now cultivated mainly in Kerala,
Ayurvedic Vanardraka, Peja, Peyu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Aardikaa, Shringaberikaa. West Bengal, Maharashtra.
Folk Adarakhi, Bana-adaralthi.
English Ginger.
Action Rhizome—carminative,
stimulant, antispasmodic. Used for Ayurvedic Fresh rhizome—
diarrhoea and colic. Aardraka, Aadrikaa, Shrngibera,
shrngavera, Katubhadra. Dried rhi Th occurance of an active dias- zome—Shunthi, Naagara, Naagaraa,
tase in the rhizome has been reported. Naagaraka, Aushadha, Mahaushad
734 Zingiber zerumbet Rosc. ex.Sm.
ha, Vishvaa, Vishvabheshaja, Vishvaaushadha.
Unani Fresh rhizome—Zanjabeele-Ratab, Al-Zanjabeel. Dried rhizome—zanj abeel, Zanj abeel-eyaabis.
Siddha Fresh rhizome—Inji,
Allam, Lokottai. Dried rhizome— chukku, Sunthi.
Action Rhizome—antiemetic, antiflatulent, hypocholesterolaemic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, expectorant, circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, increases bioavailability of prescription drugs. Used for irritable bowel and diarrhoea, colds and influenza. Showed encouraging results in migraine and cluster headache (I Ethnopharmacol, 1990, 29, 267—273; Aust I Med Herbalism, 1995, 7/3, 69— 78; Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.) The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends dried rhizomes in dyspepsia, loss of appetite, tympanitis, anaemia, rheumatism, cough and dyspnoea; fresh rhizomes in constipation, colic, oedema and throat infections.
Key application For dyspepsia
and prevention of motion sickness
(German Commission E); vomiting
of pregnancy, anorexia, bronchitis
and rheumatic complaints (The
British Herbal Compendium);
as a post-operative antiemetic.
(ESCOP).
The rhizome contains an essential oil containing monoterpenes, mainly geranial and neral; and
