06/12/2021
Health Benefits of Sukshmaila / Cardamom
(Courtesy: Ayush Division, ESIC)
Vernacular names
Assamese : Sarooplaachi
Bengali : Chota elaich
English : Cardamom
Gujrati : Elchi, Elachi, Elayachi
Hindi : Choti Ilayachi
Kannada : Elakki, Sanna Yalakki
Kashmiri : Kath
Malayalam : Elam, Chittelam
Marathi : Velloda, Lahanveldoda, Velchi
Oriya : Gujurati, Chotaa leicha, Alaicha
Punjabi : Illachi, Chhoti Lachi
Tamil : Siruelam
Telugu : Chinne Elakulu, Sanna Elakulu
Urdu : Heel Khurd
Medicinal Uses:
1. Bad breath: 2-3 gram of cardamom powder is added to 150-200 ml of hot water and is used for mouth gargling. This helps to relieve nausea,
tastelessness, sore throat and bad breath.
2. Dysuria: 3gms of cardamom powder mixed in 20ml of Amalaki juice taken orally twice a day to
alleviate suppression of urine and dysuria.
3. Cough: Cardamom and sugar candy are taken in 1:2 ratio and powdered well. This is chewed
in the dose of 2 gram 3-4 times a day. This is very effective in the conditions like cold, cough, throat congestion, asthma, dryness of the mouth etc.
4. Indigestion: Cardamom, rock salt and dry ginger(Shunti) are taken in equal amount and made into fine powder. This is consumed in
the dose of 3 grams twice or thrice a day along with warm water. This is useful in indigestion, abdominal bloating and food poisoning.
5. Hiccup: 20 Dried cardamom pod and one matured banana leaf are taken together and burnt into ashes. This is taken in the dose
of 2-3 gram along with honey and licked frequently. This helps to reduce the hiccup and gastric irritation.
6. Travelling sickness and nausea:3 gms of Cardamom fine powder with jaggery made into tablet and keep it in mouth during travelling
is very effective in travelling sickness and nausea.
7. Head ache: If cardamom powder is added to traditional tea or green tea it helps to relieve head ache and stress due to its good aroma.
This acts as a mood elevator also.