Traditional medicinal knowledge about Chhoti Elaichi (Elettaria cardamomum, family Zingiberaceae). In Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Although Elaichi is not native to Chhattisgarh but the natives and traditional healers have in depth traditional medicinal knowledge about Elaichi as medicinal herb. It is Indian plant and is now cultivated either as pure plantation crop or as subsidiary to coffee and arecanut in hilly forest regions of Western Ghats in Karnataka and Kerala, and in parts of Madurai, the Nilgiris and Triunelveli in Tamil Nadu. Dried fruits are the Cardamon of Commerce and are used as spice, masticatory and in medicine. Through ethnobotanical surveys conducted in different parts of Chhattisgarh, India. I have noted many traditional uses of this herb.

Elaichi is popularly used as home remedy also. Before giving details regarding these uses I am describing its botany and reported medicinal uses, I have noted through reference literatures. Botanically, Elaichi (Elettaria curdamomum syn. Amomum repens syn. A. cardamomum syn. Alpinia repens syn. Alpinia cardamomum) is having rhizome with numerous fleshy fibres; stems perennial, erect, smooth, jointed, enveloped in the spongy sheaths of the leaves; having height upto 9 feet; Leaves bifarious, subsesille on their sheaths, lanceolate, fine-pointed, some what villous above, sericeous underneath, entire; Scapes several (3 or 4) from the base of the stems, prostrate, flexuose, jointed, branched; Branches or racemes alternate, one from each joint of the scape, suberect; bracts solitary, oblong, smooth, membranous, striated, sheathing; Flowers alternate, short stalked, solitary at each joint of the racemes, opening in succession as the racemes lengthen; Calyx funnel shaped, 3-toothed at the mouth, striated with fine veins, permanent; seeds coriaceous and pale-brown, many, blackish. Elaichi holds a reputed position as medicinal herb in different systems of medicine in India.

According to Ayurveda, its seeds are bitter, cooling, pungent, fragrant, aborifacient, alexiteric, clear head and brain, also mouth, and useful in treatment of asthma, bronchitis, piles, consumption, strangury, scabies, pruritus, diseases of bladder, kidney, rectum, throat etc.

According to Unani system of medicine, seeds are fragrant, tonic to heart, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, carminative and useful in treatment of head, ear and toothache, bad humors of liver, chest and throat. In general, the natives of Chhattisgarh never miss to take one fruit after meals. It is commonly used with Laung (Cloves).

The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh suggest the patients to avoid strictly the use of Elaichi at night. According to them, its use at this time can result in different types of skin troubles. It causes leprosy also. Unfortunately, most of the natives are not aware of this bitter fact. As mentioned earlier, the reference, literatures are full of information regarding medicinal uses and properties of Elaichi, I am not repeating it again. In present article, I am giving details of some selected traditional uses that are in practice in Chhattisgarh. In treatment of Dysuria, the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the Elaichi seed powder with Shahad (Honey) internally. Many healers use it with fresh leaf juice of Kela (Banana) also. In treatment of vomiting, as home remedy, the natives of Chhattisgarh Plains burn the fruit and collect the ash. A pinch of ash mixed with Shahad (Honey) is given internally. In my previous articles. I have mentioned that by mistake, many time small children eat the poisonous seeds of Ratanjot (Jatropha curcas). To nullify its effect, many traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use Elaichi seeds. The seeds mixed with Dahi (Curd) are given internally for this purpose. The traditional healers of Narharpur region, use the seed ash also in treatment of Khansi (Cough). In treatment of Dyspepsia, the healers of Chhattisgarh Plains use the decoction of Elaichi fruits in treatment. Ten Elaichi fruits are boiled in half litre of water. When half quantity (of initial quantity) remains, the boiling is stopped and after adding sugar, it is given internally to the patients. It is considered as one of the promising treatments. The healers of Chhattisgarh, add the Elaichi seeds in different formulations used as sex tonic. For Elaichi, the natives and traditional healers are dependent on local markets where they get poor quality of Elaichi. Many natives have planted this herb in home gardens but the production is lower. This is positive sign that the natives and traditional healers have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about Elaichi, although it is not native to Chhattisgarh.

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