Roots of galangal are part of a perennial plant of the same name from the Rosaceae family. Its scientific name is Potentilla erectus. The roots of galangal are woody, tuberous. Potentilla reaches a height of 10-20 cm, its stems are ascending or erect, thin, slightly short-haired, well leafy, single flowers. It is distributed almost throughout the entire territory of the Russian Federation.
All parts of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. One of them is the galangal root, the properties of which from this point of view are the most pronounced, since it accumulates the largest amount of useful substances. To do this, it is harvested in the first half of autumn or April-May, when the basal leaves are just beginning to grow. The collected underground parts of the plant are cleaned, dried in the open air or in special chambers. Leaves and grass are harvested during the flowering period.
The plant contains essential oils and tannins. It contains organic and phenolcarboxylic acids: caffeic, dihydroxybenzoic, gallic, p-coumaric. Kalgan contains triterpenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenols (floroglucinol, pyrocatechol), cyanidin glucoside, vitamin C. Bit has lipids in which higher fatty acids are present: pentadecanoic, stearic, lauric, oleic, linolenic, linoleic, palmitic.
Galgan roots and preparations based on them have a high pharmacological activity, which is due to the high content of tannins, flavonoids, saponins (triterpene). Means from this plant have a hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, bactericidal and tonic effect. Kalgan roots are widely used in folk medicine. Preparations from them are used to treat gastrointestinal ailments: ulcers (stomach and duodenal ulcer), enterocolitis, gastritis, diarrhea, cholecystitis, colitis. The external galangal root has been used to treat diseases such as cracked skin, weeping eczema, burns, inflammation, fungi, hemorrhoids.
Healers have long used this plant to prepare tinctures and decoctions to combat uterine and intestinal bleeding, trichomonas colpitis, thyroid ailments, frostbite, and renal colic. They are used for sore throat, tuberculosis, inflammation of the nasopharynx, hematomas, painful menstruation, insomnia, jaundice, rheumatism, dysentery, convulsions. The positive effect of galangal on the body of men is well known; it can be used to restore or increase potency. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties help fight prostatitis.
The roots of this plant are often included inantidiarrheal, gastric collections, as well as mixtures used for diseases of the bladder, mycosis, headache. A decoction of them is used against parasites. The infusion is used for fever. In addition to medicinal purposes, the roots are used for dyeing fabrics in black, red and brown, and for tanning leather. In addition to decoctions and tinctures, ointments are used for medicinal purposes. Most often, these are remedies for wounds, ulcers and burns. For this purpose, the crushed root is boiled in butter (1 tablespoon per glass).
