Black Cardamom also known as Badi-ilaichi, is praised as “queen of spices”. Its strong flavour has made it chef’s favourite spice. This spice is treasure house of medicinal properties. Naturopaths have found many ways to incorporate this strong spice in their regular treatment.

Ayurveda Acharyas explain properties of cardamom as follows. These are based on ayurvedic principles.

•Rooksha and Laghu guna: Black Cardamom is light to digest and increases agni or body fire. It absorbs the excess moisture during digestion.
•Madhura and Katu rasa : This spice is sweet and spicy to taste.
•Katu Vipaaka : It retains the spicy taste after digestion.
•Ushna Veerya : Black Cardamom has hot potency.

With the above mentioned properties, Black cardamom increases pitta and normalises Kapha and Vata.

How to Use Black Cardamom for Weight Loss and other Home Remedies?

For Weight Loss : Powder seeds of one black cardamom. Mix it with ½ tea spoon of ginger powder and ½ tea spoon of fennel seeds (saunf) powder. Boil a glass of water and add this powder mix. Turn off flames and cover the glass with a lid. Allow this to steep for 5 minutes. Add a spoon of honey and 1 tea spoon lime (Read – Do Lemon and Honey Reduce Body Fat? ). Consume this in empty stomach. This tea not only helps in weight loss but also detoxifies body. Black cardamom is also eulogised as powerful fat burner. The best Ayurvedic Weight Loss Herbal tea NILOBESE TEA contains Black cardamom as its ingredient.

For Bad Breath and Gum diseases: Crush seeds of one Black cardamom. Boil a glass of water and add powdered seeds. Turn off the flame and cover the glass. Allow this to steep for 5 minutes. Discard the seeds and gargle with this warm water. Repeat this twice daily.  You can also chew few black cardamom seeds as mouth fresheners.

In Loss of appetite and Indigestion: Chew few seeds of Black Cardamom before meals. It increases appetite and prevents indigestion. Add powdered seeds of a cardamom to a glass of water and drink it when you have nausea. It relieves vomiting sensation.

For Joint pain and headache: For a good relief from joint pain and headache , thoroughly mix 5 drops of Black cardamom essential oil in 10 ml of carrier oil. You can use coconut oil or sweet almond oil as carrier oil. Apply this on aching joints or massage forehead with this when you have head ache.

Mental stress and Tension: Massage fore head and neck with the above said oil. It helps to relieve stress and relax muscles

For acne and pimple: Remove seeds of one black cardamom. Crush these in a mortar and pestle to a fine powder. Mix 2 tea spoon of gram flour, crushed seeds of cardamom, ¼ tea spoon turmeric with grated cucumber. Apply this face mask on cleaned face. Wash it off with cold water after 20 minutes. This helps to get rid of acne and pimple.