Now native to several tropical regions of Southeast Asia, cardamom is thought to have originated in southern India and Sri Lanka, finding use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine as far back as 4,000 years ago. Cardamom Medicinal PropertiesHealth Benefits of CardamomUsed medicinally for centuries, cardamom has many medicinal benefits, including some of the following: Improves oral health. The use of cardamom can improve many aspects of oral health, including fighting gum disease and tooth decay as well as eliminating bad breath. Eases indigestion. Cardamom is incredibly useful for easing heartburn or upset stomachs. In addition, cardamom's health benefits include: Lowering blood pressure. Cardamom encourages antihypertensive activity in the body, which is helpful for blood pressure regulation. Reducing inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory properties can ease muscle and joint pain in the body. Treating depression. While there is no scientific evidence to support this function, cardamom has been used to treat depression. How It WorksCardamom has numerous chemical compounds that give it its exceptional medicinal properties. Elattria cardamom seeds are rich in volatile oil, which mainly includes phenolic and flavonoid components. Some of these them also include starch, protein, waxes and sterols. These compounds, along with its high methanol content, give cardamom its gastroprotective properties, which ease digestive issues. Cineole, one of the major components found in cardamom oil, is a potent antibacterial and antiseptic used in the treatment and prevention of bad breath and gum disease. It fights oral pathogenic bacteria, which can lead to halitosis and oral infections.