How do you use Cardamom Essential Oil?

Would you like to know how to use Cardamom Essential oil? Great it is our February oil of the month.

The Botanical name for Cardamom is Elettaria cardamomum

Ancient Egyptians used Cardamom for many medicinal purposes, as part of rituals and even for embalming. They chewed cardamom pods as a way to help keep their breath minty and to help clean their teeth. The Greeks and Romans used Cardamom for its pungent aroma. It was a main ingredient in perfumes and aromatic oils.

Cardamom has been know as “grains of Paradise” since the Middle Ages, and used by Indian Healers for centuries. The King of Babylon cultivated cardamon and it considered one of the most prized spices in Ancient Greece and Rome. Pretty cool, right?

What family does Cardamom belong to?

Cardamom, ginger, and turmeric belong to the same botanical family, Zingiberaceae. Cardamom essential oil has a sweet, almost limey-floral aroma with a warm undertone that is uplifting, invigorating, and refreshing.
As a spice, it pairs well with most spices, but especially saffron, nutmeg, and black pepper. Not only is cardamom an amazing spice used in many cultures, but it has many health benefits too.

What is Cardamom used for?

The cardamon seed is considered an excellent source of limonene. Limonene a chemical typically found in the skin of citrus fruits. Limonene is a powerful antioxidant. Wanting fresh breath? Cardamom might be your answer. Would you believe that it is great in DIY deodorants as it helps clean out your underarms? For a great DIY deodorant recipe check out my blog post on Activated Charcoal.

In folk medicine, the spice cardamom was used as a general remedy for all digestive issues especially farting.

Cardamom is added to spicy chai in India because they have been aware of it’s health benefits for centuries.

How else do you use Cardamom essential oil?

• Rub a drop of cardamom over your nose and sinus area during the winter months. Believe me you’ll thank me. 
• Pregnant women swear by some ginger juice mixed with cardamom, honey, and dash of lime in the early months of their pregnancy. 
• Add a drop of cardamom for flavor AND health benefits to a cup of tea. 
• Try adding a swirl of cardamom essential oil to your pumpkin soup; it adds a unique sweet flavour. (Dip a toothpick in the oil bottle and swirl it through the soup before serving).