Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma
Aliases：Liáng Jiāng (Good Ginger Rhizome); Xiǎo Liáng Jiāng (Small Lesser Galangal Rhizome); Mán Jiāng (Barbarian Ginger Rhizome); Gāo Liáng Jiāng (High Lesser Galangal Rhizome); Hǎi Liáng Jiāng (Sea Lesser Galangal Rhizome); Fēng Jiāng (Wind Ginger Rhizome); Gāo Liáng Jiāng (Refined Lesser Galangal Rhizome); Fó Shǒu Gēn (Buddha‘s Hand Root); Huǒ Hā (Huoha Ginger Rhizome).
Gāo Liáng Jiāng (Lesser Galangal Rhizome) is a Chinese medicinal substance. It is the dried rhizome of Alpinia officinarum Hance, a plant of the Zingiberaceae family. It is used both as a Chinese medicinal material and as a food spice.
Efficacy & Actions
Dispels cold and relieves pain; warms the stomach and stops vomiting.
Indications
Primarily used for epigastric and abdominal cold pain, stomach-cold vomiting, and belching with acid regurgitation.
Modern Pharmacology
Regulation of gastrointestinal motility: The water decoction of Lesser Galangal Rhizome (Gāo Liáng Jiāng) can regulate gastrointestinal motility and is a commonly used herb for treating digestive tract disorders. Anti-gastric ulcer effect: The volatile oil of Lesser Galangal Rhizome has anti-gastric ulcer effects. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects: Exhibits analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities. Antibacterial effect: Exhibits broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Antitumor effect: Galangin exhibits direct antitumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis and blocking the cell cycle, among other mechanisms. Antioxidant effect: The structure of galangin endows it with excellent antioxidant capacity. Other effects: Also exhibits anti-diarrheal, antithrombotic, anti-hypoxic, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects, among others.
Ingredients
Volatile Oils: Content 0.5%–1.5%. The main components include 1,8-cineole, methyl cinnamate, eugenol, pinene, cadinene, and others. Flavonoids: Galangin, kaempferide, kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and others. Diarylheptanoids (also known as diarylheptane compounds). Others: Also contains glycosides, phenylpropanoids, and others.
Usage & Dosage
Oral Administration: Decoction, the standard dosage is 3–6g. May also be taken as powder, 3g per dose; or prepared in pills or powder.
Contraindications
Lesser Galangal (Gāo Liáng Jiāng) may weaken the laxative effect of Senna Leaf (Fān Xiè Yè); they should not be used together. Should not be used together with drugs such as acetylcholine and histamine. Not suitable for use alone in debilitated patients.
Selected Formulas
For cold congelation with qi stagnation and epigastric pain (Liangfang Jiyi, Liangfu Wan) Take Gaoliangjiang (Galangal) and Xiangfuzi (Cyperus). Make into pills and take. For sudden stabbing pain in the heart and abdomen (Bei Ji Qian Jin Yao Fang, Gaoliangjiang Tang) Take Gaoliangjiang, Houpo (Magnolia bark), Danggui (Angelica), and Guixin (Cinnamon). Decoct in water and drink. For stomach cold with pain (Heji Ju Fang, Erjiang Wan) Take Gaoliangjiang and Paojiang (processed ginger). Make into pills and take. For heart-spleen pain (Bai Yi Xuan Fang) Take equal parts of Gaoliangjiang and Binlang (Areca seed). Stir-fry and grind into powder. Take with rice water. For persistent vomiting in cholera (Shengji Zonglu, Binghu Tang) Take Gaoliangjiang and Dazao (Red dates). Decoct in water and drink.
Daily Consumption
Lesser Galangal Congee: Take 15g of Lesser Galangal Rhizome (Gāo Liáng Jiāng) and 50g of polished rice. First decoct the Lesser Galangal to extract the liquid, then add the rice and cook into a congee. Consume on an empty stomach. It helps warm the middle jiao and dispel cold. Lesser Galangal and Pepper Pig Stomach Soup: Stuff Lesser Galangal and pepper into a pig stomach, then stew into a soup. It helps strengthen the spleen and warm the stomach. Lesser Galangal and Jujube Soup: Decoct Lesser Galangal together with jujube dates, add brown sugar to taste. It helps warm the stomach and dispel cold.
Medicinal Parts
Dried rhizome.
Selection & Storage
Store in a dry container in a cool, dry place, protected from light and moisture (in an airtight container).
