Cardamom essential oilis a spice oil that has been used medicinally for thousands of years and was revered by ancient Greeks and Romans (buy it here). It has a long history of being used for many purposes including enhancing digestion, getting rid of excess water weight, boosting the libido and stopping muscle spasms.
This oil, which is also known as cardamon essential oil, is steam distilled from the seeds of a plant known botanically as Elettariacardamomum. It has analgesic, antibacterial, anti-carcinogenic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, cephalic, cytotoxic, diaphoretic/sudorific, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, hypotensive, stimulant, stomachic, tonic and warming therapeutic properties.
1. Treat Allergies
Practice cardamom essential oil aromatherapy to combat seasonal allergies and allergic reactions to airborne fungal spores. Add a few drops to your diffuser, along with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of distilled water, and run the diffuser for 30 to 60 minutes several times a day.
You can run the diffuser before you go to bed and/or set it up right before you go to bed so that all you have to do is hit the on switch in the morning. You can also mix 2 to 3 drops of cardamom EO into 1 teaspoon of carrier oil and apply few drops of the blend to your chest and throat.
2. Alleviate Bronchitis
Practice cardamom EO aromatherapy to treat bronchitis. Its antimicrobial, antiseptic, antispasmodic and warming properties provide quick relief. Add a few drops to your diffuser with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of distilled water and run the diffuser for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. You can also add a few drops of eucalyptus EO and peppermint EO for additional benefits.
Make a soothing vapor rub with virgin, non-fractionated coconut oil, bees wax, olive oil and equal amounts of cardamom EO, eucalyptus EO and peppermint EO. Apply it to the chest and throat for soothing relief from chest congestion and sore muscles.You can also combine cardamom EO with a few resin-based oil for added benefits.
*A 1% to 3% dilution rate (1 to 3 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of carrier oil) is fine for everyday use.Stronger dilution rates should only be used for 10 days to 2 weeks at a time.*
3. Quiet Coughs
Massage the 2% to 3% cardamom/carrier oil blend into your throat and chest to quiet coughs. You can also add 1 drop of cardamom essential oil to an 8-ounce glass of warm water and gargle with it to soothe the throat.
Important Note: Whatever you choose for an oil, make sure that the oils you purchase are high quality. Remember, you’re breathing this oil into your lungs so essential oil quality is a terrible place to cut corners.
4. Clear Mucus
Practice cardamom oil aromatherapy to clear mucus from the sinuses, throat and chest. You can also apply the 2% to 3% blend to your chest, throat and sinus area for this benefit.
5. Treat Sinus Infections
Apply a 5% cardamom EO/carrier oil blend to the face directly over the sinuses two to three times a day to treat sinus infection. You can use any type of carrier oil with cardamom. Jojoba is great for dry skin, coconut oil is also good for dry skin and has numerous therapeutic properties. A lighter oil like argan is better for oily skin. Cardamom aromatherapy can also be used to treat sinus infections.
6. Improve your Appetite
Add 1 drop of cardamom essential oil to an 8-ounce glass of water and drink it half an hour before meals to stimulate your appetite. You can also put the drop of cardamom EO,along with 1 drop of virgin olive oil or avocado oil, into a vege capsule and take that or add 1 to 2 drops to your food while cooking. It is often used in Indian, Middle Eastern and Scandinavian dishes. Cardamom has a slightly citrusy, spicy flavor and is frequently used along with allspice, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.
*Cardamom essential oil is an extremely concentrated form of the spice. Add only 1 drop to the recipe, taste it to make sure it isn’t too strong, then add 1 more drop, if necessary.*
7. Alleviate Intestinal Cramps, IBS and Colitis
Gently, massage a 3% to 5% cardamom EO/carrier oil blend into the abdomen and lower back for relief from intestinal cramps, IBS, colitis and Crohn’s disease. You can also take 1 drop of cardamom EOin a vege cap with 1 drop of olive or avocado oil for relief.
