It looks like ginger, but it isn’t: What is galangal and what are its effects?

• What is galangal? Not ginger
• Why is it worth paying attention to?
• Galangal effects under the microscope: what do the studies say?
  • 1. Pain relief
  • 2. Digestive support
  • 3. Anti-tumour effect
  • 4. Memory and cognitive function
  • 5. Other effects
• Fresh, dried or paste galangal: which form should you choose?
  • 1. Galangal powder
  • 2. Fresh galangal
  • 3. Galangal paste
• Galangal vs. ginger: how do they differ?
  • The effects of galangal vs. the effects of ginger
• Where to buy galangal?
• Conclusion
• FAQ

What is galangal? Not ginger

Galangal (Alpinia officinarum) looks a bit like ginger 🫚, but it is quite different – it differs in taste, aroma and use.

The rhizome of this plant belongs to the ginger family 🫚 and originates from China, specifically mainly from its southern regions, such as Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong or Hainan Island.

It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, most commonly in connection with digestion or pain relief. 🤧

These days, galangal isn’t just popular in herbal medicine, but also in Asian cuisine 🍴. The good news? You can find it in several forms, so you can choose exactly what suits you best – fresh root, dried galangal or galangal paste.

Why is it worth paying attention to? 👀

Galangal is interesting not only for its flavour and history, but also for its composition. It contains more than 300 bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, glycosides and essential oils. This is one of the reasons why it has long been a focus of scientific research 🔬.

👉 Fun fact: Its use is mentioned as far back as in ancient Chinese texts from the Han Dynasty.

Galangal effects under the microscope 🔍: what do the studies say?

Are you curious about the effects of galangal? Galangal is being studied in relation to digestion, pain, inflammatory processes and cognitive function.

Most of this data so far comes mainly from laboratory and preclinical studies.

1. Pain relief 🤕

Some research suggests that galangal may have anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential. For example, the flavonoids contained in galangal could help reduce pain perception and suppress inflammatory responses.

One flavonoid that has come under the spotlight is galangin – researchers have found that in mice with asthma, it can suppress airway inflammation to a certain extent 🫁.

2. Digestive support 🤮

Galangal is traditionally associated mainly with supporting digestion and is often mentioned in connection with digestive tract problems such as stomach ulcers or heartburn.

In a 2011 study, researchers investigated the effect of galangal essential oil on stomach ulcers in mice.

3. Anti-tumour effect 🫀

The flavonoid galangin has attracted the attention of scientists, who have been investigating its potential anti-tumour properties.

At the same time, the researchers investigated whether galangal might also be significant in the future in relation to the prevention of cancerous changes.

4. Effects on memory and cognitive function 🧠

Some preclinical studies also focus on the possible positive effect of the flavonoid galangin on learning and memory. In studies on mice, researchers investigated its potential neuroprotective effect in relation to Alzheimer’s disease.

However, these are currently results from animal studies 🐁; more human studies will be needed to draw clearer conclusions.

👉 Tip: Ashwagandha is also being studied for its effects on cognitive function. Learn more about it in our article.

5. Other benefits ❤️‍🩹

Galangal is also mentioned in connection with haemorrhoids or abnormal menstruation. In India, its rhizome is often used for diabetes, rheumatism, and neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases.

A 2014 study suggested a possible effect of galangal on sperm motility. Researchers investigated whether taking powder made from the rhizome of long-jawed galangal would affect the total number of motile sperm.

The study involved 70 adult men who took either tablets containing galangal and pomegranate extract or a placebo daily for three months.

Once the trial was complete, it was found that the total number of motile sperm had increased by 62% in the men taking the extract.

Fresh, dried or paste: which form should you choose?

Galangal is available in several forms, and each is suited to slightly different purposes.

1. Galangal powder

When you come across galangal powder, it is the dried and ground rhizome of galangal.

Compared to the fresh variety, it is easier to store and keeps for longer. In specialist shops, you can often buy it as galangal spice.

2. Fresh galangal

Fresh galangal is ideal if you want to get the most out of the plant’s rhizome. It has a distinctive and authentic flavour and really comes into its own in Asian dishes – such as Tom Yum or Tom Kha Gai soups, or Asian sauces. It is also often used in curry pastes.

However, unlike ginger, it is harder and more fibrous, so it is usually sliced, crushed or simply simmered in the dish 🍲 to release its flavour and aroma. It is then often removed from the dish before serving.

3. Galangal paste

Galangal paste is a great choice if you want to cook without chopping, as it’s easy to measure out and incorporate into a dish. It works particularly well in curries and stir-fry recipes, as well as marinades and sauces.

When choosing, however, it’s worth checking the ingredients – you’ll often find other ingredients that aren’t exactly top-notch alongside the galangal itself.

Galangal vs. ginger: how do they differ? 🫚

At first glance, galangal and ginger are quite similar, but ultimately they taste and smell completely different.

Ginger is juicy, spicy and slightly sweet, whilst galangal has a sharp, woody flavour with a pungent, almost citrusy note 🍋.

Galangal is mainly at home in Asian cuisine 🧑‍🍳 – it’s added to soups, curry pastes, marinades and sauces. Ginger, by contrast, is generally more versatile – it’s commonly added to both savoury and sweet dishes, as well as to teas and lemonades.

Galangal is also harder and more fibrous than ginger, so it is often simply simmered with food to impart its flavour and aroma.

The effects of galangal vs. the effects of ginger

Ginger has a lead over galangal mainly in terms of research – it has been studied much more extensively and there are more human studies on it. Meanwhile, research on galangal has so far been predominantly laboratory-based and preclinical.

Some research suggests that ginger has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiemetic and hypoglycaemic effects. It is also mentioned as a possible aid for morning sickness, vomiting or menstrual cramps. 

In the case of galangal, we can only speak of interesting therapeutic potential at this stage.

Where to buy galangal? 🛒

Galangal is no longer a great rarity – you can most often buy it from specialist online shops, in both dried and fresh forms.

Here, for example, you can pick up a sachet of Canntropy’s 10:1 loose-form botanical galangal extract. It is available in packs of 10, 25 and 100 g.

👉 Tip: Want to explore further? Check out our other herbal supplements or read more about them.

Conclusion: a rhizome with plenty to offer

Galangal is a plant with a long tradition that has found its place in both traditional Chinese medicine and modern gastronomy.

It is available in several forms – fresh, dried and as galangal paste. Whilst galangal root is mainly suited to Asian cuisine, galangal powder is a more practical option.

It is fair to say, however, that most of what we know about galangal today is based mainly on laboratory and preclinical research. There are currently few high-quality clinical studies in humans demonstrating the effects of galangal. 

Sources:

• An Extract of Pomegranate Fruit and Galangal Rhizome Increases the Numbers of Motile Sperm: A Prospective, Randomised, Controlled, Double-Blinded Trial
• Alpinia officinarum Hance: a comprehensive review of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics and pharmacology
• Galangal, the multipotent super spice: A comprehensive review
• Galangin alleviates learning and memory impairments in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice by regulating the Akt/MEF2D/Beclin-1 signalling pathway

Author: Lucie Schmidtová

Photo: AI

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