Cardamon Essential OilBotanical Nomenclature: Elettaria cardamomum A member of the ginger family, cardamon is thought to be named for an ancient Sanskrit term that means "hot and pungent". Today, two plants are known as cardamon--one in the genus Elettaria and one in the genus Amomum. In aromatherapy, it's the seeds from the plant in the genus Elettaria that's most often used to make cardamon essential oil.
Characteristics of Cardamon OilCardamon oil should be nearly colorless with pale yellow hues that darken after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Your initial impression of cardamon oil should be one of a warm, spicy scent with strong hints of camphor. Later, after the oil has been exposed to air, the scent will deepen and take on a more woody scent with very faint hints of floral.Psychological AromatherapyLike other essential oils made from pungent spices, cardamon is associated with strength, determination and the ability to make good decisions. Popular aromatherapy texts tell us that cardamon personalities are strong, faithful leaders.Traditional Uses for Cardamon OilCardamon is used in Eastern and Middle Eastern medicine mainly for digestive complaints but it is also prized for its believed anti-microbial properties. Aromatherapist Salvatore Battaglia also assigns the following actions to cardamon essential oil:
Scientific Studies on Cardamon OilLike many essential oils, cardamon hasn't been exhaustively studied for efficacy or safety in humans. But a couple of animal studies stand out as particularly promising.Digestive Protection Finding a way to protect delicate intestinal tissue from damage due to aspirin therapy was the focus of a 2006 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Researchers using a "crude" extract of cardamon were able to reduce lesions by nearly 100% at certain doses. Other Digestive Benefits About 5% of the weight of cardamon seeds is essential oil and a 1996 study published in the journal Pharmacology Research suggests that this essential oil may be responsible for cardamon's reputation as a tummy soother. In laboratory studies in mice, cardamon oil demonstrated antispasmodic activity in both mice and rabbits. How, or if, this will translate into benefits for humans has yet to be studied.
Safety IssuesCardamon is a relatively rare essential oil and it hasn't been extensively studied for safety. Salvatore Battaglia lists cardamon as non-toxic, non-irritating and non-sensitizing.References: Battaglia, S. (2005). The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Leave Cardamon Essential Oil & return to Essential Oils Directory
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