Alpinia galanga 

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Alpinia galanga

Alpinia galanga (L.) Sw., the greater galangal, Zingiberaceae, occurs in India and south east Asia.

The spicy rhizomes contain several essential oils and are used as a condiment in Malaysia and Indonesia.   Rhizomes are pickled and as seasoning.   In Manipur rhizomes and the flowers are eaten.

The rhizomes are used in many Ayurvedic formulations to treat rheumatism and bronchial catarrh, and as a stimulant and carminative.   Seeds are used in diarrhoea and vomiting.    

Rhizome oil is used in perfumery.

The rhizome flavonoids of  Alpinia galanga were found to be antihelminthic and those of Alpinia zerumbet Burtt & RM Smith (= Alpinia speciosa (Wendl.) Schum., ) had antifungal activity.   Alpinia galanga (Alpinia galanga1) can be distinguished from other species particularly when flowering, but the rhizomes of Alpinia calcarata Roscoe (Alpinia calcarata1) and Alpinia zerumbet are often substituted for Alpinia galanga, either deliberately or out of ignorance.