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Today’s featured essential oil is refreshing and invigorating, fosters mental clarity,
and is great for digestion. As if that weren’t enough, it has a beautiful aroma!
Essential Oil of Cardamom
Elettaria cardamomu
My personal relationship with Cardamom:
If you like Ginger, you’ll love Cardamom! I am crazy about the aroma of this bright essential oil and like to add it to my cleaning products (to learn more about making your own cleaning products.
Here is a photos of Cardamom being harvested in Guatemala.
The Foundations
Note: Middle
Geographical source: Sri Lanka, Guatemala, India
Plant Part: Seeds
Characteristics of Cardamom Essential Oil:
Cardamom is a clear essential oil with a delightfully spicy, yet sweet aroma.
Chemical Families: Oxides (1,8 cineole), Monoterpenes, Monoterpenols, Esters
Therapeutic Properties of Cardamom Essential Oil
- Reduces the severity of nausea and vomiting
- Great for helping to relieve belly gas
- Helps with mental concentration and focus
- Decongests nasal mucus
- Stimulates digestion
Some Suggested Use of Cardamom Essential Oil:
- If you feel nauseous from pregnancy or motion sickness, simply add two drops of Cardamom to a tissue and inhale deeply.
- Add Cardamom to a nasal inhaler along with Peppermint to help relieve a stuffy nose. This blog post has a tutorial on How to Make a Nasal Inhaler.
- For digestive issues, add 15 drops to 1 oz of unscented lotion and rub in a clockwise circular motion.
- Add to any blend that you formulate for a headache
Blends well aromatically with: Roman Chamomile, Ginger and Peppermint
A Recipe Using Cardamom:
Digestive Aid Lotion
Ingredients
- 6 drops of Cardamom Essential Oil
- 5 drops of Ginger Essential Oil
- 4 drops of Roman Chamomile
- 1 drop Peppermint Essential Oil
- 1 oz PET plastic jar
Directions: Mix the essential oils into 1 oz of unscented lotion. Massage into the abdomen in a clockwise motion as needed.
Fun Facts about Cardamom Essential Oil:
If you enjoy Wrigley’s Eclipse gum, specifically: Eclipse Breeze Exotic Mint, you are enjoying Cardamom! In Asia, Cardamom seeds are chewed as a breath freshener.
Safety Information about Cardamom Essential Oil:
Because of the 1,8 cineole content, Cardamom should not be used for children under five years old, as 1,8 cineole can also cause CNS (Central Nervous System) and breathing problems in young children. Use with caution on children between 5-10 years old.
Where to Buy Essential Oils:
Suggested Essential Oil Suppliers – with GC/MS reports
Suggested Essential Oil Suppliers – without GC/MS reports
