Known as the “queen of spices” in the cooking world, cardamom is a popular spice used around the globe in a variety of dishes. While cardamom is a flavorful, distinctive spice, the essential oil that comes from cardamom seeds has uses that reach far beyond the kitchen.
Description of Cardamom Essential Oil
With calming and soothing properties, Cardamom essential oil can, for example, ease digestion, promote feelings of clear breathing, alleviate stomach discomfort, and more.
This perennial is native to Southeast Asia and produces flavorful and aromatic seeds that have many uses, including being harvested for essential oil.
Though the plant is popular in several areas throughout the world, it is one of Guatemala’s top export products, and the labor-intensive harvesting process makes it one of the most expensive spices worldwide.
As a versatile, soothing oil, Cardamom blends well with warm, spicy oils, as well as florals and citrus oils. Consider using Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Fennel, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang, or citrus essential oils.
Uses and Benefits
- May help ease indigestion and maintain overall gastrointestinal health
- Promotes clear breathing and similarly promotes respiratory health
- Flavorful spice for cooking and baking
- Use internally as part of a daily health regimen to support healthy gastrointestinal function.
- Add to bread, smoothies, meats, and salads to enhance food flavor and aid digestion.
- Diffuse or inhale for a sense of openness and mental clarity.
- Use three to four drops in the diffuser of your choice
- Dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid
Cardamom Sourcing
doTERRA Cardamom essential oil is produced from cardamom seeds grown in Guatemala. doTERRA has established a Co-Impact Sourcing initiative there to help local growers improve their quality of life. So, By providing a new drying facility in Sika’abe, Guatemala, doTERRA has helped improve the efficiency of the cardamom harvesting and production process.
At the Sika’abe center, individuals receive certifications and attend classes that teach job skills, new agricultural practices, and more. As a result, this training center helps families in this area of Guatemala lift themselves out of poverty.
doTERRA Essential Oils
I recommend only one brand of essential oils. Please do not use these tips if you are going to go out and buy the cheapest brands that you can find.
When it comes to essential oils, you get what you pay for. There’s hardly any regulation on the essential oil market, so you have to do your due diligence when purchasing oils.
After research, I fell on doTERRA. DoTERRA holds themself to the highest purity and safety standards on the market. Plus, they hold themselves to fair trade and sustainability practices.
You can learn more about doTERRA’s CPTG (Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade) standards on my blog post about it.
You can get doTERRA essential oils for full price here. Or you can get a costco-like wholesale membership and pay 25% less than retail. Learn more about the wholesale membership here.
