Botanical Name: Hedychium spicatum Ham. ex Smith.
Family: Zingiberaceae
Introduction:
In north Hedychium spicatum using as Shati, but in South Kaempferia galangal is using.
Latin name: Hedychium = Hedys = sweet, chion =. snow, sweet scented snow, white flowers of this plant are fragrant; spicatum = spiked (or Curcuma zedoaria or zemburet).
Names in different Indian languages
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English |
Spiked Ginger Lily. |
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Hindi |
Ban-haldi |
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Kannada |
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Malayalam |
Valiya kacholam |
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Sanskrit |
Shati |
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Tamil |
Poolankizangu, Kichilikizangu. |
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Telugu |
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Unani |
Kapuurkachari |
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Folk |
Synonyms
Shathi, Shati, Gandhashathi, Gandhapalaashi, Kapuurkachari, Suvrataa, Gandhaarikaa, Gandhavadhuu, Gandhamuulikaa
Hedychium album Buch-Ham. Ex Wall.
Classification according to Charaka, Susrutha & Vagbhata
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Charaka |
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Susrutha |
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Vagbhata |
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Varieties & adulterants - (CV – controversy, AD – adulterants)
Kaempferia galangal
Morphology
This is a perennial shrub. Tubers are thick, ‘oblong and potato-like. The tubers are scented. Dried pieces of the tubers are available in the market.
Leaves -. 30 cm. long and slightly broader flower stalk has branches and bears white flowers which have soft. cilia on them.
Ovary - round. The plant bears flowers and fruits in rainy season
Distribution & Habitat
Himalaya. Kumaon. Nepal. Bhutan
Chemical constituents:
sitosterol , glucoside,, diterpene, 7-hydroxy hedychenone, cineole, gamma-terpinene, limonene, betaphellandrene, p-cymene, linalool , beta-terpineol
Properties:
Guna: laghu. tikshna:
Rasa: katu. tikta. kashay:
Vipaka: katu:
Virya :ushna:
Karma -
carminative, spasmolytic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic, antidiarrhoeal, analgesic, expectorant, antiasthmatic, emmenagogue, hypoglycaemic, hypotensive, antimicrobial, anthelmintic, insectrepellent
Srotogamitva:
Dosha: Kaphaghna. vataghna.
Dhatu: Rakta (purifier), rasa (febrifuge), meda (ligaments, fumigation in hiccups).
Mala: Purisha (ama digestive, astringent), hair (alopecia).
Organs: Very useful in cleansing the mouth.
Indication:
Cough, asthma, dysentery, gout, burning sensation, dyspepsia, cephalgia, worm infection
Part used:
rhizome
Dosage:
Powder 2-4 g
Decoction 50-100 ml
uses:
External use: It is used for application in arthritis and wounds. In dental diseases, ills used for application on the teeth as a tooth powder. Shall mixed with oil is used for fumigation to remove bad odour. Its application is done on alopecia and its nasal administration is done in diseases of the head.
Internal use: Since it is an appetizer, digestive, analgesic and astringent, it is useful in anorexia, vomiting, indigestion. colic pain and diarrhoea. It is also used in cough, cold, asthma, hiccups, skin diseases, diseases of the blood and in pyrexia. Its fumigation is done in hiccups.
Important Yogas or Formations:
Shatyadi churna. Shatyadi kwath.
Descriptions on Ayurveda books / Nighandu:
