Description
Latin name: Elettaria cardamomum
Common Name : Cardamom (Small cardamom and greater cardamom)
Botanical Name: Amomum subulatum (greater cardamom)
It is said to be the queen of Indian Spices because of its unique aroma and taste. The greater or the black cardamom is used in curry powder and masala mixtures in the Indian kitchen while the green or the small-cardamom is an important ingredient in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. The Ayurveda formulations like Chandraprabha Vati, Sitopaladi chooran etc contain small-cardamom.
The small-cardamom is cooling in nature and the greater one is heating, while both alleviates Vata and Kapha
The small-cardamom is known of its therapeutic value in indigestion, constipation, pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, liver disorders, teeth and gum infections, throat infections, tympanities, congestion of lungs, tuberculosis [pulmonary], inflammation of eyelids, skin disorders, itching, headache, fever and in cold; especially because it is a carminative, digestive, stimulant, expectorant, cardiotonic and hepatoprotective. While greater cardamom is an important ingredient in Garam masala recipes and has traditional value, because of the peculiar aroma and taste, and is also an appetizer and tonic to liver and heart.
