Cardamom
C
ardamom, the “queen of
spices”, is the world’s third most
expensive spice after saffron and
vanilla. The first records of its
use date back to ancient Sri Lanka, where
even today it is an important component of
Ayurvedic medicine.
Today the largest producer is
Guatemala with India second. Arab
countries consume more than half of
worldwide production of cardamom,
using it mainly for flavouring coffee.
There are two types: Elettaria
cardamomum, green or true cardamom
(the best quality); and black cardamom,
which is a different plant (Amomum
subulatum), although both are in the ginger
family. These two types of cardamom were
distinguished in the 4th century BCE by
Theophrastus, the Greek father of botany.
Both types of cardamom are used
worldwide as flavourings, as cooking
spices and as medicines but Elettaria
cardamomum is more important. It is used
in foods, as a medicine and is also smoked.
Commonly used as a flavouring in foods
and in coffee and tea, as well as in bitters
and gin, it can also be used as a perfume.
Green cardamom has a strong taste, is
intensely aromatic and resinous, whereas
black cardamom is more smoky and cool.
Green cardamom is one of the most
expensive spices in the world according
to weight, but little is needed for flavor
or fragrance. It is best stored whole but,
for the best flavour, the pods need to be
removed when it is ground.Active ingredients
Green cardamom contains up to 8 per
cent essential oils: terpineol, myrcene,
limonene, cineol etc. Black cardamom’s
essential-oil content is lower. Both types
contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins,
sterols and tannins. A much researched
anti-inflammatory flavonoid/chalcone
is cardamonin.
Cardamom’s active ingredients exhibit
a variety of metabolic activities including
reducing spasms and cramps, lowering
blood pressure, vasodilation, relaxing
heart muscle and sedative activities. It
also has analgesic, anti-inflammatory
and antimicrobial activities. Many of
these activities are related to its ability
to regulate colinergic and calcium
antagonist activities.Therapeutic uses
Digestive system
Cardamom aids digestion and improves
the health of the teeth and gums. Being
carminative, it improves digestion and
relieves wind. Research shows that
cardamom exhibits both gut excitatory
and inhibitory effects through colinergic
and calcium channels, so it can increase
or decrease digestive enzyme secretion
depending on circumstances.
Cardamom works through the
parasympathetic nervous system in the
gut and plays an important physiological
role in peristalsis — which could also
explain its traditional uses for dyspepsia
and constipation.
In mice, cardamom has also been shown
to reduce the risk of stomach tumour
incidence while significantly improving
antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione,
indicating a possible use as a chemo-
preventative spice against stomach cancer.
Hypoglycaemia
Cardamom also has been shown to promote
the uptake of glucose in muscle cells and
adipocytes, making it potentially useful for
the treatment of metabolic syndrome and
diabetes. It is nearly as powerful as insulin
medication as it inhibits the proliferation of
insulin-resistant cells.
Respiratory system
It is used to treat colds, bronchitis, fevers and
inflammatory conditions of the oropharynx.
Liver function
Clinical trials have shown cardamom’s
value in reducing markers of non-alcoholic
liver disease, especially in obese subjects.
It has also been shown to reverse liver
damage induced by various chemicals.
Renal system
It has shown diuretic effects comparable to
a common diuretic drug furosemide,
increasing urine volume as well as urinary
excretion of sodium and potassium.Anti-inflammatory
Cardamom seeds are high in anti-
inflammatory compounds such as
cardamonin, which regulates the protein
complex that controls DNA transcription
and plays a crucial role in regulating
immune responses to infection (NFKB), as
well as inhibiting inflammation through
COX-2 pathways. This activity also shows
promise against neoplastic processes such
as multiple myeloma.
Antiviral
Cardamonin has been shown to inhibit the
herpes family viruses, such as Epstein-Barr
(glandular fever) virus, and, by extension,
reduces the risk of Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Antifungal against athlete’s foot
In studies conducted in agar solutions,
cardamonin was antifungal against the
athlete’s foot fungus specifically. This
research showed that cardamom works
against this particular type of fungus but was
not as useful against other fungi like Candida
albicans or Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Eye health
Eye drops containing cardamom were
found to improve symptoms of cataract
refractive errors and to reduce symptoms
of eye infections.
Cardiovascular system
Green cardamom has been shown to
significantly reduce total blood cholesterol,
triglycerides and LDLs while increasing HDL
concentrations. Using the powder and the
oil, the cholesterol content of cardiac muscle
(in rats) was lowered by 31 per cent with LDL
lowering by 44 per cent. Liver triglycerides
were also lowered by 33 per cent, while the
ascorbic acid level increased, indicating a
potential cardioprotective effect.^ Its sedative
and diuretic effects can also assist in
lowering stress-related high blood pressure.
Relaxes blood vessel walls
Cardamonin can function as a vasodilator
by inhibiting calcium entry into the cell, thus
relaxing the blood vessel walls, another
factor in reducing high blood pressure.
Sedative
Cardamom has been studied for its sedative/
relaxant effect in conditions such as
headaches and epilepsy.
Cardamom has been shown to be safe in
high doses: up to 10gm/kg has been tested
without any detrimental effects.Dr Karen Bridgman is a holistic practitioner at
Australian Biologics, Sydney.Known as the “queen of spices”, the active ingredients in cardamom exhibit a variety of metabolic
activities including reducing spasms and cramps, lowering blood pressure and relaxing the heart.Photography^ GettyImagesWo rds DR KAREN BRIDGMAN22 | wellbeing.com.au
healing food
CARDAMOM