If you know anything about us, you know that we don’t leave the house without cardamom.
It’s a potent herb to have on hand and can easily be sprinkled on top of beverages or food when you’re out in the world and away from your own spice rack.
In Ayurveda, we add spices to everything to make it more digestible and satiating. Cardamom in particular is amazing because it’s known to improve the flavor of food by working synergistically with the other tastes present. Some say it can even help those who are experiencing loss of taste!
About Cardamom
Cardamom is an incredibly special herb commonly used in Ayurvedic healing. In Sanskrit, cardamom is called ela.
Cardamom is considered to be both sweet and pungent. The combination of these two tastes make cardamom suitable for all three doshas — vata, pitta and kapha. In other words, cardamom is tridoshic (though some believe it may increase pitta when used in when used in excess).
In addition to supporting vata, pitta and kapha, it can also aid colds, congestion, cough, breathlessness, inflammation, burning sensations, headache, and hemorrhoids.
When it comes to the bodily tissues (dhatus), cardamom supports blood, marrow, nerve and plasma. It is believed to benefit the circulatory, digestive, nervous and respiratory systems. Spiritually, it is said to promote clarity and joy. Not to mention it has the ability to activate antioxidant enzymes and reduce blood pressure!
Cardamom is one of the primary digestive herbs used in Ayurveda.
Cardamom promotes safe and gentle digestive stimulation by kindling agni to awaken appetite and removing excess mucus (kapha) from the stomach. It also has the potential to soothe acidity, nausea, vomiting, and burping — especially when combine with fennel — to promote a comfortable post-meal experience. It is effective and calming for children with nervous digestion.
Cardamom is amazing for digestion, but did you know it’s also a traditional Ayurvedic antidote to caffeine? (and milk?!)
From a spiritual perspective, cardamom has a sattvic (pure essence) quality.
It promotes a healthy for of prana (the lifeforce energy), while also soothing the nervous system. Cardamom is known to relieve anxiety and tension, evoke calmness, counter lethargy and boost the spirits! It may also improve concentration and memory.
My favorite way to Enjoy cardamom
My favorite way to enjoy cardamom daily is to add a small amount (just a pinch) to coffee or cacao in the morning. You can also mix it into matcha or black tea. If you ever drink chai, you’ve probably noticed that cardamom is already in there! This is because chai is an intelligent Ayurvedic formulation designed to deliver a relatively balanced beverage. (Learn more and make you own with our Chai for Friends recipe).
Cardamom helps detoxify caffeine in our bodies. It can neutralize the subtle stress-inducing impacts of coffee on the adrenal glands. Not to mention, it has an anti-inflammatory action. Cardamom also reduces the mucus forming properties present in of dairy (which is often added to caffeinated beverages).
While a stimulant like caffeine, can initially feel energizing and activating, it often leaves the nervous system in a more fragile state than it began with. This can be especially damaging for those with a vata* constitution or vata imbalance. Cardamom supports the nervous system to have a smoother experience when caffeine is in the mix.
*If you are consistently experiencing anxiety when ingesting caffeine, you may want to cut back and focus on soothing vata with warm golden milk or herbal tea.
Please note that we all have different sensitivities and different existing imbalances. Coffee can be very drying, especially for vata-types. Cardamom is not a cure-all in itself, but may be a piece of the puzzle that brings us deeper into our own balance.
Now you know — cardamom metabolizes caffeine and dairy.
It also improves the flavor of food, gently aids digestion in many capacities, and supports coughs, colds and congestion. You might be wondering… what else can it do?!
Cardamom also soothes the mind and soul.
Within a more yogic context, this generous aromatic herb is considered to be sattvic, which means “pure essence.” Things with a sattvic quality are believed to be pure and balanced, in a way that can inspire a more spiritual way of being. This quality in cardamom gives clarity and joy to those who ingest it by stimulating the mind and heart.
Practical Uses of Cardamom
Ok to get your hands on some really lovely cardamom, I recommend this one from Banyan. Try adding a pinch of cardamom to your coffee. Cardamom may also be taken to support a hangover recovery, balance the congestion of ice cream consumption and prevent loose stools after eating fruits like mango or banana.
If you’re looking for other ways to integrate the magic of cardamom into your life, try making a warming beverage like homemade chai or Golden Milk. You can simply add a whole cardamom pod to steep with your herbal tea!
You can find Cardamom in...
Chyavanprash (Ayurvedic herbal jam)
I also love to put cardamom pod in my water bottle of room temperature water and just let it float around as I re-fill throughout the day. It adds a floral essence to the water and allows me to carry all the wonderful qualities of cardamom with me throughout the day.
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honor these innate cravings in an intentional process
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This is a different kind of cleanse than what you might be used to.
Rather than being about deprivation, this Ayurvedic Cleanse for Body and Mind is about rest, renewal and nourishment.
It is about care, instead of control.
The focus is on slowing down, simplifying, and acting with intention. This is an opportunity to observe your relationship with food, listen to your body, and reconnect with your inner guide.
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Preparation
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Can you relate to these challenges?
Suffering from frequent digestive discomfort (constipation, bloating, gas, acidity, heaviness).
Regularly experiencing stress, anxiety, or burnout.
Feeling held back by fatigue, lethargy or low immunity.
Longing to reconnect with a sense of inspiration and motivation.
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It is our greatest hope that you walk away from this Reset experience feeling embodied, inspired and motivated to live your purpose.
Questions?
email molly@cultivatebalance.com
The Reset for Resilience is based in the wisdom of Ayurveda, a framework that is grounded in nature. It acknowledges that, with fractal awareness of how the elements are organized within and around us, we can orient toward deeper connection to ourselves, our communities and the planet in small and big ways.
You are here because it’s time to activate your full body awareness and to cultivate routines and practices that invite you to truly thrive. Take yourself on a healing journey with our online wellness courses, or connect with an Ayurvedic practitioner by scheduling a private consult.
