Aromatic ginger is the common herb used in Indonesian cuisines. The rhizome resembles ginger but possesses a different and distinctive flavor. It possesses a strong taste with a pungent aftertaste. It is a source of zinc, ethyl aster, starch, borneol, parahuman, cinnamic acid, minerals, and other nutrition.
Aromatic ginger belongs to Zingiberaceae with 20 genera out of known 53 genera. It is a small monocotyledonous herb that grows to the height of 1 to 3 inches and used for medicinal properties for decades. It has no central stem or stalk. Leaves grow right off the rhizome and leaves are 6 inches long. Some varieties have glossy solid green leaves. The blossoms are small white and fragrant about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) wide with a splash of purple at the center of the lip. It is found in open areas in Southeast Asian countries such as Southern China, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Taiwan. It is roasted, air-dried, and used ground on its own or mixed in spice.
Plant description
Kaempferia galangal, is a perennial low, rhizomatous and stemless with pale yellow to yellowish-green rhizomes. Leaves are 2-3-5 spreading low and horizontally on the ground. Leaf-blade is green, broadly ovate to sub-orbicular about 7–20 × 3–17 cm and glabrous on both surfaces or villous abaxially. An inflorescence is a terminal that emerges from leaves enclosed by imbricate leaf sheaths and sessile. Bracts are 2.5 cm long and lanceolate. Corolla tube is 2 to 2.5 cm long and lobes are white. Apex is 2-cleft, labellum is 2.5 × 2 cm.
Health Benefits of Aromatic ginger
- Increased energy
Aromatic ginger promotes energy. Boil 2 cm of aromatic ginger with a glass of water and drink this before sleep. Furthermore, Japanese and Tibetan incense formulas contain this rhizome especially to enhance energy, awareness, create a peaceful environment and overcome exhaustion.
- Enhance appetite
Aromatic ginger has a carminative property that helps to enhance appetite.
- Lowers bad cholesterol
Aromatic ginger promotes the production of bile in the body. Bile is responsible for the absorption of nutrients; eliminating toxins such as bad cholesterol.
- Source of antioxidant
Antioxidant eliminates free radical and viruses. This makes aromatic ginger beneficial for immunity.
- Cure for cough
The aromatic ginger solution is a cure for coughing symptoms. Wash roots, peel, and grate them. Twist the cloth with aromatic ginger and extort the juice. Add lime juice and honey to taste and drink aromatic ginger syrup thrice a day till the symptoms recede.
- Reduce bloating
Wash and eat raw aromatic ginger with salt and wash with warm water. Boil 3 cm of aromatic ginger roots with a glass of water. Drink the solution or eat root twice a day by preventing bloating.
- Treat sprained muscle
Mix one aromatic ginger rhizome with mashed raw rice. Apply it to affected area.
Traditional uses
- It stimulates the stomach, relieves pain, promotes digestion and dyspepsia, abdominal pain, and gastralgia.
- It treats rheumatism, edema, and arthralgia.
- Apply it to teeth as a cure for dental caries.
- Mix it with honey and use it for cough and chest pain.
- Flowers and leaves are used for treating eye diseases and seizures.
- Use the decoction or powder for cold, indigestion, abdominal and pectoral pains, toothache, and headache or gargle.
- Leaves are added to lotions or used as a poultice or fevers, sore throats, rheumatism, swellings, and sore eyes.
- Apply the leaves ash to the swollen breast.
- The rhizome is used for treating swelling as well as muscular rheumatism.
- Apply the leaves to the forehead to provide relief from colds and nosebleeds.
- Filipinos use the decoction of the rhizome for headaches, dyspepsia, and malarial chills.
- Use it in hair wash to eliminate dandruff.
- In China, it is used for treating pectoral and abdominal pains, hypertension, toothache, headache, dyspepsia, rheumatism, coughs and inflammatory tumors.
- It is helpful for stress, restlessness, depression, and anxiety.
- Apply the rhizome oil to provide relief from nasal congestion.
- Use the leaves internally for bronchial complaints, colds, gastric complaints, and dyspepsia.
- Use the root poultice externally for swellings, wounds, and ulcers.
- Chew the leaves for sore throat and coughs.
- Mix with the juice of Cucurma Montana, ginger rhizomes, and C. aromatic to facilitate childbirth.
- For mumps, apply the rhizomes on swollen glands for 30 minutes for three times daily.
- Apply the hot rhizomes on rheumatic afflictions.
- In Malaysia, it is used for stomach pains and cough.
Culinary uses
- Use it as a spice or flavoring for foods.
- Leaves are used as an ingredient in curries.
- Rhizomes are used for preparing beverages known as beras kencur.
- Extract essential oil from the rhizomes by distillation.
- Young leaves are consumed raw or steamed or added to curries.
- Cook the leaves with chili paste or use it as a side dish with rice.
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