ຂ່າ
Galanga
Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd.
Plants
Herbaceous plants
Vegetables and herbs
Alpinia galanga var. galanga
Alpinia galanga var. pyramidata (Blume) K.Schum
Alpinia pyramidata Blume
Alpinia calcarata var. compacta Gagnep.
Alpinia cernua Sims
Languas galanga (L.) Stuntz
Maranta galanga L.
Zingiber galanga (L.) Stokes
Ecology
Use
Farming activities
Medicine
Fruit and other parts of Kha are aromatic and provide a sweet tasting spice for other foods. The young pseudo stems and young inflorescence are eaten as vegetables. In Laos and Thailand especially, the root stock (rhizome) is commonly used for making sour soups, such as tom yam. Local people also gather the fruit for the Chinese traditional medicine market, where it is used to treat indigestion, stomach ache, diarrhea and vomiting. The volatile oil from the root stocks and leaves is also used as a remedy for impotence and nervousness, and to treat skin diseases. The rhizome and seeds are used as a fragrance in medicine. The red variety of galangal is preferred for medicine in Indonesia, and the white variety’s rhizome is used as a spice or source of essential oil, or to flavor alcohol. Rhizomes are also used to dye fabrics yellow and yellowish-green.
Nutrition
Nutrient | /100g | Remark |
---|---|---|
Proteins | N/A | N/A |
Carbohydrates | N/A | N/A |
Fats | N/A | N/A |
Vitamins | N/A | N/A |
Minerals | N/A | N/A |
Fibers | N/A | N/A |
References
Leti, M., Hul, S., Fouché, J.-G., Cheng, S.K. & David, B. (2013). Flore photographique du Cambodge: 1-589. Éditions Privat, Toulouse.
Flora of China Editorial Committee. 2000. Flora of China (Flagellariaceae through Marantaceae). 24: 1–431. In C. Y. Wu, P. H. Raven & D. Y. Hong (eds.) Fl. China. Science Press & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing & St. Louis.