For centuries, galangal has been used as a medicinal plant to treat or prevent various diseases. There is no doubt about the efficacy of galangal as a traditional medicine, because this spice is known to contain many important compounds that are beneficial to health, such as galangin, phelonic acid, polyphenols, and flavonoids.
Galangal is often used as a spice for Indonesian and Asian specialties. This spice, which at a glance is similar to ginger, is not only able to taste food, but also benefits health.
These are the benefits of galangal
There are various health benefits of galangal, including:
1. Relieves joint pain
Galangal is thought to relieve joint pain, for example in cases of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Like ginger and turmeric, galangal contains anti-inflammatory chemical compounds that can help relieve inflammation that causes joint pain.
A study conducted on patients with knee osteoarthitis also showed that daily consumption of ginger and galangal extracts can relieve knee pain that occurs when standing. However, further research is needed to determine the anti-pain effect of galangal itself.
2. Increase male fertility
Consumption of galangal is believed to increase male fertility. A study conducted for 3 months on men with poor sperm quality showed that taking a supplement containing galangal could help improve sperm quality.
However, further research needs to be done. The reason is, this research does not purely use galangal, but also uses other ingredients, namely pomegranates.
3. Lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels
Consumption of galangal is also believed to prevent type 2 diabetes and heart disease. This benefit may be obtained thanks to the content of polyphenol antioxidants which can reduce blood sugar and bad cholesterol levels in the body.
4. Overcoming respiratory problems
The essential oil content in galangal is believed to be able to treat respiratory problems experienced by children, such as rhinitis, bronchitis, whooping cough, and throat infections.
5. Reducing the risk of developing certain cancers
Although it has not been proven in humans, in-test tube studies have shown that the galangin content in galangal is proven to be able to kill cancer cells or prevent cancer cells from spreading, especially colon cancer, breast cancer and skin cancer.
In addition, the antioxidant content in galangal can also fight free radicals that can cause oxidative damage to body tissues and trigger various diseases, including cancer.
6. Kills and inhibits the development of viruses and bacteria
Research shows that the galangin content in galangal has the potential to inhibit the development of the Corona virus. In addition, galangal extract is also proven to be able to kill bacteria that cause various diseases. However, this still needs to be investigated further.
The taste of galangal itself is actually a bit spicy, but not as spicy as ginger. To get the benefits of galangal, you can put this spice into food, make it tea by boiling it, or put it in herbal concoctions.
Although it can be used as a traditional medicine to treat and prevent a number of diseases, you should not rely solely on galangal to treat the disease you are suffering from without consulting a doctor.
In addition to the benefits of galangal, it still needs to be proven, this spice is also thought to cause several side effects, such as loss of appetite, excessive urination, or diarrhea, if consumed in excessive amounts.
So, if you experience health complaints, it’s better to consult a doctor to get the right treatment. You can also ask your doctor whether galangal can be used as a companion treatment for your condition.
