05/23/2019 / By Evangelyn Rodriguez
Kaempferia galanga, also known as aromatic ginger or galangal, is a highly valued medicinal plant that is also cultivated as a spice in some tropical countries, such as India and Malaysia. K. galanga belongs to the ginger family Zingiberaceae and is one of the most important plants in the industry due to its many applications.
Recently, researchers from the Council of Scientific Research-North East Institute of Science and Technology in India wrote a review about K. galanga due to its huge marketability as well as its wealth of pharmacological applicability. The essential oil of K. galanga, for instance, contains many chemical components that exhibit antimicrobial and nutraceutical properties. The authors of the review estimated that on the international market, the value of essential oils like those derived from K. galanga varies from US$600 to 700 per kilogram. Their review containing up-to-date information about the chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil of K. galanga appeared in the Journal of Essential Oil Research.
K. galanga is a small, perennial herb with thick, rounded leaves that lay flat in a rosette on the ground. It is grown not only for food and medicine but also as an ornamental plant. K. galanga prefers humid climates and rich moist soil. Its leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and its rhizomes, while young, are tender and aromatic. They can be used for cooking, as a condiment, or, when dried, as a substitute for turmeric in curry powder.
Aromatic ginger possesses a camphoraceous aroma, and it can be used as a stimulant, a diuretic, an antimicrobial, or a treatment to improve digestion. The root of the aromatic ginger can treat colds, headaches, respiratory problems, and digestive problems. Traditionally, it is known to treat high blood pressure, asthma, and rheumatism. The roots are used as an ingredient in postpartum medicine, in poultices for wounds, and solutions used for sore throats. (Related: Healing essential oils: Relieve inflammation and swelling with ginger oil.)
Aromatic ginger has also been used to make the following natural remedies:
According to the review, the major chemical components of the essential oil of K. galanga have nutraceutical properties and industrial applications. These phytochemicals and their benefits are as follows:
Because of these components, the researchers believe that the essential oil of K. galanga has various pharmacological applications and commercial utility.
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Tagged Under: alternative medicine, anti-inflammatory, Antifungal, Antimicrobial, aromatic ginger, food cures, food is medicine, food science, functional food, galangal, galangal essential oil, herbal medicine, Herbs, Kaempferia galanga, medicinal plants, natural cures, natural medicine, pain relief, remedies, research, stress relief, traditional medicine
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