Galangal Root – Health Benefits, Therapeutic Uses and Side Effects

Botanical Name: Alpinia officinarum.

The medical applications of galangal are in many ways the same as its close relative ginger.

It is a bitter herb that is used to promote digestion and stimulate appetite and production of digestive fluids. The herb is therefore used to treat anorexia, indigestion (dyspepsia), colic and stomach ache.

It is also used traditionally for hiccups, nausea, vomiting, chronic gastritis, and ulcers in the digestive tract.

The herb has analgesic (relieving pain) and antipyretic (reducing fever) properties, and it may also help reduce bacterial and fungal infections.

The rootstock of galangal has shown an inhibitory effect in vitro on many pathogenic bacteria like anthrax bacillus, hemolytic streptococcus and various strains of Staphylococcus.

Galangal is often recommended for motion sickness and morning sickness, an effect that is primarily attributed to ginger.

Galangal can also be applied as a treatment for infections of the upper respiratory tract such as chronic bronchitis and cough. An extract of the root is used as a mouthwash and a gargle for mouth ulcers, gum inflammation and other inflammation in the mouth and throat and as a treatment for bad breath (halitosis).

In the Middle East, there is a tradition of using the herb as a remedy for rheumatic pains and arthritis.

In traditional Chinese medicine, galangal root is regarded as a warming herb that can be used for stomach pain, vomiting, hiccups, and diarrhea. When used against hiccups it is often combined with poor man’s ginseng (Codonopsis pilosula) and the fungi fu-ling (Chinese) also known as Indian bread (Wolfiporia extensa).

Historical Medicinal Uses and Traditions

The herb has been used in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times and still is. Galangal was first brought from Asia to England and northern Europe in the 13th century by the crusaders and soon became a popular spice as well as medicine.

The Medieval mystic Hildegard of Bingen recommended the herb as a tonic for the heart, and called it “the spice of life” and said it was a gift from God meant to keep diseases at bay.

Galangal in Cooking

Galangal is closely related to languas galanga (Alpinia galanga) and ginger (Zingiber officinale).

The herb is highly aromatic and has mild spicy flavor, and it is used extensively in the Indonesian cuisine.   It is a basic spice in the Indonesian national dish “nasi goreng,” a rice dish cooked with vegetables, meat, gravy, fruit, and mushrooms.

Galangal is used as a seasoning in many types of meat, vegetable, and fish dishes and it’s also an essential ingredient in many spice blends that originate from the Far East.

Active Ingredients and Substances

The galangal rhizomes contain volatile oil, methyl cinnamate, eugenol and volatile diarylheptanoids, known as galangol.

Furthermore, the plant contains gingerol, flavonoids (galangin, galangin-3-methyl ether, and Kaempferide), starch, tannins, and resins.

Plant Parts Used

The fresh or dried roots (rhizomes) are used in herbal medicine. The roots are harvested at the end of the growing season from plants that are 4-6 years old.

Dosage and Administration

Galangal root is used as a tincture, a decoction or in powder form and as a medicine, the recommended daily dose of the herb is usually around 6 g.

As a tea – use half to one teaspoon of the coarsely ground root in a cup of boiling water and steep for 5-10 minutes. Drink three cups daily half an hour before meals.

To enhance digestion, use 20 drops of tincture in 1 ml of warm water three times daily. For nausea and motion sickness use the tea or 250 mg of ground root in capsules twice daily.

Possible Side Effects and Interactions of Galangal

Galangal is, for the most part, a safe herb to use in recommended doses.

People with ulcers should not take the herb because it stimulates the secretion of gastric acid.

Other Common Names

Lesser galangal, small galangal, galanga, galingale, gargaut, India root, east India root, east India catarrh root, China root, Chinese ginger, Siamese ginger, ginger root, colic root, lille galangarod (Danish), Echter Galgant (German), gao liang jiang (Chinese).

Habitat

Galangal is endemic to Thailand, Vietnam and Southeast China and today it is cultivated on a large scale in many countries in Southeast Asia, primarily in China, Malaysia, Thailand, and India.

Description

Galangal is a perennial plant of the Zingiberaceae family (the ginger family) that can grow up to five feet or 150 cm in height. It has a dark reddish-brown, cylindrical and fleshy rootstock (rhizome).

The flower stems are long, narrow with lanceolate leaves that surround the stem as a sheath. The orchid-like flowers are white with red veins. The fruits are red fleshy berries, the size of peas, that usually contain three dark brown seeds with rather unpleasant taste.

Supporting References

van Wyk, Ben-Erik & Michael Wink: Medicinal Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press 2004.
Williamson, Elisabeth M.: Potter’s Herbal Cyclopaedia. Essex, Saffron Walden 2003.
Chouni, Anirban & Paul, Santanu. (2017). : A Review on Phytochemical and Pharmacological Potential of Alpinia galanga. Pharmacognosy Journal. 10. 09-15. 10.5530/pj.2018.1.2.
Bensky, Dan & Andrew Gamble: Chinese Herbal Medicine. Materia Medica. Seattle, Washington, Eastland Press Inc. 1993.
Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
Clevely, Andi; Katherine Richmond et al.: The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices. London, Hermes House 1997.
Tierra, Michael: The Way of Chinese Herbs. New York, Pocket Books 1998.
Tierra, Michael: Planetary Herbology. Twin Lakes, Lotus Press 1988.
Skenderi, Gazmend: Herbal Vade Mecum. 800 Herbs, Spices, Essential Oils, Lipids Etc. Constituents, Properties, Uses, and Caution. Rutherford, New Jersey, Herbacy Press 2003.
Hoffmann, David: The New Holistic Herbal. Boston, Element Books Ltd. 1990.

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Thordur Sturluson

Thor Sturluson has a BS in Biology, majoring in Botany, from the University of Maine and a masters degree in Zoology from the Open University in London. He's an experienced Biologist with a history of working in the environmental services industry. A trained scuba diver and researcher, Thor's has a keen interest in nature conservation and animal/plant protection. His work and botany passion has made The Herbal Resource what it is.

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