Crude drug sample data base

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Crude drug name

Market nameIlaichi hari chhoti
Formal nameEla
Other names   

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Chhoti elayechi, Elam (T), Chhoti ilaach (B), Chhoti elayichi (H), Ealakki (K), Elattari, Elam (M), Elakayulu (Te), Elakayi (Ta), Sugsamel (Ti), Ensal (Sin)
English nameLesser Cardamom
Original plant nameElettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton var. miscula Burkill, Lesser Cardamom
Family nameZingiberaceae
Used partClassificationPlant origin
Sub classification fruit
Collection informationIndia, New Delhi, Hans Raj & Sons
Collection date1991/05/07
CollectorTsuneo Namba, et al.
TMPW No.12456

The capital city, provincial capital city or the representative  
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Production area information
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28.6139391
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Collection information
India,New Delhi
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Scientific information data base

Crude drug nameAyurvedic name or
Sanskrit name, English name
Ela, Lesser Cardamom
SynonymsTuccha, Tutini, Suksmaila, Dravini, Tuti, Bahula, Kapotavarna, Gaurangi, Nissati, Suksmopakuncika, Korangi, Draviti, Truti, Bahulagandha, Aindri, Dravidi, Niskuti, Kapotavarni, Bala, Balavati, Hima, Candrika, Upakunci, Sagaragamini, Garbhari, Gandhaphalika, Kayastha
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Original plant nameElettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton var. miscula Burkill
Family nameZingiberaceae
Used partFruits
Distribution areaNative of South India, growing wild in the Westernghats, 800-900m, also cultivated.
RemarksRestricted occurrence, also cultivated.
Common usesCardamom is aromatic, stimulant, carminative, aphrodisiac, digestive and stimulates appetite. It is used in the treatment of flatulence, colic, asthma, burning sensation, diseases of the bladder and kidney, indigestion and piles. Cardamom is used as an adjuvant to carminative drugs. Powdered cardamom mixed with ginger, cloves and caraway is a good stomachic, useful in atonic dyspepsia. In herbal medicine, cardamom is chewed slowly to sweeten the breath, as an aphrodisiac to sooth digestion, stimulate appetite, used against flatulence, colics and disorders of body. It is often combined with purgatives to offset griping.
Therapeutic usesAsyavairasya (distaste), Svasakasa (respiratory disorders), Arsa (piles), Mutrakrcchra (urinary disorders), Ksaya (emaciation), Visa (poison), Asmari (calculi), Vrana (wounds), Kandu (itching), Hikka (hiccough)
Chemical constituentOthers
Important constituent of cardamom is volatile oil (6-10%).
Chief constituents of the oil are cineol, terpineol, terpenene, limonene and sabinene.
Oil contains 70 compounds mostly monoterpinoids.
Non-saponifiable lipid fraction of cardamom seeds contain mainly waxes and sterols.

Pharmacological effectWater and methanol extracts of cardamom caused a significant decrease in gastric secretion after hours of treatment. The effect of water extract on gastric secretions is very similar to that of cimetidine, with a significant decrease in acid output. The effect of methanol extract is primarily observed as decreased pepsin output.
Medical systemAyurveda (Traditional Indian medicine)
Traditional conceptRasa (Taste)Katu (Pungent), Madhura (Sweet)
Virya (Potency)Sita (Cold)
Guna (Quality)Ruksa (Dry), Laghu (Light)
Vipaka
(Post digestive taste)
Madhura (Sweet)
Karma
(General action)
Dipani (increasing digestive fire), Pacani (digestive), Garbhavisodhini (clearing purpureum)
Dosakarma
(Action on dosa)
Decreases Vata Kapha
Avayava
(Action on organ)
Hrdya (good for heart), Sira (head), Kantha (throat)
Traditional usage1. If the blood is not coming out, powder of Ela (cardamom), Camphor, Kustha (Saussurea lappa), Tagara (Valeriana wallichii), Patha (Cissampelos pariera) mixed with ample salt and oil should be rubbed on the opening of the wound.

2. One should take Ela with wine for suppression of urine and dysuria.

3. One should take only cardamom with juice of Amalaka (Phyllanthus emblica) fruits for dysuria.

4. Ela (cardamom) should be taken with wine or Amalaka juice or mixed with honey along with juice of Kadali (Musa paradisiacal) or Kaidarya (curry leaves) for suppression of urine or dysuria.

5. One becomes free from suppression of urine by taking cardamom seeds and Sunthi (dry ginger) with Dadima juice, or also by taking wine with salt.

6. In order to alleviate disorders of urine and semen one should take milk mixed with Ela and Hing (Ferula assa-foetida) and added with ghee.

7. In suppression of urine one should take wine mixed with Sauvarcala (a type of salt), or Ela with wine followed by intake of milk added with water.

8. Ela taken with curd water removes dysuria.

9. Ela and Pippalimula (root of Piper longum) taken with ghee alleviates heart disease and phantom tumour/tumor.

10. Powdered Ela should be dipped in goat's urine for three days and then used as powder collyrium. It is useful in worms and eye diseases.
FormulationEladi curna, Eladyarista, Eladi gutika, Eladi modaka, Eladi kvatha, Eladi arista, Talisadi curna, Sitopaladi curna, Khadira arista, Candraprabhavati.
CommentsThis is included in Katukaskandha, Svasahara, Angamardaprasamana, Sirovirecana gana of Caraka and Eladi of Susruta.
ReferencesReference book 

Tips!

[2] Indian Medicinal Plants - A Compendium of 500 species, Varier, P.S., Orient Longman Ltd. Chennai (Madras)
Vol. 2 (Repr.1997), pp 360-364.

Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants, 1956. Chopra, R.N., Nayar, S.L. and Chopra, I.C., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, New Delhi. - New Edition (1996) National Institute Science Communication; Supplement
p 106.

Illustrated Manual of Herbal Drugs Used in Ayurveda, 1996. Sarin, Y.K., Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi
p 224.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol I, Ed. I, 1989. Govt. of India, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Dept. of Health, New Delhi
pp 101-102.

Plants in Ayurveda (A Compendium of Botanical and Sanskrit Names), 1997. Abdul Kareem, M., Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions, Bangalore
663.

Dravyagunavijnana, Vols. 1-5, reprint 1998. Sharma, P.V., Chowkhambha Bharati Academy, Varanasi
Vol. 2, pp 719-721.

Classical uses of Medicinal Plants, 1996. Sharma, P.V., Chaukhambha Visvabharati, Varanasi
p 66.

RemarksCardamom tincture is used in the slimming preparation containing ephedrine. It is also used in preparations of antioxidants which control ageing. It is also used in the Unani drug as a general nervine tonic. It is reported to possess antiinflammatory, analgesic and cardiotonic properties.
Last renewal date2023/11/15