Organic cardamom is one of my favorite baking spices, and I cannot enjoy a steamy Masala Chai  or refreshing Iced Chai without a dash of this Indian delicacy.

It’s also a sumptuous addition to entrees and side dishes (Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Apples with Pecan Streusel Topping, Spiced Lemon Rice), as well as desserts (Cardamom Flan).

On the medicinal front, Cardamom Tea can help soothe an upset stomach and alleviate nausea, including morning sickness.

Crushed cardamom seeds “help restore balance to the digestive tract,” traditional Chinese medicine specialist Jennifer Crain of Austin-based The Goji Seed recently told Natural Solutions magazine.

She recommends buying whole seeds and grinding them at home to ensure freshness. Her prescription for queasiness: Steep 1 teaspoon of crushed seeds in hot water (no longer than 5 minutes), and drink up to 3 cups a day.

In clinical studies, cardamom has also been shown to lower blood pressure, promote a healthy immune system, play a role in cancer prevention and serve as an antimicrobial that prevents foodborne illness.