Why do people keep cardamom in their pocket before stepping out? The surprising reason that has health benefits

Cardamom, or elaichi, is a familiar spice in Indian households, commonly added to tea, desserts and traditional preparations. But beyond the kitchen, the tiny green pod has also found a place in several traditional practices. One such belief suggests that carrying a cardamom pod in your pocket before stepping out can help attract positive energy, confidence and good experiences throughout the day. However, it can act as a great mouth-freshner.

Why do people keep cardamom in their pocket?

In some traditional and spiritual practices, cardamom is associated with positivity, freshness and prosperity. Carrying a pod while leaving home is sometimes believed to help ward off negative energy and encourage favourable experiences. There is no clinical research showing that simply carrying cardamom in a pocket can influence a person's fortune, relationships, finances or daily outcomes.

Cardamom has a strong, pleasant aroma, and having a familiar scent nearby may serve as a small personal ritual before starting the day.

What does science say about cardamom?

Scientific research has mainly focused on consuming cardamom or studying its extracts, rather than carrying the spice externally. A critical review published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology examined traditional uses and modern research on Elettaria cardamomum. It notes that cardamom has traditionally been used for digestive complaints, nausea, diarrhoea and oral health, while laboratory and early clinical research has investigated antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities. The researchers also stressed that more research is needed to understand these effects.

Cardamom contains various phytochemicals, including volatile oils, flavonoids and terpenoids. These compounds are part of the reason the spice has attracted scientific interest.

Can cardamom help with digestion?

Traditional medicine has long associated cardamom with digestive health. Research reviews have also identified gastrointestinal disorders among the traditional uses of the spice. Hence, if you have eaten a plateful of delicious foods which had onion and garlic, a pod of cardamom can be your saviour in office, school, college or any other setting.

Its sweet, refreshing aroma can help mask lingering food odours and leave the mouth feeling cleaner and fresher. The spice contains aromatic essential oils that give it its distinctive fragrance, making it a common ingredient in traditional mouth freshener blends. Chewing a whole cardamom pod also releases its flavour gradually, offering a naturally fragrant alternative to commercially flavoured mouth fresheners.

Beyond its refreshing taste and aroma, cardamom has also attracted scientific interest for its potential antimicrobial properties. Research has investigated compounds in cardamom that may act against certain microorganisms, although this should not be interpreted as proof that chewing cardamom can replace brushing, flossing or regular dental care.

For those who enjoy its flavour, chewing one cardamom pod after a meal can simply be a pleasant traditional habit that helps freshen the breath while adding a mildly sweet, spicy note to the palate.