Elettaria cardamomum is an herbaceous, reed-like perennial, native to tropical Asia, especially southern India. It is a member of the Zingiberaceae (ginger) botanical family. A tall plant, it grows up to 13 feet in height, and has long, silky, blade-shaped leaves and long stems. The stems bear small, yellowish flowers with purple tips which set to oblong, red-brown seeds.
Cardamom oil is steam distilled from dried, ripe fruit (seeds).
How to use: Diffuse, or rub on the bottom of the feet, stomach, solar plexus and/or thighs.
Companion oils: Bergamot, cedarwood, cinnamon bark, cistus, clove, neroli, orange, rose and ylang ylang.
Chemical constituents:
- Oxydes terpenes: 1,8 cineole (45%).
- Esters terpenes: terpenyle (30-35%).
- Monoterpenes (7%): sabinene (1.4-3.1%), myrcene (1-2%), limonene (0.15-2.7%).
- Monoterpenols (6%): linalol (3-4%).
