Badi Elaichi (Black Cardamom) Health Benefits & Side Effects

Black cardamom is an Indian spice that is commonly known as ‘Badi Elaichi or Kali Elaichi’ in Hindi and “Brihad ela” or “Sthula ela” in Sanskrit.Black cardamom, also known as Bengal cardamom, hill cardamom, Indian cardamom, greater cardamom, winged cardamom, Nepal cardamom, brown cardamom, and the scientific name is “Amomum subulatum”.

Its aromas are a bit like camphor or mint and are mostly used in savory dishes rather than sweet or salty dishes. People do consider black cardamom a little inferior to green cardamom.

But it’s not true as black cardamoms have it on importance. Badi Elaichi’s uses are numerous; it is not only beneficial for health but also for hair and skin maintenance.

Types of Cardamom

1. Black Cardamom (Amomum)

These types of cardamom are not so popularly known as the regular green types of cardamom. Badi Elaichi is larger than common cardamom; it is a thick, rough, blackish-brown pod filled with black seeds. The tastes are mintier than green cardamom and smell smokier.

Black cardamom (Badi Elaichi ) is also known by different names such as kravan, brown cardamom, Bengal cardamom, Java cardamom, Siamese cardamom, etc. Black cardamom uses are popularly known for making “biryani” and other savory dishes.

2. Green Cardamom (Elettaria)

These are the main types of cardamom or the so-called “elaichi” variety, which comes in the color green. Green cardamoms are smaller in size and are thin and papery; the green pod is filled with small blackish seeds.

Black Cardamom Indian Names

• Bengali: Badh elach
• Gujarati: Elcha
• Hindi: Badi elaichi
• Kannada: Dodda elakki
• Sanskrit: Brihad ela/ Sthula ela
• Tamil: Peria Elam
• Telugu: Tengu elakulu
• Marathi: Velchi
• Tamil: Elakkai
• Malayalam: Elakkai

Cardamom In Other Languages

• English: Black cardamom, Greater cardamom, Nepal cardamom
• French: Cardamome
• German: Kardamom
• Italian: Cardamomo, Cardamone
• Spanish: Cardamomo
• Burmese: Phalazee
• Chinese: Ts’ao-k’ou
• Indonesian: Kapulaga
• Malay: Buah pelaga
• Sinhalese: Enasal
• Thai: kravan

Badi Elaichi In Ayurveda

Badi elaichi is an important spice of Ayurveda, which has been used for many ailments for ages. It has been used for cough and cold (Kasa), itching and pruritis (Kandu), urinary tract-related diseases (Vastiroga) for the throat, sore throat (Kantaruja), and more.

According to the principles of Ayurveda, Black cardamom spices are light to digest and absorb moisture. It is bitter and spicy to taste and tendency to dry up fat deposits in the body.

Badi elaichi ayurvedic properties

• Taste (Rasa): Tikta (Bitter), Katu (Pungent)
• Qualities (Guna): Ruksha (Dry), Laghu (Light)
• Resultant (Vipaka): Katu (Undergoes Pungent taste after digestion)
• Potency ( Veerya): Ushna (Hot)
• Dosha (Actions): Pitta vardaka (increase pitta dosha) and Kapha Vata shamaka (reduces Kapha and Vata dosha),

Cardamom Medicinal Uses

Black Cardamom is widely used in the preparation of several kinds of food items, drinks, medicine, etc. Besides this it is known to contain powerful antioxidants, black cardamom’s health benefits offer protection against countless health conditions like cancer, and blood pressure below are some of the health benefits of Badi elaichi and its medicinal uses.

1. Ensures gastrointestinal health

Badi elaichi is a spice that has its own importance in Ayurveda; it is believed to be the most powerful mucus destroyer. The Black cardamom seeds are very effective when it comes to ensuring a healthy gastrointestinal tract.

