Kacholam

Overview

Kaempferia galanga, commonly known as kencur, aromatic ginger, sand ginger, or cutcherry, is a monocotyledonous plant in the ginger family and one of four plants called galangal
It is used as a spice in cooking in Indonesia, where it is called kencur (known as ‘cekur’ in Malaysia) and is also used in Javanese and Balinese cuisines.

A small stemless perennial herb, Kaempferia galanga is propagated by splitting of rhizomes.
It is native to India and China, with a terrestrial habitat. The preferred climate zone for its growth is tropical and subtropical/monsoonal.
This herb has a small, low-growing form with 2-3 (occasionally up to 5) broadly elliptical to suborbicular leaves occurring in a rosette.
The leaves are held horizontally, close to the ground, hairless on top, and hairy below. The rhizome, or underground horizontal stem, is white or yellowish and smells like camphor.

Several bioactive phytochemicals, such as esters, terpenoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, diarylheptanoids, cyclic lipodepsipeptide, phenolic acids, and glucoside, have been isolated from the rhizomes of K.galanga.
The rhizomes contain cineol, borneol, 3carene, camphene, kaempferol, kaempferide, cinnamaldehyde, p-methoxycinnamic acid, ethyl cinnamate, and ethyl p-methoxycinnamate.

K. galanga rhizome, rich in essential oils, is traditionally used for indigestion, cold, pectoral and abdominal pain, headaches as well as an expectorant, diuretic, and carminative.
Its extracts are also used for the treatment of swelling, with reported cytotoxic, anti-hypertensive, and hypolipidemic
Galanga is employed as an alternative medicine for antirheumatic conditions due to its anti-inflammatory activity.
Applied for abdominal pain and post-partum care.
The rhizomes, containing essential oils, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a decoction or powder, and alcoholic maceration is applied as liniment for rheumatism.

Galangal root is a rich source of antioxidants, beneficial plant compounds that help fight disease and protect cells from damaging free radicals.
Strengthens and tones the scalp, making hair stronger and shinier.
Improves oxygen transport to the hair, enhancing hair strength.
Vitamin C in galangal plays a role in skin cell rejuvenation, preventing skin ageing.
Galangal is a home remedy to remove acne and dark spots; rubbing galangal flesh on the skin can slowly reduce acne and skin dullness.

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