Kalgan - what is it? If you do not know the answer to this question, then you will certainly find it in the materials of the presented article. We will also tell you about the properties of this product, how it should be used and in what cases it is used.
general information
What does a galangal look like, what is it and why is it needed? Kalgan is called the root of a perennial plant, which belongs to the Ginger family. It should be noted that there are three most common types of this herb:
- Alpinia galanga (in Latin Alpinia galanga L.), or "big root".
- Medicinal Kalgan (in Latin: Alpinia officinalis L.), or "small root".
- Chinese root (in Latin Alpinia chinensis L.).
Now you know the answer to the above question about Kalang - what is it? But which country is the birthplace of this medicinal plant? Experts say that Kalgan root was first discovered on Hainan Island (in China). It was also grown in Thailand, South China and Indonesia on the island of Java.
general description
Does the Kalgan have a Russian name (what is it, we said above)? In our country, this plant is called an upright cinquefoil. It has a fairly powerful branched, as well as unevenly thickened root, from which branched, forked and thin stems depart. The leaves of this herb are sessile or short-leaved, wedge-serrate.
On the low stems of this plant single flowers of small size with 4 petals of bright yellow color are concentrated. Usually flowering galangal begins in spring and continues until summer. The fruits of this plant are ovoid nuts. They ripen only in September.
Place of growth
Kalgan (root), the healing properties of which will be described below, lives in natural conditions almost throughout the Earth. However, it is mainly distributed in Eurasia. In Russia, it can be found both in the Kaliningrad region and in Altai. This plant prefers to grow on moist soils, as well as in good light and in open space. In this regard, the kalgan willingly settles on wastelands, slopes, pastures, forest glades and various slopes.
Kalgan (root): healing properties
No wonder galangal is called the "friend" of the stomach. After all, it contains a catechin tanning agent, which has a beneficial effect on all organs of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the presented plant is rich in other types of tannins, as well as quinic and ellagic acids, glycosides, essential oils, flavonoids, resins and flobafen, which has an antibacterial effect.
The healing properties of the sea otter do not end there. Indeed, due to its composition, this medicinal plant is able to have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, astringent and hemostatic effects. That is why it is quite widely used to treat abnormalities such as flatulence, gastritis, enterocolitis, peptic ulcer, intestinal, gastric and uterine bleeding, cystitis, dysentery and diarrhea.
Outdoor use
In what cases do you use externally galangal (root)? The properties of this product are unique. So, it is often used to rinse a sore throat with pharyngitis and tonsillitis, as well as bleeding gums. If you make a decoction of the rhizomes of the presented plant, then it can be safely used for lotions that will save from frostbite, hemorrhoids, poorly healing wounds and various burns.
To prevent the appearance of odor from the mouth, the therapeutic galanga is ground into powder, and then brush their teeth, previously mixed with regular paste. As for the root extract, it is contained in many medicinal collections and herbal teas.
Dosage Forms
Kalgan, a photo of which can be seen in this article, is a medicinal plant. However, the rhizome is the most used part of it. As a rule, they dig it out and then harvest it. This happens in early autumn or throughout the next spring.
After the rhizomes are taken out of the ground, they are cleaned of soil residues and various impurities using hard brushes. Also, the product is washed in clean cold water. With this treatment, it is not always possible to achieve that the root is completely cleared of the earth. After all, there are small cracks on it, which often remain unwashed. In this regard, after drying the raw material, it must be shaken on iron gratings. This process will allow you to get rid of the remaining dirt.
Can galangal (root) be dried? The properties of this product are such that they remain unnamed even after drying. It is recommended to carry out this process quickly. To do this, rhizomes are laid out in a thin layer in the hot sun or on top of a heated oven. Sometimes the galangal root is first cleaned from the outer skin, and then cut into rectangular pieces (about 5-9 centimeters long).
Kalgan: application
After the processing of rhizomes of galangal will be carried out, various tinctures, teas, as well as powders, decoctions and so on can be made from it. Each form of the drug can be used for various diseases. Let's consider in more detail.
Decoction
Ingestion of decoction from the rhizomes of the cinquefoil erect should be for pathologies such as diseases of the digestive tract, liver disease, bleeding, rheumatism, gout, diarrhea, flatulence, scurvy, lung disease and ulcerative colitis. Also, this tool is used externally for anti-inflammatory and hemostatic effect (for example, in the treatment of purulent wounds, eczema, hemorrhoids, burns, stomatitis, anemia, gingivitis and trichomonas colpitis). To prepare the broth, add 30 ml of boiling water to 30 g of chopped rhizomes, and then cook for 20 minutes. After this, the broth is filtered and taken in 1 large spoon 3-4 times a day, an hour before meals.
Tincture
This drug is taken orally for jaundice, diseases of the stomach and liver, dysentery, gastritis, diarrhea, heart disease, enteritis, cholangitis, enterocolitis, nephritis, ulcers, colitis, bronchitis, cholecystitis, gout, uterine diseases and various bleeding. Outwardly, tincture is used for lotions for burns and eczema, as well as for problems with the oral cavity.
To make tincture at home, you need to fill in 30 g of rhizomes with 500 ml of vodka, and then insist for 21 days in a darkened room, shaking regularly. Next, the finished tincture is filtered and taken orally 30 drops 3 times a day, diluted with ordinary water. Reception of tincture is recommended to be carried out 20 minutes before a meal.
Extract
Such a tool is used as an anti-inflammatory, astringent, expectorant, choleretic and hemostatic agent with the following deviations:
- gallbladder disease;
- hemorrhoids;
- uterine and intestinal bleeding;
- enterocolitis;
- thyroid disease;
- gout;
- gum disease;
- diseases of the digestive tract;
- skin diseases;
- diarrhea;
- angina.
Kalgan extract is usually prescribed for adults in the amount of 6 drops 3 times a day, as well as for children 3-4 drops 3 times a day. In this case, the medicine is allowed to be added to compotes, juices or warm teas. For lotions apply undiluted extract.
Powder
Kalgan rhizome powder is used to powder wet ulcers and wounds, as well as external bleeding and various burns. In addition, this tool brushes teeth and eliminates bad breath. Often, ointment is made from galangal root powder, which perfectly treats various skin diseases, and also heals and moisturizes cracked lip skin well.
To prepare the mentioned tool, you should mix 6 g of powder with 125 g of butter.
Side effects and contraindications
Among the side effects that are identified after the use of preparations based on the Kalgan root, the following can be noted:
- vomiting
- epigastric pain (in the stomach);
- severe nausea.
This reaction is due to the high concentration of tannins. In this regard, it is recommended to take this drug with extreme caution, observing the dosage prescribed by the doctor, the schedule of administration and the form of the drug.
The medicinal plant Kalgan is contraindicated in the following cases:
- reduced acidity of the juice of the stomach;
- high body temperature;
- pregnancy period;
- high blood coagulability;
- increased values of the prothrombin index;
- hypertension (especially in the stage of decompensation);
- individual intolerance to the drug;
- atonic constipation.
Contraindications of this tool are due to the fact that galangal (photo of the plant and root are presented in the article) reduces capillary permeability, causing vasoconstriction.