Chittaratha (Alpinia Calcarata (Galangal)

Description

Chitharathai is botanically known as Alpinia galanga. It is a rhizome that is used in both culinary and medicinal applications. While it looks similar to (and is related to) ginger, it tastes nothing like ginger. Galangal has a soapy, earthy scent and a pine-like flavour with a subtle citrus note when used uncooked. It is available in the form of a powder.

Health Benefits

• To treat coughs with sputum, a piece of this plant’s rhizome is carefully chewed.
• This is also beneficial for nausea.
• This rhizome is baked or roasted and given to infants and children with honey and breast milk to treat a variety of digestive and respiratory disorders.
• For rheumatic disorders, 1 to 3 grammes of powdered this rhizome is used thrice day.
• To treat digestive disorders, 1 to 5 grammes of choornam or powdered choornam can be taken twice day before meals.