the 80's? Peppermint, like cardamom, is a strong aromatic. All aromatics have a fresh and clean quality to them that is also somewhat shocking. This shocking quality literally numbs muscle tissue - forcing it to relax. That's why so many muscle balms - such as the Chinese formula Tiger Balm and Bengay are highly aromatic, familiar scents to anyone who has spent time at the gym.
Cardamom is no exception - it relaxes your muscle tissue, and is a calming antispasmodic useful in colic, asthma, and the throbbing pain of a headache (caused by a spasm in blood vessels). Aromatic herbs like cardamom and peppermint are so important, at Joyful Belly we consider cardamom to be the 'missing 7th taste of Ayurveda'.
Other Benefits
Cardamom is also Ayurveda's most powerful mucus destroyer. As with all aromatics, cardamom is a diaphoretic that opens your pores, encouraging a mild sweat that cleanses the skin, aids low grade fevers, and cleanses the lymphatic system. It is a bronchodilator - helping to improve breathing in asthmatics.
Use in Herb Formulas
Additionally, cardamom acts as a carrier herb, assisting in the digestion and assimilation of heavier herbs used in tonic formulas. Heavy herbs like shatavari, ashwagandha, vidari, and bala are made more accessible with cardamoms digestive assistance
Recipes with Cardamom: Coconut Water with Lime, Ginger & Cardamom
About Cardamom
Love for cardamom resonates through history - for instance, ancient Egyptians chewed cardamom to whiten their teeth and sweeten their breath. Cardamom helps take the edge off of caffeine in the famous drink Turkish coffee. Cardamom is a member of the ginger plant family along with turmeric.
Buying & Preparation
The spice can be purchased as a grayish powder, in the form of the whole light-green pod, or as the tiny uncrushed seed within the pod. The essential oils (the fresh taste and the medicinal value) evaporate quickly after it is ground. For this reason, we recommend the uncrushed seed. If you buy whole pods, peel the outer layer of skin from the pod. Then grind in a coffee grinder or crush with a mortar and pestle just before use.
Cooking Cardamom
Cardamom is a fresh and wonderful garnish in beverages and on fruits. The unmistakable accent of cardamom is a key ingredient of Indian chai, a spicy tea with ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Cardamom is common in many desserts like rice pudding, where it reduces the mucus-forming qualities of dairy products. In Scandinavian countries, this versatile, pleasant and aromatic spice is perfect accompaniment to a lamb roast, helping protein digestion. As a strong spice, we generally use 1/8tsp per person in recipes.
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Constitutional nutrition is tailored to the individual.
In the kitchen, especially during your family’s formative years,
you shape your family's lifelong health.
Rooted in the insights curated from Ayurveda and Greek medicine,
constitutional medicine teaches you which foods match your body,
so you and your family have true vitality, strength, and balance.
See How it Works.
Medicinal Effects of Cardamom
Constitutional nutrition systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, hebs, lifestyle choices, your body, and disease.
METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS
Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics
Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics
(vital qualtiies).
Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance.
By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick.
Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold).
You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food.
Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body.
Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food.
Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods.
Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion.
Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste.
One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes.
The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent.
Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types
(doshas),
are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia.
They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature.
Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.
A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.
A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.
Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.
STRONG AROMATIC
Herbs or spices with volatile essential oils that present strong aromas. Aromatic oils shock, refresh and numb tissue, with the end result of relaxing, opening and clearing stagnant fluids in tissues.
Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Cardamom
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary.
The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.
STRONG CARMINATIVE
Stimulates the release of gas. Helpful for bloating or cramping abdominal pain. Propels food downward. Carminatives typically expel gas by relaxing the muscles of the intestines.
An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.
Expectorants help you eliminate mucus from the lungs. These herbs often work by increasing the quantity of mucus, or thinning the mucus. Expectorants are indicated when phlegm congests the lower respiratory tract.
Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.
Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.
The reports shared below are part of an educational assignment completed by students at
the Joyful Belly Carolina College of Health Sciences.
These represent subjective experiences intended to help students explore principles of Ayurveda through personal observation.
In each report below, students ate the selected food for 3 days and self-reported these effects.
See other food & herb reports at Joyful Belly.
TEMPERATURE/CIRCULATION
How did Cardamom affect your temperature?
15
12
9
6
3
0
2
11
11
9
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your sweat quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
2
23
7
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the color of your tongue body?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
8
0
16
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 27 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the swelling of your tongue body?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
7
14
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 22 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
4
14
13
2
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your digestion speed?
20
16
12
8
4
0
2
18
11
1
1
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
TOXINS
How did Cardamom affect the amount of gas & bloating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
5
19
6
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your stool smell?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
6
20
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
Tongue: How did Cardamom affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
4
11
17
1
0
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the color of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
2
0
0
9
22
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your urine smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
5
23
5
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
35
28
21
14
7
0
0
3
28
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your sweat smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
4
23
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
HYDRATION
How did Cardamom affect your urine frequency/quantity?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
20
9
3
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the cracks on your tongue?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
6
18
3
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 27 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
NERVOUS-SYSTEM
How did Cardamom affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
4
15
13
1
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your muscle tension?
20
16
12
8
4
0
4
11
16
2
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your anxiety?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
16
11
5
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the stillness of your tongue?
21
17
13
9
5
1
10
15
2
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 27 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
DIGESTION
How did Cardamom affect your appetite/hunger?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
4
14
13
2
Much less hungry
Slightly less hungry
Same
Slightly hungrier
Much hungrier
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your digestion speed?
20
16
12
8
4
0
2
18
11
1
1
Much faster
Slightly faster
Same
Slightly slower
Much slower
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the amount of gas & bloating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
5
19
6
3
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
TONGUE
Tongue: How did Cardamom affect the thickness & size of your tongue coating?
