Cardamom Seed Essential Oil is extracted from Elettaria cardamomum, generally known as green or true cardamom. It is a perennial herb that is native to southern India and Sri Lanka. Elettaria cardamomum and ginger belongs to the same family so they have the same “warming” properties. Its seeds are being used as a spice as early as the 4th century BC and were traded in between civilizations. Romans used it as a digestive aid and Egyptians used it in their perfumes or fragrances. They also used it to whiten their teeth by chewing.
Cardamom grows up to 13 feet high and has long, dark green leaves like the shape of a sword and small yellowy flowers with a streak of violet. It has an elongate oval-shaped fruit that is pale green to yellow in color. Each fruit contains three chambers filled with small black and brown sweet smelling seeds which are widely used as flavoring whole or ground. It ranks third in the world’s most expensive spice, after vanilla and saffron.
The main chemical components of Cardamom Seed Essential Oil are a-pinene, b-pinene, mycrcene, sabinene, a-phellandrene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, p-cymene, y-terpinene, terpinolene, linalool, terpinen-4-oil, linalyl acetate, a-terpineol, a-terpineol acetate, nerol, citronellol, geraniol, trans-nerolidol and methyl eugenol. It blends well with other essential oil such as cinnamon, bergamot, rose, orange, olibanum, caraway, clove, cedarwood, neroli, labdanum and ylang ylang.
Cardamom Seed Essential Oil Benefits
Cardamom Seed Essential Oil is widely used in cooking but it also has numerous amazing benefits for our body. Here are some:
- Boosts and maintain overall health.
- Helps relieve muscle spasms.
- It can destroy harmful microorganisms.
- Helps with digestion.
- Helps increase the amount of water and salt from the body as urine.
- Helps maintain normal body temperature.
- It is good for the skin.
- Maintains hair health.
- Combats depression and stress.
- Acts as aphrodisiac
Cardamom Seed Essential Oil Uses
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil as Health Booster. It contains lots of vitamins such as Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C and minerals including magnesium, calcium, manganese, potassium, iron and copper that are essential for achieving optimum health.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil as Antispasmodic. It can naturally relieve both muscular (cramps) and respiratory spasm (asthma, whooping cough, etc.).
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil as Antimicrobial. It has a strong antimicrobial property that can slow down the growth of bad microorganisms and wipe them out. It can also be used as a mouthwash to eliminate germs and bad breath.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil as a Digestive. It stimulates digestive system and helps maintain overall gastrointestinal health. It supports the normal secretion of hydrochloric acid (HCL), gastric juices, bile and enzymes in our stomach to regulate its activity.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil as Diuretic. It promotes urination which eventually helps in weight loss, eliminating toxic materials from our body, reducing high blood pressure and keeping our kidneys safe from calcium and urea deposit.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil for Warming. Cardamom oil naturally features a warming effect that helps maintain our body temperature. It encourages sweating and aids clear blockage of our nasal passages as well as coughs and at the same time lowering down the signs of common colds. It can also relieve headache.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil for Skin Health. It works as an antioxidant and removes the toxins in our whole body. Getting rid of harmful free radicals will eventually make our internal system healthy and will reflect on our radiant skin.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil for Hair Health. Cardamom oil can treat scalp infections and dandruff. You can also use it to lighten your hair.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil as Aromatherapy. It is wonderful for days when you are feeling emotionally drained and overwhelmed. Use Cardamom oil to enhance your positive attributes such as motivation, enthusiasm, courage and clarity. It can also be included in baths in the form of aromatherapy to decrease stress and fight depression.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil for Sexual Health. It has an invigorating effect that helps cure erectile dysfunctions, sexual weakness, lack of libido, frigidity and impotence.
Cardamom Seed Essential Oil Side Effects
There are no harmful effects observed from taking Cardamom Seed Essential Oil orally although it may lead to an overdose if too much oil is ingested.
- Not to be taken in greater amounts if you have gallstones because it can trigger spasmodic pain.
- Not recommended for pregnant women and lactating mothers due to its warming effect might lead to irritation. Stay on the safe side and only utilize the oil under a doctor’s care.
- Might cause skin irritation. Always do a skin test before use. Just take a small amount of cardamom oil and apply it on the inner arm. It is better to wait 24 hours for any sensitivity reaction.
How to Use Cardamom Seed Essential Oil
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil is best for massage oils. Its magnificent aroma can soothe and calm the body and mind. As a sensual massage oil and warming tonic, you can blend it with sweet almond oil.
- To increase appetite, massage 1-2 drops of Cardamom Seed Essential Oil within the stomach and inhale the aroma or scent through the hands.
- To cure bacterial infections, just apply topically on the affected area many times a day.
- For asthma, massage the Cardamom Seed Essential Oil topically within the chest. You can also use a diffuser if needed.
- For culinary use, start with one drop of Cardamom Seed Essential Oil because it goes quite a distance when used a flavoring.
How to Make Cardamom Seed Essential Oil
The oil from Cardamom seeds is extracted through steam distillation, a special type of a separation process for materials that are sensitive to temperature. The seeds of the fruit are reaped just before they ripen. The average yield produced is between 1-5 percent.
Cardamom Seed Essential Oil Recipe
Cardamom Seed Essential Oil can be costly, but as long as you have the tools and enough cardamom, then you can simply make it at home. Just follow the simple steps below:
The things needed are:
- Mortar and Pestle
- ½ cup cardamom seeds
- Cheesecloth
- Distilled Water
- Small pot
- A Small dark glass bottle
Procedure
- Crush the cardamom seeds with mortar and pestle until roughly ground.
- Put the grounded cardamom on the folded cheesecloth and tie it into a tiny sachet.
- Fill the pot with distilled water and put the stove on medium high heat.
- Put the small sachet of cheesecloth in the water. Simmer for at least 24 hours until the water decreases to half inch layer in the saucepan.
- Cover the pot with cheesecloth. Put it in dry daylight to let the water evaporate.
- Once the evaporation process is done, pour the remaining liquid in the small jar. Make sure to cover it with fitted lid.
Where to Buy Cardamom Seed Essential Oil
You can purchase Cardamom Seed Essential Oil at your local oil shop and supermarket. For your convenience, you can also buy it online. Amazon is one of the trusted online sellers where you can get pure cardamom oil such as doTERRA Cardamom Essential Oil, Edens Garden 100% Pure Cardamom Essential Oil and Miracle Botanicals CO2 Extracted Cardamom Essential Oil.
More Information on Cardamom Seed Essential Oil
- Cardamom is also known as cardorum, cardamom and mysore cardamom and is referred to as the ‘queen of spices’ in company with black pepper which is known as the ‘king of spices’.
- Cardamom Seed Essential Oil is used as a flavoring compound in coffee, tea and cold beverages.
- It is non-toxic in nature.
- It should not be used undiluted.
- It can prevent memory loss.