8. Treat Gastrointestinal Ulcers
Use cardamom essential oil to treat gastrointestinal ulcers by applying a 2% to 3% blend, taking 1 drop of cardamom with 1 drop of olive or avocado with meals or by practicing cardamom aromatherapy.
9. Get Relief from Constipation
Use cardamom essential oil in the same way as you would for IBS and colitis to get relief from constipation. Do the abdominal massage at night before you go to bed and in the morning when you get up. Be sure to drink plenty of water during the day.
10. Treat Diarrhea
Massage a 3% to 5% cardamom EO/carrier oil blend into the lower abdomen and lower back for relief from diarrhea.
11. Reduce Indigestion, Gas and Heartburn
Massage a 3% to 5% cardamom essential oil/carrier oil blend into the entire abdomen to reduce indigestion, gas and heartburn. Start at the upper abdomen just over the stomach and work your way all the way down. The cardamom oil will regulate bile production and get your digestive tract functioning properly, which will alleviate these uncomfortable symptoms.
12. Treat Diverticulitis
Ingest 1 drop of cardamom EO with 1 drop of olive or avocado oil several times a day to treat diverticulitis. Put the oils in a vege capsule and take the capsule 20 to 30 minutes before a meal.
13. Alleviate Urinary Tract Infections
Massage a 3% to 5% cardamom EO/carrier oil blend into the lower abdomen over the bladder and on the lower back from the kidney area, just above the waist, down to treat urinary tract infections.
14. Treat Vaginal Yeast Infections
Mix cardamom essential oil into virgin, unrefined or non-fractionated, organic coconut oil at the rate of 2 drops of cardamom to 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. Divide it up in an ice cube tray with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of the mixture per cube and put it in the refrigerator to solidify into suppositories. Use one suppository twice a day for about two weeks.
15. Reduce Excess Water Weight
Massage a 2% to 3% cardamom/carrier oil blend into areas where water weight tends to accumulate, like the legs and abdomen. Its natural diuretic properties will help your body quickly expel the excess fluids.
16. Kill and Expel Parasites
Ingest 1 drop of cardamom EO with 1 drop of olive or avocado oil two to three times a day before meals to kill and expel parasites in the digestive tract.
17. Reduce Nausea
Practice cardamom EO aromatherapy to get relief from nausea. Add a few drops to your diffuser with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of distilled water and run the diffuser for 30 to 60 minutes at a time. You can also add a few drops of ginger essential oil and peppermint essential oil for added anti-nausea benefit. If you tend to experience nausea while you are away from home, carry your cardamom EO bottle with you and take a few deep inhales from the bottle for quick relief.
*Cardamom can be used to safely treat morning sickness.*
18. Relieve Colic
Gently, massage baby’s tummy with a cardamom EO/carrier oil blend to relieve colic symptoms. For babies under 3 months old, use 1 to 2 drops of cardamom per 6 teaspoons of carrier oil. For babies between 3 months and 6 months old, mix 2 to 3 drops of cardamom oil into 6 teaspoons of carrier oil.
*Do not get the cardamom blend on baby’s face or hands. Put a shirt on the baby, apply the blend then immediately cover the baby’s belly.*
19. Soothe and Calm Nervousness
Practice cardamom essential oil aromatherapy to calm nervousness. Add 5 to 6 drops of cardamom oil to your diffuser, along with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of distilled water, and run it for 30 to 60 minutes when you feel nervous or upset. If you suffer from attacks of nervousness when you are away from home, keep the cardamom EO bottle with you and inhale the vapors directly from the bottle for relief.
You should begin to feel calm within 5 to 10 minutes after taking 4 to 5 deep inhales through the nose and into the sinus cavity. Taking 1 drop of cardamom along with 1 drop of avocado or olive oil in a vege capsule can also help calm nervousness.
