Ela — Cardamom

Ayurvedic herb Ela (Elettaria cardamomum) — Cardamom. Pharmacological properties: Rasa Madhura, Tikta, Virya Ushna, Vipaka Katu. Balances Kapha, Vata.

Ayurvedic Herbs A–Z 1 min read
This content is for informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional.

Improves digestion, relieves nausea and freshens breath.

ⓘ Information
PropertyValueDescription
RasaMadhura, TiktaMadhura (Sweet) — nourishing, grounding, promotes tissue growth; Tikta (Bitter) — detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic
GunaLaghuLaghu (Light) — easy to digest, promotes lightness
ViryaUshnaUshna (Hot) — heating, increases metabolism and Pitta
VipakaKatuKatu (Pungent) — post-digestive pungent, lightening
PrabhavaDeepana, Hridaya, VatanulomanaDeepana — kindles digestive fire without digesting ama; Hridaya — cardiac tonic, heart health; Vatanulomana — regulates Vata downward movement

Sanskrit Synonyms

In the classical Ayurvedic texts, Ela is known by the following Sanskrit names:

Sukshma Ela, Upakunchika, Tutha, Dravidi

Parts Used

The medicinal parts of Ela are: bija.

Main Indications

Ela is indicated in Ayurveda for the following conditions:

Aruchi, Chhardi, Kasa, Shwasa, Mutrakrichha.

Dosha Effects

Ela pacifies Kapha, Vata.

It may aggravate Pitta when used in excess or in sensitive individuals.

Usage

Ela is used in classical Ayurvedic formulations. Consult a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner for appropriate dosage and preparation based on your constitution (Prakriti) and current imbalance (Vikriti).

Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API)

Source: Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India — Government of India, Ministry of AYUSH

Rasa (Taste)Kauu, Madhura
Guna (Quality)Laghu
Virya (Potency)śita 175
Vipaka (Post-digestive effect)Madhura
Karma (Action)Rocana, Dipana, Anulomana, Hrdya, Mūtrala
Dose250-500 mg of the drug in powder form.
Therapeutic Uses: K¡sa, śv¡sa, Aruci, Chardi, Mūtrakrcchra
Important Formulations: El¡di Modaka, El¡di Cūrḍa, Sitopal¡di Cūrḍa
Botanical Name: Elettaria cardamomum (Zingiberaceae)
Part Used: Frt.

Therapeutic Uses (IMPPAT Database)

Source: Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemistry And Therapeutics (IMPPAT) v1.0 — CC BY 4.0

