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GALANGAL source: erowid.org FAMILY : Zingiberaceae GENUS & SPECIES : Alpinia galanga Alpinia officinarum Kaempferia galanga (false ginger) COMMON NAMES : galanga root, maraba, galgant (Germany), laos (Indonesia), ka or kha (Thailand), lengkaus (Malaysia) IDENTIFICATION : Tropical perennial. Grows in New Guinea, India, Malaya, and the Moluccas. The four to six year old rhizomes are dug in late summer or at the beginning of autumn. After the fibrous roots have been removed, the rhizomes are traditionally cut into pieces and dried in the sun. USES : The rhizome or underground stem is the part most commonly used. Generally, it is used as a spice, similar to ginger and infrequently found in the U.S. During the Middle Ages in Europe, it was known as an aphrodisiac and is still sold from herbal suppliers as a sexual stimulant. In Thailand, it is still used as a remedy for stomach problems, as well as a flavoring. TRADITIONAL USES : Galangal has a long history of traditional medicinal use. The rhizome is chewed and ingested. The active ingredient is an unidentified substance in the volatile oils of the rhizome. This compressed oily juice is called maraba. Effects include hallucination. |