Brain Tummer

Bad breath

It is an effective breath freshener. A few seeds chewed for a brief period will remove foul smell.

Depression

Powdered seeds of the spice are boiled in water to make tea. It gives a very pleasing aroma to the tea. This is used as a remedy in the treatment of depression.

Green cardamom

The fat green pods grown in South India are considered the best in the world. Green cardamom is available in the pod form or as powder. The whole pod stores better and retains the aroma of the seeds. Many Indian savouries and sweets are flavoured with cardamom. This fragrant spice is used in rich curries and milk-based preparations. In India, tea and coffee are sometimes spiked with cardamom. Around the world, green cardamom is used in spiced cakes and breads.

Brown cardamom

Brown cardamom pods are larger in size than the green ones, and are hairy. In fact, they look like tiny fibrous coconuts. Brown cardamom is medicinal in flavour. In India, it is used only in savouries, especially to flavour rice dishes like biryani. Along with the green variety, it is an essential ingredient in garam masalas [a blend of mixed spices].

Each pod encloses several dark brown seeds which contain the entire flavour. An analysis of the cardamom capsule shows it to constitute of carbohydrates, moisture, protein, ether extract, volatile oil, crude fibre, calcium, phosphorus and iron. The seed contains a volatile oil. The principal constituents of the volatile oil are cineol, terpinene, limonene, sabinene, and terpineol in the form of formic and acetic acid.

Healing power

The aroma and therapeutic properties are due to the volatile oil in its seed. Tinctures of cardamom are used chiefly in medicines, to relieve flatulence and for strengthening digestion activities.