Part UsedTherapeutic UseIdentifiersReferences
fruitAbdominal painMESH:D015746,UMLS:C0000737, SYMP:0000457, ICD-11:MD81.4Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
fruitHair lossMESH:D000505,UMLS:C0002170, DOID:987, ICD-11:ED70ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
fruitAsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9770972795006
fruitBronchial diseasesMESH:D001982,UMLS:C0006261, DOID:1176, ICD-11:CB40.YPharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
fruitCatharticsMESH:D002400,UMLS:C0007422, ICD-11:XM6GE9Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
fruitDemulcentsMESH:D065106,UMLS:C0302232Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
fruitDiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9770972795006
fruitDiet, food, and nutritionMESH:D000066888,UMLS:C4042949Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
fruitFatigueMESH:D005221,UMLS:C0015672, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9770972795006
fruitFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788172362300
fruitHemorrhoidsMESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.ZISBN:9770972795006
fruitIncrease physical endurance, strength and staminaMESH:D010807ISBN:9770972795006
fruitPuerperal disordersMESH:D011644,UMLS:C0034040ISBN:9770972795006
fruitVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
rootAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9770972795006
rootAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
seedAbortifacient agentsMESH:D000019,UMLS:C0000782, ICD-11:JA00.1ISBN:9788173717031
seedAngiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitorsMESH:D000806,UMLS:C4541021ISBN:9770972795006
seedAnorexiaMESH:D000855,UMLS:C1971624, DOID:8689, ICD-11:MG43.7ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717031
seedAnti-bacterial agentsMESH:D000900,UMLS:C0279516, ICD-11:XM8XH0ISBN:9770972795006
seedAntifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
seedAntirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9788172360481
seedAppetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717031, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
seedAstheniaMESH:D001247,UMLS:C0004093, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9788173717031
seedAsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788173717031
seedBronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172360481
seedCardiotonic agentsMESH:D002316,UMLS:C0007209, ICD-11:XM91S1ISBN:9788173717031
seedCardiovascular diseasesMESH:D002318,UMLS:C0007222, DOID:1287, ICD-11:BE2ZISBN:9788173717031
seedColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9770972795006
seedCoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9770972795006
seedDiarrheaMESH:D003967,UMLS:C0011991, DOID:13250, ICD-11:ME05.1ISBN:9770972795006
seedDigestive system diseasesMESH:D004066,UMLS:C0012242, ICD-11:DE2ZISBN:9770972795006
seedDiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717031, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
seedDyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788172360481, ISBN:9788173717031
seedDysuriaMESH:D053159,UMLS:C0013428, ICD-11:MF50.7ISBN:9770972795006
seedExpectorantsMESH:D005100,UMLS:C0015314ISBN:9788173717031
seedFeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9770972795006
seedFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, ISBN:9788173717031, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
seedHalitosisMESH:D006209,UMLS:C0018520, ICD-11:MD94ISBN:9788173717031
seedHeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9788172360481
seedHemorrhageMESH:D006470,UMLS:C0019080, ICD-11:MG27ISBN:9788173717031
seedInfectionMESH:D007239,UMLS:C3714514, ICD-11:1H0ZISBN:9788173717031
seedKidney calculiMESH:D007669,UMLS:C0022650, ICD-11:GB70.0ISBN:9788171360536
seedPainMESH:D010146,UMLS:C0030193, ICD-11:MG3ZISBN:9788173717031
seedIncrease physical endurance, strength and staminaMESH:D010807ISBN:9770972795006
seedGeneral tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9788172361266, Medicinal Plants Of Nagpur And Wardha Forest Divisions (Maharashtra)
seedStomach diseasesMESH:D013272,UMLS:C0038354, DOID:76, ICD-11:DA4YISBN:9788173717031
seedThirstMESH:D013894ISBN:9788173717031
seedTuberculosis, pulmonaryMESH:D014397,UMLS:C0041327, DOID:2957, ICD-11:1B10.ZISBN:9788172360481
seedUrinary bladder calculiMESH:D001744,UMLS:C0005683, ICD-11:GB71.0ISBN:9788171360536, ISBN:9788173717031
seedUrination disordersMESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0YISBN:9788173717031
seedVomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006
seedDisorder of headUMLS:C1290856ISBN:9770972795006
whole plantAnti-infective agentsMESH:D000890,UMLS:C0003204, ICD-11:XM4TV0ISBN:9788172360481
whole plantColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9788172362300
whole plantFlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9788172362300
AnalgesicsMESH:D000700,UMLS:C0002771, ICD-11:XM49F7ISBN:9788172362300
AntidotesMESH:D000931,UMLS:C0003295, ICD-11:XM1S43ISBN:9788172360481
Antifungal agentsMESH:D000935,UMLS:C0003308, ICD-11:XM83G4ISBN:9770972795006
Anti-infective agentsMESH:D000890,UMLS:C0003204, ICD-11:XM4TV0ISBN:9788172362300
Anti-infective agents, localMESH:D000891,UMLS:C0003205, ICD-11:XM4VG4ISBN:9780387706375
Anti-inflammatory agentsMESH:D000893,UMLS:C0003209, ICD-11:XM7XD1ISBN:9788172362300
AntioxidantsMESH:D000975,UMLS:C0003402ISBN:9788172362300
Antirheumatic agentsMESH:D018501,UMLS:C0003191, ICD-11:XM95N2ISBN:9780387706375
Appetite stimulantsMESH:D019167,UMLS:C0376447ISBN:9780387706375, Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
AsthmaMESH:D001249,UMLS:C0004096, DOID:2841, ICD-11:CA23ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375, Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
AstringentsMESH:D001252,UMLS:C0004110, ICD-11:XM0VK6ISBN:9788172360481
BronchitisMESH:D001991,UMLS:C0006277, DOID:6132, ICD-11:CA20ISBN:9770972795006, ISBN:9780387706375
Cardiotonic agentsMESH:D002316,UMLS:C0007209, ICD-11:XM91S1ISBN:9788172362300
Central nervous system diseasesMESH:D002493,UMLS:C0007682, DOID:331ISBN:9770972795006
ColicMESH:D003085,UMLS:C0232488, ICD-11:MD81.4ISBN:9780387706375
CoughMESH:D003371,UMLS:C0010200, ICD-11:MD12ISBN:9770972795006, Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
DiureticsMESH:D004232,UMLS:C0012798, ICD-11:XM4D06Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
DyspepsiaMESH:D004415,UMLS:C0013395, ICD-11:DD90.3ISBN:9780387706375
FatigueMESH:D005221,UMLS:C0015672, ICD-11:MG22ISBN:9788172362300
FeverMESH:D005334,UMLS:C0015967, ICD-11:MG26ISBN:9770972795006
FlatulenceMESH:D005414,UMLS:C0016204, ICD-11:ME08ISBN:9780387706375, Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
Gastrointestinal agentsMESH:D005765,UMLS:C0017173ISBN:9770972795006
HeadacheMESH:D006261,UMLS:C0018681, ICD-11:8A81.ZISBN:9780387706375
HemorrhoidsMESH:D006484,UMLS:C0019112, DOID:9746, ICD-11:DB60.ZPharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
NauseaMESH:D009325,UMLS:C0027497, ICD-11:MD90.0ISBN:9788172360481
General tonic for rejuvenationMESH:D012060,UMLS:C0035016Pharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
Tuberculosis, pulmonaryMESH:D014397,UMLS:C0041327, DOID:2957, ICD-11:1B10.ZISBN:9770972795006
UlcerMESH:D014456,UMLS:C0041582ISBN:9770972795006
Urination disordersMESH:D014555,UMLS:C0042035, ICD-11:GB0YPharmacognosy Of Indigenous Drugs Volume I
VomitingMESH:D014839,UMLS:C0042963, ICD-11:MD90.1ISBN:9770972795006
Wounds and injuriesMESH:D014947,UMLS:C0043251ISBN:9770972795006