Galangal
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Botanical Name |
Kaempferia galanga/ Alpinia officinarum |
|
Family |
Zingiberaceae |
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Other Names |
Catarrh root, China root, Chinese ginger, colic root, east Indian root, galanga, ginger root, India root, Languas officinarum, lesser galangal, maraba, minoris, radix galanga |
|
Description |
Stemless reed like herb. 150cm/5ft. Leaves-long, narrow. Grows horizontally. Flowers white with red veins. Rhizomes are reddish/brown |
|
Native to |
South East Asia |
|
Cultivated in |
Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, India |
|
Part used |
Rhizome |
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Harvesting |
Rhizomes: Late summer –autumn |
|
Actions |
Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bactericidal, carminative, diaphoretic, stimulant, stomachic |
|
Extraction |
Steam distillation of rhizomes |
|
Constituents |
Eugenol, sesquiterpenes, acrid resin, kaempferol, alpinin Volatile oil containing diaryl heptanoids –galangol, gingerols, alpha pinene, cineole, linalool Flavonoids –galangin, 3-methyl ether Curcuminoids –hexahydrocurcumin |
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Culinary Uses |
Curries |
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Digestive |
Dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea |
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Other Notes |
British ginger beer contains galangal |
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Caution |
May cause mild hallucinations |