Galangal more genuine

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 07.05.2025

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Synonym(s)

Alpinia officinarum; Galangal; Siamese gallant; small gallant

Definition
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Alpinia officinarum, also known as true galangal, is a ginger-like shrub with a horizontal rhizome that belongs to the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family. It is native to the island of Hainan and is also cultivated in Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia.

Alpinia officinarum is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows to a height of 1.50 meters. The plant forms slender, horizontally growing rhizomes that act as survival organs. Its leaves have no stems and are 20 to 30 cm long and between 1 and 2.5 cm wide.
The inflorescences are racemose and white in color with reddish lines. The flowering period is between April and September, the fruit from May to November.

The root, Galangae rhizoma, is used phytotherapeutically.

General information
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Alpinia officinarum is the parent plant of thegalangal rootstock(Galangae rhizoma).

Literature
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  1. Blaschek W (2015) Wichtl-Teedrogens and phytopharmaceuticals. A handbook for practice. Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft Munich. S 275-276