Other Names: Queen of Spices • Elaichi • Green Cardamom • Malabar Cardamom
✨ Energetic & Astrological Profile
Element: Fire & Air
Phase of the Moon: Waxing Moon
Zodiac Signs: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius — also deeply beneficial for Virgo and Pisces.
Planets: Mercury, Sun
Tarot Cards:
🔥 The Magician – communication, vitality, activated will
🌬 Page of Wands – fresh energy, curiosity, enthusiasm
🌞 Strength – inner courage, uplifting force
🌿 Temperance – balanced digestion and spirit
🌍 Habitat & Sensory Nature
Native to the lush, forested regions of southern India and Sri Lanka, Cardamom thrives in tropical, humid zones. It’s one of the oldest known spices in the world, prized in Ayurvedic and Middle Eastern traditions.
Flavour: Warm, spicy-sweet, pungent with a cooling aftertaste
Temperature: Warming (though energetically balanced)
Humidity: Slightly moistening
Tissue State Support: Cold, damp, stagnant
🧬 Phytochemistry & Herbal Actions
Constituents:
- Essential oils (cineole, terpinene, limonene)
- Flavonoids
- Volatile compounds
- Fixed oils and starch
Primary Actions:
Carminative • Digestive stimulant • Antimicrobial • Mood-lifting • Antispasmodic • Expectorant • Aphrodisiac • Adaptogenic (mild)
💊 Medicinal Benefits
Cardamom is a sparkling little pod of digestive magic — a kitchen spice with temple-like reverence in many cultures.
🌿 Digestive Health:
- Eases bloating, gas, and nausea
- Stimulates appetite and digestion — especially useful after heavy or oily meals
- Helps relieve cramping and sluggish digestion linked to cold or nervous tension
🌿 Respiratory Support:
- Loosens phlegm and opens the lungs
- Useful in coughs with congestion or dampness
- Often combined with cinnamon or clove for warming relief in colds
🌿 Emotional/Mental Clarity:
- Traditionally inhaled or sipped to dispel “mental fog” or sadness
- Supports clarity, uplifted mood, and calm in times of stress or depression
- A lovely ally for creatives and communicators — it keeps the mind sharp, and the words flowing
🧘 Emotional & Energetic Benefits
There's something about Cardamom that feels like walking into a warmly lit room after the rain. It lifts heaviness off the heart and brings warmth to the soul, without overwhelming.
Ideal for:
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Emotional apathy or spiritual fatigue
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Grief held in the belly
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Shyness or hesitation in communication
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Cold, disconnected sexual energy
It gets energy moving again — gently, but unmistakably. Like someone lighting incense and opening all the windows in your chest.
🧒 Child-Friendly Use
🌿 Excellent in small doses for:
- Digestive upset
- Motion sickness
- Mild respiratory congestion
Add a pinch to warm milk or oat milk — calming and carminative for children before bed.
⚠️ Contraindications
⚠ Use with caution if you experience excess heat or stomach ulcers — Cardamom is stimulating
⚠ May lower blood pressure slightly — watch when taking with other hypotensives
⚠ Avoid in large amounts during pregnancy unless under guidance
🧪 Dosage & Preparation
🌼 Tea: Lightly crush 2–4 pods and steep in hot water or milk for 10–15 mins
🌼 Tincture (1:5): 10–30 drops up to 3x daily
🌼 Culinary Use: Add freely to dishes — best when heated to activate oils
🌼 Topical/Inhalation: Essential oil for steam inhalation or diffuser
🛒 Shop This Herb
Coming soon: Cardamom-infused herbal blends, digestive teas, and clarity-enhancing elixirs. Sign up to be notified when the spice shelf is stocked 🌿
🔮 Daz’s Diagnosis
Cardamom is that well-dressed friend who always smells amazing and knows how to say the right thing at the right time. It’s elegant, but never uptight. Fiery, but balanced. It reminds you that healing can be sweet, spicy, and even a little sexy.
If you’ve been moving sluggishly through your days, holding heaviness in your belly or heart, Cardamom cuts through the fog and says, “Hey — let’s light this place up.”
Disclaimer: The information shared in these plant profiles is intended for educational and inspirational purposes only. The uses and properties described are based on traditional knowledge, folk practices, and historical sources. They are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner or clinical herbalist before using any herbs, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, on medication, or managing a health condition.
