fast FACTS
ORIGIN
Asia
EXTRACTION
Distillation
MAY HELP WITH
Circulation
Digestion
Fatigue
Nausea
fast FACTS
ORIGIN
Asia
EXTRACTION
Distillation
MAY HELP WITH
Circulation
Digestion
Fatigue
Nausea
With anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and antiseptic properties, it’s no wonder that people have been using cardamom medicinally for millennia. In fact, both Chinese and Ayurvedic traditions heavily feature this valuable spice. Because it’s a very gentle and safe oil, it will be an especially easy one to incorporate into your aromatherapy regimen.
Cardamom is a tall, flowering shrub native to India. The seeds of the plant can be used whole, ground into a spice, or distilled into essential oil. Guatemala now tops the list of the world’s cardamom producers.
Cardamom has the potential to clear up mental fatigue so that you can focus.
When distilled, the seeds of the cardamom plant produce sweet and spicy cardamom oil, which is either colorless or a very pale yellow.
Cardamom is considered nontoxic and nonirritant, which means even children and people with sensitive skin may be able to use it to:
• Perk up. Cardamom is uplifting, which gives it the potential to relieve mental fatigue so that you can focus.
• Ease digestive troubles. Cardamom may help relieve all sorts of digestive upset, including nausea, indigestion, and flatulence.
• Reduce body odor. Antiseptic properties make cardamom a smart addition to natural deodorants or smelly running shoes.
All in the Family
Cardamom comes from the same plant family as turmeric and ginger, both of which are well known for their health benefits. Cardamom and ginger, in particular, share warming and stomach-soothing properties.
As a spice, cardamom can bolster both your favorite foods and your health. As an essential oil, cardamom performs best when used in:
• Massage oils. Add cardamom to a carrier oil for a soothing massage that may aid both stress relief and the digestive system.
• Diffusers or inhalers. When you need to clear mental fogginess, add a few drops of cardamom to a diffuser or inhaler and take long, slow breaths.
A soothing massage featuring cardamom may aid both stress relief and the digestive system.
Cleansing Breaths
When you feel the need to detox, massage a mixture of cardamom and carrier oil onto your skin, concentrating on your abdomen. This spicy essential oil may stimulate circulation as well as act as a natural diuretic to help you flush out toxins.
Some blending combinations for cardamom oil include: bergamot, black pepper, cedarwood, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, juniper, lemon, orange, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, and ylang-ylang.
Cardamom is an oil with no known safety issues. Use it responsibly as you would any essential oil. Complete a patch test if you are concerned about sensitivity.