- Region
- Asia
- Origin
- South-East Asia, especially Indonesia and Thailand. Alpinia galanga and Alpinia officinarum
- Sanskrit
- Malayavach
- Other names
- Grote galanga
Asia · Herb · № 119
Alpinia galanga
Herb · Asia
Galangal
Alpinia galanga
A relative of ginger traditionally used for nausea, wind and sluggish digestion. Clinical evidence is limited.
Safety notes
Safe as a spice. Little is known about concentrated preparations in pregnancy.
Cautions by tradition (1)
- Chinese materia medica: Not with heat.
Preparation
The fresh rhizome in dishes such as Thai soups, or dried as tea or powder. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
Galangal travelled to Europe early through the spice trade; the abbess Hildegard of Bingen called it a remedy for the heart. It is also used in Unani medicine and Ayurveda.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Carminative, digestive tonic, induces sweating, anti-emetic, stimulating, antifungal; for stomach cramps, wind, travel sickness, dizziness and palpitations.
Preparation and amount
Decoction of 1–2 slices of fresh root per mug for digestive complaints and chills; capsules 1–2 × 200 mg for cramps, indigestion and travel sickness; tincture 2–10 drops for nausea, 10 drops as a heart and circulation tonic; do not treat heart complaints yourself.
Ayurvedic materia medica
Attributed effects
Aromatic, stimulating, bitter, stomachic, carminative; for rheumatism and bronchial catarrh, diabetes, bad breath, acne and skin diseases; flavouring.
Preparation and amount
Rhizome powder 1–2 g; paste with oil on the skin.
Chinese materia medica
- Nature and taste
- pungent, hot
- Meridians
- spleen, stomach
Attributed effects
Lesser galangal (gao liang jiang, Alpinia officinarum) warms the middle and relieves pain in abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea from cold.
Preparation and amount
Traditional dosage: 3–6 g a day, usually in a decoction. Hotter than ginger; much used in Thai cooking.
Combinations
- With xiang fu for stomach pain from cold
- With ban xia and dried ginger for vomiting from cold
Caution: Not with heat.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Tea (infusion)DecoctionTinctureCompress, poultice and pastePowder and kitchen