Kalgan (erect cinquefoil) is a perennial medicinal plant. From ancient times, the root of colgan has been used as an anti-inflammatory, soothing and expectorant drug.
Some medical professionals claim that its action is much more effective than medicines like "Aspirin". Surprisingly, the first mention of the miraculous nature of the plant is found in ancient legends and epics, and the root of the kolgan was a leading component in the preparation of potions by the healers.
In general, the homeland of a perennial is considered to be the Hainan island in China. But today the geography of its growth is much wider: Thailand, Indonesia and China. For a long time in the countries of Western Europe it was believed that the root of the kolgan was the Russian root, and they called it that way because it got there from our state. Although it began to be used as a medicine much later - initially the rhizome was used as a seasoning for main dishes, as it gave the food a spicy, sour-spicy taste.
What is the reason for such a popularity of a medicinal plant? Kolgan root has excellent anti-inflammatory, hemostatic, expectorant, sedative, choleretic properties. Also, from our ancestors we received recipes for the preparation of decoctions that coped very well with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - with gastritis, a stomach ulcer, long-term diarrhea, enterocolitis and inflammatory processes in the intestines.
Kalgan tincture helps with bleeding intestinal and uterine. A sick liver can also be treated well with decoctions or tinctures from this rhizome - inflammatory processes, cholecystitis and many other diseases can be treated wonderfully without tablets!
But not only tinctures were used and are being used at this time. Ointment prepared on the basis of galangal root also has excellent antimicrobial properties . Severe bleeding wounds, frostbite, eczema, burns, cracks - any of these diseases can be treated with compresses or lotions from the “Russian root”. Its positive effect on the respiratory system was noted, not only with severe coughing or bronchitis, but also with emphysema or tuberculosis in the patient.
However, not everyone can freely take a large number of drugs based on this plant. You should be very careful if you have hypertension, low acidity of the stomach, or increased blood clotting. As in the case of tablets, there may be an overdose, the symptoms of which are nausea, vomiting and severe pain in the stomach.
This plant can be collected in autumn, spring or early summer. If you want to prepare the roots, then go to the forest in September-October, but it is better to collect the leaves in April-May, when they are just starting to grow. As a rule, galangal grows in bright forests, in swamps, edges, clearings. In our country it is found in all regions of the European part of the country, as well as in Western Siberia. If you don’t know what
galangal (root) looks like
, you can find a photo of it in any medical reference book or herbalist.