The Medicinal Spice You Probably Underuse: Cardamom for Digestion, Mood, and More with Missy Rohs
About this episode
This episode explores the medicinal benefits of cardamom with guest Missy Rohs, highlighting its uses in digestion, mood enhancement, and culinary applications.
Most of us think of cardamom as a baking spice—but what if it's actually one of the most delightful herbal medicines in your apothecary? Many of us know cardamom ( Elettaria cardamomum ) as the spice that makes chai, pastries, and coffee taste extraordinary. But as Missy Rohs shares in this episode, cardamom is so much more than a delicious ingredient. Together, we explore its gifts as a digestive remedy, aromatic medicine, antimicrobial herb, and even what Unani Tibb medicine calls an exhilarant —an herb that gently lifts the spirit and helps us become more open to joy. As Missy beautifully puts it, cardamom "lets the sunshine in." Along the way, we swap favorite ways to work with cardamom—from coffee and bitters to savory dishes, tinctures, and even medicinal-strength infusions. We also take a delightful detour into saffron (because it’s hard to stay focused on just one of the many amazing herbs out there!), another treasured spice that pairs beautifully with cardamom and offers its own dose of wonder. Be sure to download your beautifully illustrated recipe card for Missy’s Delightful Persian Love Cake—a stunning celebration of cardamom, saffron, rose, and pistachios that’s…
People in this episode
Host: Rosalee de la Forêt
Guest: Missy Rohs
Topics covered
- cardamom
- herbal medicine
- digestion
- mood enhancement
- saffron
- culinary uses
- herbal preparations
Keywords
- cardamom
- herbal medicine
- saffron
- digestion
- mood
- culinary
- medicinal preparations
- Persian Love Cake
Mentioned in this episode
Products: cardamom, saffron, chai, coffee, bitters, tinctures, medicinal-strength infusions
Books & works: Missy’s Delightful Persian Love Cake
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