ELAICHI KALAN

Englsih            :           Nepal or Greter Cardamom/Amomum

Urdu                :           Bari Elaichi/Elaichi Badi

Telugu             :           Pedda Yeaki/Pedda Elakky

Description      : It is a herb with a leafy stem, 0.9-1.2 m high. Leaves are 30-60 by 7.5-10 cm, oblong lanceolate, green and glabrous on both surfaces. Capsules are ovate or bluntly triangular with a tuft

of fibers at its smaller end which is often destoyed in course of time, generally 2.5 cm in length , ribbed coriaceous and reddish or blackish brown in colour.

Capsule contains several seeds held together by a viscid sugary pulp. Seeds are small , almost round or bluntly angular, brown and feebly aromatic in taste and smell.

Action and Uses:

Seeds are stomachic, carminative, stimulant refrigerant ,diuretic and flavouring. They are used in nausea , vomiting, indigestion, flatulent colic, congestion of the liver , kidney stones , palpitation and tabkheer. They are also used and chewed to remove bad smell from mouth. They are included in copmposition of some purgatives and bitters to relive their gripping effect.

Ibn Sina’s view:

It is warming and astrigent. It is useful in nausea and vomiting. It is stomachic.