| | | | Common Name | | | Galangal Root
| | | Botanical Latin Name / Classification | | | Alpinia officinarum
| | | Parts Used | | | Root (Dried Rhizome)
| | | Other Names | | | Galanga, China Root, India Root, East India Catarrh Root, Lesser
Galangal, Rhizoma Galangae, Gargaut, Colic Root, Kaempferia Galanga.
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| | | Scientific Name / Nomenclature | | | N.O. Zingaberaceae or Scilaminae
| | | Description | | | The genus Alpinia was named by Plumier after Prospero Alpino, a famous
Italian botanist of the early seventeenth century. The name Galangal is
derived from theArabic Khalanjan, perhaps a perversion of a Chinese word
meaning 'mild ginger.'
The drug has been known in Europe for seven
centuries longer than its botanical origin, for it was only recognized in
1870, when specimens were examined that had been found near Tung-sai, in
the extreme south of China, and later, on the island of Hainan, just
opposite. The name of Alpinia officinarum was given to the herb, as the
source of Lesser Galangal. The Greater Galangal is a native of Java (A.
Galanga or Maranta Galanga), and is much larger, of an orange-brown
colour, with a feebler taste and odour. It is occasionally seen at London
drug sales, but is scarcely ever used. There is also a resemblance to A.
calcarata.The herb grows to a height of about 5 feet, the leaves being
long, rather narrow blades, and the flowers, of curious formation, growing
in a simple, terminal spike, the petals white, with deep-red veining
distinguishing the lippetal.
The branched pieces of rhizome are
from 1 1/2 to 3 inches in length, and seldom more than 3/4 inch thick.
They are cut while fresh, and the pieces are usually cylindrical, marked
at short intervals by narrow, whitish, somewhat raised rings, which are
the scars left by former leaves. They are dark reddish-brown externally,
and the section shows a dark centre surrounded by a wider, paler layer
which becomes darker in drying. Their odour is aromatic, and their taste
pungent and spicy. They are tough and difficult to break, the fracture
being granular, with small, ligneous fibres interspersed throughout one
side. The drug is exported, chiefly from Shanghai, in bales made of split
cane, plaited, and bound round with cane. The root has been used in Europe
as a spice for over a thousand years, having probably been introduced by
Arabian or Greek physicians, but it has now largely gone out of use except
in Russia and India. Closely resembling ginger, it is used in Russia for
flavouring vinegar and the liqueur 'nastoika': it is a favourite spice and
medicine in Lithuania and Esthonia. Tartars prepare a kind of tea that
contains it, and it is used by brewers. The reddishbrown powder is used as
snuff, and in India the oil is valued in perfumery.
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| | | Indications | | | Dyspepsia, Sea-sickness, Tissue Health / Elasticity
Fever, Flatulence, Stomach / Intestinal Cramps, Vomiting
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| | | Actions | | | Carminative, Stimulant
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| | | Constituents / Nutrients | | | The root contains a volatile oil, resin, galangol, kaempferid, galangin
and alpinin, starch, etc. The active principles are the volatile oil and
acrid resin. Galangin is dioxyflavanol, and has been obtained
synthetically. Alcohol freely extracts all the properties, and for the
fluid extract there should be no admixture of water or glycerin.
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| | | Scientific Research and Pharmacologicial Actions | | | Stimulant and carminative. It is especially useful in flatulence,
dyspepsia, vomiting and sickness at stomach, being recommended as a remedy
for sea-sickness. It tones up the tissues and is sometimes prescribed in
fever. Homoeopaths use it as a stimulant. Galangal is used in cattle
medicine, and the Arabs use it to make their horses fiery. It is included
in several compound preparations, but is not now often employed
alone.
The powder is used as a snuff for catarrh.
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| | | Precautions / Contraindications | | | None documented.
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| | | Interaction with Medications | | | None documented.
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| | | Possible Side Effects | | | None documented.
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| | 6 total products | | | Galangal Root (Read all about Galangal Root.)
Botanical Latin Name: Alpinia officinarum
Plant Part: Root (Dried Rhizome) | |
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Galangal Root - Health - Galangal Root Powder
4 oz / 114 g
18.36 US
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Galangal Root - Health - Galangal Root Powder
1 oz / 28 g
9.70 US
In Stock - Ships Today!
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Galangal Root - Health - Galangal Root Tea (Loose)
4 oz / 114 g
12.10 US
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Galangal Root - Health - Galangal Root Tea (Loose)
8 oz / 227 g
18.36 US
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Galangal Root - Health - Galangal Root Tea
25 tea bags
11.79 US
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Galangal Root - Health - Galangal Root Tea
50 tea bags
17.97 US
In Stock - Ships Today!
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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
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