It is due to its various biological properties such as metal chelation, antioxidant, gastric antiallergenic, lipid peroxidation, etc. The properties of Black cardamom help to stimulate intestinal and gastric glands to secrete essential juices in the body.

Besides this, it also regulates the juice emission procedure that ultimately helps to control stomach acids. Since black cardamom is gastric antiallergenic in nature, it can contribute to relief from abdominal gas.

2. It provides respiratory relief

Badi elaichi is an Indian spice that has its own importance in Ayurveda due to its multiple benefits. It is a spice that can be the best remedy for people suffering from respiratory problems; such as Asthma, Pulmonary tuberculosis, Bronchitis, Whooping cough, cough, etc.

It is due to its warming effect and antioxidant properties in it helped in relieving colds and coughs. The antioxidant properties in black cardamom help alleviate the mucous membrane, in addition to normalizing the mucous flow through the respiratory tract.

Simply a way to use is by inhaling steam containing cardamom seeds or cardamom essential oil that helps in nasal congestion.

3. It Prevents Cancer

Consuming Badi elaichi can have many health benefits and one benefit among it is that it reduces the causes of cancer. It is very effective due to its antioxidants properties called “3’-Diindolylmethane” (DIM) and “Indole-3-Carbinol” (I3C) in black cardamom.

The antioxidant properties of cardamom act as “Anti-Carcinogenic” which help to combat colon, ovarian as well as prostate cancer. The properties of cardamom spice raise the amount of glutathione (an antioxidant) in the body and prevent the generation and growth of cancerous cells. [1]

4. It maintains cardiovascular health

The other health benefit of Badi elaichi is that it can help keep your heart healthy and fit. It is due to its antioxidant properties, vitamin “C” and the essential mineral potassium that helps safeguard cardiac health.

The Vitamin C black cardamoms help to strengthen arteries and prevent the patch arteries with “plaster casts” (atherosclerosis).

Besides this, Vitamin C also prevents coronary artery disease by boosting the body’s level of natural glutathione, a powerful free radical scavenger that protects the arteries.

In addition to that, furthermore, maintains blood pressure which can be helpful to people with blood pressure. It can also reduce the probability of the clotting of blood.

5. It Maintains Oral Disorders

Badi elaichi is also widely known for their oral hygiene and for the prevention of teeth and gum problems. It is a natural treatment of teeth and gum that has been used in Ayurveda for dental problems ever since the ancient age.

It is good for oral care due to its anti-microbial properties and is a good source of calcium and magnesium, which are essential for dental health.

In addition, it also has anti-inflammatory properties that help to prevent gums swelling due to oral infection. So to keep stay from oral disorders, eat one cardamom daily after a meal, it will increase saliva flow that helps to cleanse the teeth.

Badi elaichi Side Effects

In most cases, Black cardamom is found safe to use when taken by mouth. In a few cases, some people may have black cardamom side effects, but not major, it is generally found in excess of intake below are some of them.

1. Respiratory Problems: Due to excess intake of black cardamom some may experience respiratory problems such as difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath tightness in the chest, etc.
2. Skin Problems: People sensitive to cardamom can have problems related to their skin. The problems such as swelling of the skin, it is mostly found aggravated in the winter season.
3. Interactions of drugs: It is the most common side effect found in most cases. People unknowingly experience as some spices have a tendency to react to a few medicines. So people taking medicines such as Anticoagulants, Liver medicines, Antidepressants, Aspirin, and Anti-platelet drugs must take advice from their doctor.
4. Gallstones: The person with stones must not take cardamom in amounts greater than cardamom spice seed can trigger gallstone colic.
5. Hyperactivity: The person suffering from hyperacidity must minimize the use of cardamom as excessive use can cause hyperactivity and mouth ulcers.

How to use Badi elaichi: Cardamom starts losing its aroma and flavor as soon as it is ground. So it is better to buy cardamom pods and cook with the whole or crushed or grinds pods during use.