Cardamom (Elaichi) Benefits and Side Effects

According to Ayurveda, cardamom has important medicinal values that can help treat indigestion. In Greece, cardamom was known as a medicinal herb because of its ability to cure digestive disorders. A study done on animal models showed that cardamoms have protective effects against gastric ulcers. Although much more research is still needed to confirm the benefits of cardamom for the stomach, the ayurvedic and folk claims can't be denied.

(Read more: Foods that improve digestion)

Essential oils have been in use in Aromatherapy for healing various ailments. Although there are different applications of aromatherapy, the most common application is inhalation of essential oil such as cardamom oil through a diffuser. The use of essential oil in aromatherapy is known to have numerous benefits to the health and one among that is its property to cure respiratory problems.

Cardamoms have been used in Ayurveda since the 4th century BC to treat various respiratory disorders such as bronchitis and asthma. A study done on animal models showed that cardamoms are rich in alkaloids, flavonoids and other compounds that are very effective in increasing airflow to the lungs. 

Cardamom has been used in Ayurveda to prevent various tooth and gum diseases including toothache, bleeding gums etc. A study showed that the acetonic extract from cardamoms exhibited antimicrobial properties which could be used to treat dental caries. Another study suggests that cardamom oil contains important compounds that can act as an antiseptic which can kill bacteria that is responsible for bad breath and oral diseases. So, grab yourself a cardamom pod and get rid of oral bacteria and bad breath.

Cardamom has antimicrobial properties that could be used to treat various infections.

Candida is one of the important causes of fungal infections. A study done on the 202 Candida species showed inhibitory effects on exposure to certain extracts of cardamom. Another study done on various extracts from black cardamom showed that they were effective against a wide range of microorganisms.

Inflammation is a sign that the body is trying to heal itself when it is exposed to harmful foreign bodies. But when the inflammation lasts for long, that is when it leads to diseases such as cancer. A preclinical study suggests that cardamom can be used to prevent inflammation. Another study showed that cardamom can help reduce gastrointestinal inflammation. Cineole, also known as eucalyptol present in cardamom has been claimed to be effective in preventing inflammation in animal models.

(Read more: Inflammatory disease causes)

Cardamom is helpful in controlling high blood pressure. In a study conducted among 20 hypertensive adults, consumption of cardamom for a period of 12 weeks lead to a significant fall in the blood pressure levels. The promising results in lowering blood pressure is attributed to the high levels of antioxidants present in cardamoms.

Presence of excess salt in the body has been linked to an increase in blood pressure. Researchers believe that cardamom is effective in lowering blood pressure due to its diuretic effect, which means it can remove the excess water and salts from the body in the form of urine.

Due to the fast-paced lifestyle in the modern century, anxiety has become a growing problem in the recent years. Several studies have been going on to understand the underlying causes of anxiety and find ways to reduce and control it. A pre-clinical study showed that cardamom extract is helpful in preventing symptoms of anxiety after stress. However, the study did not mention the exact method by which the results were deduced.

Liver diseases could be caused by a number of factors including viral infections and over-consumption of alcohol. Several studies show the efficacy of cardamom extract in preventing liver diseases. A done on animal models showed the ability of cardamom extract as a hepatoprotective (protects liver). This was inferred from an increase in the albumin levels and the level of good cholesterol (HDL) in these animals. Albumin belongs to a group of proteins and a low level of albumin could lead to liver diseases.

Another study done on animal models with hepatic steatosis (abnormal buildup of fat in the liver) showed that cardamom was effective in the prevention of liver diseases such as hepatomegaly (abnormal liver enlargement).

Cancer is a disease marked by an abnormal growth of body cells. A study done on animal models showed that cardamom was effective in preventing stage 2 skin cancer.

Another study revealed that an important component present in cardamom, γ-Bisabolene could act as an effective anti-cancer agent and may have the potential to be used in developing cancer drugs.

It has also been noted that cardamom extracts are effective in stimulating the activity of the natural killer cells (a type of white blood cells), thereby having the potential to be used in cancer drugs.