Cardamom CO2 Select Extract Organic (Elettaria cardamomum)

Overview

Cardamom may also be referred to as Cardamom CO2 Select Extract Organic. It is typically processed using steam distilled or co2 select extraction as a method for extracting oil from the seeds.

Summary

Cardamom oil comes from the seeds of the Elettaria cardomomum plant. It has a sweet, spicy scent. It has an antiseptic effect.

Cardamom Essential Oil is a beautiful and intriguing oil to explore for both aromatic and therapeutic blending.

Essential Facts

  • Aroma Description:

    Earthy Green Herbaceous Soft Warm

  • Common Name(s): Cardamom CO2 Select Extract Organic
  • Botanical Family: Zingiberaceae
  • Botanical Genus: Elettaria
  • Chemical Family: Esters, Oxides
  • Major Compounds: 1,8-Cineole, a-Terpinyl Acetate, Linalyl acetate, (+)-Limonene, Linalool
  • Perfumery Note: Middle
  • Consistency: Thin
  • Aroma chemistry: This is a Co2 select extract.  So what does that mean?  Let's jump down that rabbit hole together.  A Co2 extract has been extracted using Carbon Dioxide Gas.  It is an ultra cool process.   There are three types of CO2 extracts Co2 Select Co2 Sub Critical Co2 Total So, once again this is a Select.  The select extracts are close to essential oils and you would use them pretty much in the same way. The select is extracted at a low pressure.   Chemically this Cardamom extract has a good amount of 1,8 cineole and and also  terpynal acetate.  The cineole is an oxide, which makes this extract great for the respiratory system and also great for the mind. The acetate is an ester and that makes the extract a great anti spasmodic.
  • Color: Clear
  • Indigenous Country: Guatemala
  • Cultivation: Organically Grown
  • Processing Methods: Steam Distilled or CO2 Select Extraction
  • Part Typically Used: Seeds
  • Shelf Life: Long time
  • Ethically and sustainably sourced Ethically and sustainably sourced
  • Organic Organic
  • Vegan Vegan

Essential Details

Cautions & Safety

Cautions when using Cardamom:

Tisserand and Young indicate that due to its 1,8 cineole content, Cardamon Oil may cause CNS and breathing problems in young children. They caution against using Cardamon Oil on or near the face of infants and children. Reading Tisserand and Young's full profile is recommended. [Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young, Essential Oil Safety (Second Edition. United Kingdom: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2014), 232.]

Safety Precautions for Cardamom:

Do not take any oils internally and do not apply undiluted essential oils, absolutes, CO2s or other concentrated essences onto the skin without advanced essential oil knowledge or consultation from a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. If you are pregnant, epileptic, have liver damage, have cancer, or have any other medical problem, use oils only under the proper guidance of a qualified aromatherapy practitioner. Use extreme caution when using oils with children and be sure to first read the recommended dilution ratios for children. Consult a qualified aromatherapy practitioner before using oils with children, the elderly, if you have medical issues or are taking medications. For in-depth information on oil safety issues, read Essential Oil Safety by Robert Tisserand and Rodney Young.

Botany

Botanical Description of Cardamom:

Elettaria cardamomum is a pungent aromatic herbaceous perennial plant, growing to about 2–4 m (6 ft 7 in–13 ft 1 in) in height. The leaves are alternate in two ranks, linear-lanceolate, 40–60 cm (16–24 in) long, with a long pointed tip. The flowers are white to lilac or pale violet, produced in a loose spike 30–60 cm (12–24 in) long. The fruit is a three-sided yellow-green pod 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) long, containing several black and brown seeds. (Wikipedia) Small Cardamom or True Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) is a member of the Ginger family (Zingiberaceae).  It grows wild in the monsoon forests of South India and Sri Lanka. It is cultivated extensively in these countries, as well as in Guatemala and elsewhere.  There are two types of cardamomGreen cardamom Brown cardamom

Traditional Folklore

Traditional Folklore of Cardamom:

Cardamom is known to be the Queen of Spices, one of the oldest spices used for thousands and thousands of years. It is thought to be brought  to Europe by the Greeks in the 4th century BC. It is believed that the name cardamom  comes from the Arab word hehmama - a Sanskrit term meaning hot and pungent.

Energetic, Spiritual, and Emotional Qualities

Articles

Cardamom Articles or Publications: