Alpinia officinarum

Background

Liangjiang Á¼½ª Liangjiangpian Á¼½ªÆ¬ Chinese Name (pinyin): Gaoliangjiang

Chinese Name  :

Common Name  :Galangal Rhizome

Specific Name  : Rhizoma alpiniae officinarum

Scientific Name:
Collection  : The drug is collected at the end of summer and at the beginning of autumn, removed from fibrous root and remaining leaf scales, washed clean, cut into section and dried in the sun.

Description  : Cylindrical, often curved and branched, 5 - 9 cm long, 1 - 1.5 cm in diameter, externally brownish red to dark brown with fine numerous longitudinal wrinkles and greyish brown sinuous, annular nodes. Each node 0.2 - 1 cm long, bearing round root scars at the lower part. Texture hard and tenacious, uneasily broken, fracture greyish brown or reddish brown, fibrous. Stele occupying about 1/3 area of the rhizome, odour aromatic and taste pungent.

Identification  : Transverse section: The outer walls of the epidermal cells thickened, some cells containing reddish brown non crystaline masses. Vascular bundles of leaf trace relatively abundant in cortex, collateral and epidermis distinct. Collateral vascular bundles numerous in stele, vascular bundles sheath fibres arranged in a ring lignified. Secretory cells abundantly scattered in parenchyma of cortex and stele. Containing yellow or reddish brown resinuous contents. Parenchymatous cells filled with starch granules.

Processing  : Eliminate foreign matter, wash, clean, soften thoroughly, cut into thin slices and dry in the sun.

Action  : To dispel cold from the stomach, to promote digestion and to relieve pain.

Indication  : epigastric pain with cold sensation; vomiting, belching and acid regurgitation due to cold in the stomach

Precautions  :

Dosage  : 3 to 6 g.

Storage  : Preserve in a cool and dry place.