Chinese Herb
Shan Nai / Sha Jiang
Other Names:
Sand Ginger,
Kaempferia galanga, Rhizoma, Aromatic Ginger, Resurrection Lily, Kencur, Cutcherry, proh horm, waan horm, prâh krâ-oup
Functions:
Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic, Anti-Nociceptive, Anti-Hypertension, Sedative, Anti-Neoplastic, Apoptotic, Antimicrobial, Expectorant, Diuretic
History:
The Kaempferia galanga can be found in Indonesia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, and Taiwan, as well as many areas of Southeast Asia. It grows in open spaces as a herbaceous plant. In some cultures, Aromatic Ginger is used for cooking, often in rice dishes. The plant is often called Shan Nai, and when sold in grocery stores it is called Sha Jiang.
Extracts from Sand Ginger can be used to kill mosquito larvae. As a maceration, it can be applied to rheumatism. The extracted oils are also used in perfumes and Sha Jiang is well known as an aphrodisiac. Its pain-relieving properties are anti-nociceptive and can be reversed with naloxone. It has been tested on rats against hypertension, where positive studies show lower basal mean arterial pressure. Other studies have found Shan Nai to inhibit tumor production.
Sand Ginger can also be used for a variety of ailments, from bruises and colds to indigestion and chest congestion.
