Energetics of seed spices

Digestive distress is pervasive in our modern world. It is estimated that 15% of the US population has IBS. Digestive pain, distention, and bloating are some of the most common challenges we see in clinical herbalism. Fortunately, many herbs have qualities that directly support digestive health and keep things moving healthily.

Today, let’s take a look at seed spices. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, seed spices tend to have a warm and uplifting energetic profile. This means that they bring warmth and movement into the body, which help to relieve food stagnation (undigested food that sits in the gut), gas, and bloating. When we cook with these herbs, the medicinal properties of the herbs get infused directly into our foods, making the line between food and medicine blur in the best way.

Star Anise

Star anise is sweet, aromatic, and warm. The star-shaped pod houses the seeds, which help to support the circulation of Qi (life force energy) and fluids in the body. In Chinese herbal medicine, star anise is indicated for stomach cramps, acute or chronic constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Cardamom Seed Pods

The green cardamom seed pods you find in the grocery have cardamom seeds inside of them. Together, these pods and seeds are slightly bitter, sweet, warm, and aromatic. They help to resolve what Chinese medicine calls dampness, or fluid accumulation in the body. Cardamom seeds are useful to incorporate when you experience stomach cramps, diarrhea, bloating, constipation, swollen joints, and body aches.

Coriander Seeds

Coriander seeds are the seeds of the cilantro herb. The seeds are bitter, aromatic, and warm. They help to soothe the stomach and support the circulation of Qi and blood in the body. Coriander seeds are indicated for all kinds of digestive issues, including indigestion, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. These seeds can also be helpful for cramping - stomach cramps, intestinal cramps, and menstrual cramps.

Try this:

After dinner, simmer 1 star anise pod + 3 cardamom seed pods with a stick of cinnamon and a few slices of fresh ginger in 2-4 cups of for 10-20 minutes. This long brew - called a decoction in herbal medicine - yields a nicely spiced warm drink with lots of properties that aid digestion.

If you make this decoction or find another creative way to incorporate seed spices into your food this week, I would love for you to write to me and let me know!

Warmly,

Artemisia

innervillagehealth.com

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Related Resources

• Learn more about IBS with this quick fact sheet from the American College of Gastroenterology.

• For additional information on the medicinal uses of spices, check out this article by Bevin Clare, an herbalist, nutritionist, and professor of herbal medicine at MUIH.