Some Galanga with your Coffee?

Some Galanga with your Coffee?

Galanga  (Alpinia galanga; A. officinarum) can refer to any one of four species  of plants in the ginger family that are used as spices, and also  sometimes as a vegetable (flowers and young shoots). Alpinia galanga,  also called Greater Galangal or Blue Ginger, is a common form of Galanga  used in cooking.

The plants grow up to about 9 feet in height,  with a growth habit very similar to Ginger. The rhizome is sharp and  sweet in its taste, and is often described as having a scent like black  pepper and pine needles.

In traditional medicine, Galanga is  used in many indications including for coughs and colds, childhood  illness, digestion and respiratory conditions. Scientific investigation  has found bioactives present with activities reported, such as  immunomodulating, antiinflammatory, diuretic, antibacterial, antifungal  and antiplatelet activities.

The red fruit of Galanga is also  used in traditional Chinese medicine, with a similar flavor to Cardamom.  Galanga has shown weak antimalarial activity in preclinical studies, is  frequently used for colds and sore throats, and has long been used in  African American folk medicine and hoodoo.

In Ayurveda, Galanga  is used to balance Vata and Kapha doshas and placed in many formulations  for winter season aggravations and other conditions. It is utilized  commonly in formulations of the throat, respiratory system for children  and adults.  

In Unani medicine, Galanga has a long traditional  use and mentioned in classical texts. It is used for a wide variety of  traditional preparations and often used to target the respiratory system  and throat.

A randomized controlled clinical study showed that  Galanga improves cognitive performance by increasing mental alertness,  and when combined with caffeine, can impede the effects of the “caffeine  crash”, improving sustained attention…so, perhaps some Galanga with  your coffee can keep you focused throughout the day!

#medicinalplants #biodiversity #ethnobotany

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