Family: Zingiberaceae
Synonyms: Alpinia alba (Retz.) Roscoe, Alpinia bifida Warb., Alpinia carnea Griff., Alpinia galanga var. galanga, Alpinia galanga var. pyramidata (Blume) K.Schum., Alpinia pyramidata Blume, Alpinia rheedei Wight, Alpinia viridiflora Griff., Amomum galanga (L.) Lour., Amomum medium Lour., Galanga major Garsault , Galanga officinalis Salisb., Hellenia alba (Retz.) Willd., Heritiera alba Retz., Languas galanga (L.) Stuntz, Languas pyramidata (Blume) Merr., Languas vulgare J.Koenig, Maranta galanga L., Zingiber galanga (L.) Stokes, Zingiber medium Stokes, Zingiber sylvestre Gaertn.
Common name: Galangale
- Arabic: خولنجان
- Assamese : Khulanjaana
- Bengali : Kulanjan, Kurachi Vach
- Burmese: Pa de gaw gyi
- Chinese: 大高良姜
- English : Greater galangal, Javagalangal
- Finnish: Isogalangajuuri
- French: Souchet long
- Gujrati : Kulinjan Jaanu, Kolinjan
- Hebrew: גלנגל
- Hindi : Kulanjan, Kulinjan
- Hungarian: Galangagyökér
- Japanese: ガランガ
- Kannada : Doddarasagadde, Dhoomraasmi
- Khmer: Romdeng
- Korean: 갈렌갈
- Lao: Kha ta deng
- Malay: Lengkuas
- Malayalam : Aratta, Ciffaratta, വലിയ അരത്ത
- Marathi : Kulinlan, कोष्टकुलिंजन Koshta Kulinjan, Mothe Kolanjan,
- Portuguese: Gengibre do Laos
- Russian: Галгант, Альпиния галанга
- Sanskrit : Kulanjana, Sugandhmula, Malaya, vacha, Sthulagranthih, Mahabhari, Rasna
- Slovak: Galgán lekársky
- Slovenian: Langvas
- Tamil : அரத்தை Arattai, Sittarattai
- Telugu : దుంపరాష్ట్రము Dumparaastramu
- Thai: ดอกข่า, ข่า (พืช)
- Vietnamese: Riềng
Ayurvedic uses: Sopha, Svasa, Hikka, Pratisyaya, Vatavyadhi, Udararoga, Kampa, Vishamajvara, Kaphakasa. Asti, Mahakushta, Vataja sula. [API, Vol-5]
Galanga is recommended for diarrhea, nausea, and seasickness. Galangal is reputed to be an aphrodisiac, although this is probably due to its general stimulating effect on the Fire element. Preparation: Decoction from one “thumb-length” (or about 5 grams) fresh galangal, finely chopped, grated, or mashed with mortar and pestle. Boil 10–15 minutes; drink after meals. Galangal has an antiseptic action similar to ginger and may be used topically for bacterial and fungal skin infections, acne, mosquito bites, bee stings, other insect bites, and as a gargle for mouth sores. A. nigra is used for treatment of ringworm and other skin parasites. [A Thai Herbal: Traditional Recipes for Health and Harmony]
Used in Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha. Rhizome antidiabetic, expectorant, antibacterial, digestive, hot, carminative, stimulant, fungicide, antioxidant, antiulcer, aphrodisiac, used for skin diseases, scabies, indigestion, colic, dysentery, enlarged spleen, ear pain, respiratory diseases, stomachache, for treatment of systemic infections and cholera; juice given in heart diseases; powder or decoction given in rheumatism, fever, bronchitis, catarrh; macerated rhizomes taken for leprosy, included in a preparation known as awas empas. Seed powder in gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, vomiting. Veterinary medicine. [CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants]
In Asia, galangal is also used for arthritis, diabetes, stomach problems and difficulty in swallowing. It is especially useful in flatulence, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting and sickness of the stomach, being recommended as a remedy for seasickness. It tones the tissues and is sometimes prescribed in fever. Galangal is used in cattle medicine, and the Arabs use it to make their horses fiery. It is included in several compound preparations. [Handbook of herbs and spices Vol-2]
Popular folk remedy for cancer, especially of the mouth and stomach. Rootstocks are considered aphrodisiac, aromatic, carminative, stimulant, stomachic and tonic. Its expectorant activity has been compared to anise and dill, useful in pediatric respiratory problems. I would not hesitate to mix it with those for my grandchildren during flu season. I would hesitate to give them a brand new synthetic. Roots, flayed on one end until brush-shaped, are dipped in vinegar and rubbed on spots caused by “panu,” a common skin disease in Java. As a paste, with a little garlic and vinegar (red wine vinegar is better), it is a last resort drastic remedy for herpes. Rhizomes are also recommended for use in dyspepsia, diabetes, impotence, nervous debility, and food poisoning. They also have disinfectant properties and are used as a deodorant of foul smells in the mouth and other parts of the body, as well as being used as a fragrant adjunct in various prescriptions. Aromatic parts, made into a paste, are applied in acne and other skin diseases. Seeds are alterative, calefacient, sternutatory, and stomachic and are useful in diarrhea and vomiting as well as for medicinal uses same as the rhizome. In some parts of the world, its main use is in clearing the voice. [CRC Handbook of Medicinal Spices]
Rhizome—carminative (in dyspepsia), stomachic, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, antiinflammatory. Throughout southern India, the rhizome of Alpinia galanga is used as Raasnaa for rheumatism, intermittent fever, dyspepsia and respiratory ailments. [Indian Medicinal Plants An Illustrated Dictionary]
An infusion of the rhizome of this herb is given for rheumatism, fever, impotency bronchitis, dyspepsia and diabetes. The juice of the rhizome is given with human urine for cobra-bite poisoning. In Mysore, it is used for bronchial catarrh and in China, the seeds are used for colic, diarrhoea and vomiting. [Medicinal Plants (Indigenous and Exotic) Used in Ceylon]
Therapeutic uses: The rhizome is an antibacterial agent and a digestive stimulant. It is indicated in the treatment of dyspepsia, flatulence, vomiting, gastralgia, colic, diarrhoea and malaria fever, in a daily dose of 3 to 6g, in the form of a decoction, powder or elixir. It is also applied externally on carious teeth to cure toothache. [Medicinal Plants in Viet Nam]
The rhizomes are bitter, acrid, thermogenic, aromatic, nervine tonic, stimulant, revulsive, carminative, stomachic, disinfectant, aphrodisiac, expectorant, broncho-dilator, antifungal, febrifuge, antiinflammatory and tonic. Rhizome is CVS and CNS active, diuretic, hypothermic. Seed is antiulcerative. Rhizome spray in ether, over a space showed high knock down values against houseflies. Alcohol (50%) extract of rhizome is anti-amphetaminic. Unani physicians consider it good for impotence. [Medicinal Plants Kerala Ag University]
Indigestion, flatulence, dyspepsia, colic, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, haemoptysis, fever, allergic reaction, amenorrhoea, laxation and as blood purifying agent. Dosage Stem or flower powder is orally taken in a dose of 1 - 2 gm for indigestion, flatulence, vomiting and colic. Decoction of rhizome, together with sugar is orally taken in a dose of 15 - 30 ml or dried powder in a dose of 1 - 2 gm for cough, fevers, menstrual disorders. [Medicinal Plants of Myanmar]
110 Published articles of Alpinia galanga