20
16
12
8
4
0
4
11
17
1
0
Much smaller
Slightly less
Same
Slightly larger coating
Much larger
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the swelling of your tongue body?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
7
14
More Swelling
Less Swelling
No Change
Total Responses: 22 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the color of your tongue body?
20
16
12
8
4
0
3
8
0
16
Paler
Redder
Bluer
No Change
Total Responses: 27 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the stillness of your tongue?
21
17
13
9
5
1
10
15
2
More still
No Change
More Trembling / Jittery
Total Responses: 27 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the color of your tongue coating?
25
20
15
10
5
0
2
0
0
9
22
Yellower
Browner
Grayer
Whiter
No Change
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the cracks on your tongue?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
6
18
3
0
Larger/longer/more cracks
Slightly more
Same
Slightly less/smaller/shorter
Much less
Total Responses: 27 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
STOOL
How did Cardamom affect your stool frequency/quantity?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
2
16
14
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your stool color?
30
24
18
12
6
0
5
1
2
1
24
More yellow
More gray
More green
More orange
Same
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your stool lightness?
25
20
15
10
5
0
2
4
22
5
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly darker
Much darker
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your stool smell?
25
20
15
10
5
0
1
6
20
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your stool consistency?
15
12
9
6
3
0
1
12
11
9
0
Much softer
Slightly softer
Same
Slightly harder
Much harder
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
URINE
How did Cardamom affect your urine clarity?
28
23
18
13
8
3
4
21
8
More cloudy
Same
More clear
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your urine smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
5
23
5
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your urine lightness?
25
20
15
10
5
0
2
7
21
3
0
Much lighter
Slightly lighter
Same
Slightly Darker
Much Darker
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your urine frequency/quantity?
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
20
9
3
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect the amount of bubbles in your urine?
35
28
21
14
7
0
0
3
28
2
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Many more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
SWEAT
How did Cardamom affect your sweat quantity?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
2
23
7
1
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your sweat smell?
30
24
18
12
6
0
0
4
23
6
0
Much less
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
SYSTEMIC
How did Cardamom affect your energy levels?
20
16
12
8
4
0
0
4
15
13
1
Much less energy
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more energy
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your muscle tension?
20
16
12
8
4
0
4
11
16
2
0
Much less tension
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more tension
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your anxiety?
20
16
12
8
4
0
1
16
11
5
0
Much less anxiety
Slightly less
Same
Slightly more anxiety
Much more
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
How did Cardamom affect your temperature?
15
12
9
6
3
0
2
11
11
9
0
Much colder
Slightly colder
Same
Slightly warmer
Much warmer
Total Responses: 33 REPORT ID:75 (2020-10-09 - 2021-08-09)
Note: These exercises are not part of an FDA-regulated study,
and were not designed or conducted under a clinical research protocol.
They are neither investigational in nature nor scientific findings.
They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
They are experiential assignments rooted in traditional Ayurvedic education, intended solely for instructional use.
No conclusions should be drawn regarding the therapeutic effects of any food, herb, or dietary substance based on these student reflections.
Tincture (1:5 ratio in alcohol): 1-2 mL (about 20-40 drops) up to 3 times daily.
TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Cardamom may temper these symptoms.
The suitability of any food for a condition is highly dependent on the individual.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
We will use this information to better predict food that helps you.
CONTRAINDICATED FOR THESE SYMPTOMS
Cardamom may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms.
Note this is not a complete list of all possible contraindications.
Please see your doctor before using this food to treat a medical condition.
Aggravated Pitta, ulcers and general excessive heat signs
Herb Drug Interaction Risk
Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Cardamom. Please see your health care provider for more information.
Analgesic: If the mechanism of pain relief is narcotic, do not combine with antihistamines.
Decongestant: For decongestants whose mechanism is vasoconstriction, could potentially increase blood pressure.
Diuretic: Diuretics may clear pharmaceutical drugs more quickly, lowering the effect. Avoid if taking water pills or pharmaceutical diuretics.
View other ingredients for Spring
Cardamom is recommended for Spring. Check out these other Spring foods here.
Constitutional Nutrition: Strengthen Your Health Naturally
When your dietary choices align with your individual nature (constitution), it supports your metabolism, energy, and health naturally.
A personalized diet, fitting to your constitution, leverages your natural strengths while gently supporting your body where it's vulnerable.
Constitutional nutrition is especially beneficial for digestion, a foundational pillar of health influencing your entire well-being.
Balanced digestion fortifies your body's natural defenses against illness and enhances your resilience when illness does arise.
A healthy digestive fire (*agni*) eases discomfort, speeds recovery, and naturally uplifts your mood.
By embracing constitutional nutrition, you will soon experience a profound sense of renewal, vitality, and inner strength.
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a
healthy diet and lifestyle through constitutional nutrition (Ayurveda & Greek Medicine).
His approach is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful.
John also directs the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda,
offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.
John's hobbies & specialties include advanced digestive disorders, medieval Catholic philosophy,
& botany. He holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John, his wife Natalie and their 8 kids live in Asheville, NC
“Ever since I've started eating Indian foods I have loved the taste of cardamom. I use the golden milk and it didn't call for cardamom but I put it in the drink anyway. It added so much to the warm drink for me. Thank you for the article. Rose"
“3/4c cardamom is a very large dose. We would recommend limiting to 1/2 tsp three times a day for most constitutions. Pitta should limit to 1/4tsp. Pitta can eat small amounts of cardamom only."
Want our top Ayurvedic recipes and health tips? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The information and products on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any
disease.
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Contraindications / Aggravates
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