20. Treat Exhaustion and Fatigue
Practice cardamom EO aromatherapy to get relief from exhaustion or fatigue. You can also massage a 2% to 3% cardamom/carrier oil blend into your chest and throat for an energy boost.
21. Boost the Libido
Utilize cardamom EO aromatherapy to boost your libido. Run your diffuser for 30 to 60 minutes before bed or while enjoying a romantic dinner with your partner. Massaging a few drops of the 2% to 3% blend into your chest will give you a boost of energy and allow the vapors to waft up into your airways.
*Place a drop of a 2% cardamom essential oil/carrier oil blend on an inconspicuous area of skin andwait for at least a few hours to make sure you aren’t sensitive to it.*
22. Treat Memory Loss
Practice cardamom essential oil aromatherapy for 30 to 60 minutes several times throughout the day to combat senility. This can be helpful for people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease; however, it should not be used at night or in the evening as it can evoke memories and be over-stimulating.
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23. Alleviate Headaches
Put 4 to 6 drops of cardamom EO in the diffuser and run it for 30 to 60 minutes to alleviate headaches. You can also lightly massage a few drops of a 2% to 3% cardamom/carrier oil blend into your temples or across your forehead for the same benefit.
24. Quiet Neuromuscular Spasms
Massage the cardamom essential oil/carrier oil blend into pulled, strained or injured muscles several times a day to promote healing while reducing pain and inflammation.
25. Treat Muscle Injuries
Gently, massage a 3% to 5% cardamom EO/carrier oil blend into painful areas of the lower back where you experience neuromuscular spasms. Its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties will relieve the pain and inflammation. If you go to a massage therapist for treatment, ask him or her about including cardamom essential oil in your treatment.
26. Improve Scalp Health
Add a few drops of cardamom essential oil to your shampoo or conditioner to get rid of dandruff and scalp infections. Your hair will become more lustrous and healthy-looking.
27. Fight Free Radicals
Combine 2 drops each of cardamom EO and orange EO with 1 teaspoon of jojoba oil. Gently, apply a few drops of the blend to aging skin and wrinkles to reduce free radical damage.
28. Treat or Prevent Cancer
Massage the cardamom/orange/jojoba oil blend into the abdomen, lower back, throat and chest to prevent free radical damage throughout the body and possibly prevent skin cancer and tumors.Clinical testing of cardamom has proven that it can help prevent and treat these types of cancers.
29. Freshen Bad Breath
Mix 2 drops of cardamom EO into an 8-ounce glass of water. Gargle with it and swish it around in your mouth to kill germs and freshen bad breath.
30. Treat Oral Yeast Infections
Add 2 drops of cardamom EO to 8 ounces of water. Rinse your mouth and gargle with the solution two or three times a day to get rid of oral yeast infections or thrush.
Was this list helpful to you? I wasn’t surprised to find out about all of these great benefits for cardamom essential oil. It is a spice oil, after all, like ginger EO and clove EO. This is an excellent oil to have on hand, especially during the fall and winter. Its ability to warm you up on chilly nights and treat upper respiratory infections, along with all of its other benefits, make this oil a great addition to your essential oil collection.
Please leave a comment to let me know if this list helped and share your own experiences with cardamom essential oil, if you have already used it. We can all learn from each other’s experience and keep adding to the on-going list of its great uses. Be sure to share, too, so that others can become aware of all of this oil’s natural healing abilities.
References:
1. Dr. Eric Z: Fight Cancer and Nausea with Cardamom Essential Oil
http://drericz.com/fight-cancer-and-nausea-with-cardamom-essential-oil/
2. Hopewell Essential Oils: Cardamom
https://hopewelloils.com/cardamom.php
3. Organic Facts: 8 Amazing Benefits of Cardamom
4. Chemistry of Spices: Cardamom
5. Ayurvedic Oils: Cardamom Oil
http://ayurvedicoils.com/tag/ayurvedic-health-benefits-of-cardamom-essential-oil