6/11/2016

MedicinalPlantsofIndia

ShampooGinger

ative

Photo:NirmalaChathoth

Commonname:ShampooGinger,PineconegingerAssamese:gathianBengali:kulanjan,mahabari
bach,narkachurHindi:Banadrak,Mahabaribach,NarkachurKannada:agaleshunti
Malayalam:kathuinshikuaManipuri:
YaimuMarathi:Kaalihalad,narakchora
Oriya:viranamSanskrit:ahava,avanti,karpuraharidraTamil:araniyacaranaiTelugu:kaarallamu
Urdu:Kapurkachri
Botanicalname: ZingiberzerumbetFamily:Zingiberaceae(Gingerfamily)
Synonyms:Amomumzerumbet,Zerumbetzingiber,Amomumsilvestre
Shampoo Ginger is a perennial herb characterized by pineconelike heads of bracts from which white
flowers emerge. On maturity the heads turns bright red and exude a wonderfully thick liquid with an
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6/11/2016

MedicinalPlantsofIndia

equally wonderful fragrance. And, in fact, the liquid makes an excellent shampoo, thus its common
name Shampoo Ginger. The 1012 ellipticlanceshaped leaves, 1520 cm long, grow in an alternate
arrangementonthin,uprightstem.Amongtheleafystemstheconicalorclubshapedflowerheadsform
onseparateandshorterstalks.Theseappearinthesummer,aftertheleafystemshavebeengrowing
for awile. The flower heads are reddishgreen 310 cm long with overlapping scales, enclosing small
yellowishwhite flowers that poke out a few at a time. The flowers are inconspicuous, 3petaled, and
creamish in color. The flower stalks usually remain hidden beneath the leaf stalks. This plant,
originatinginIndia,wasdistributedeastwardthroughPolynesiaandintroducedtotheHawaiianIslands
inthecanoesofearlyPolynesiansettlers.ShampooGingergrowsinmoist,shaded,forestedareas.
Medicinaluses: InHawaiithespicysmellingfreshrhizomeswerepoundedandusedasmedicine
for indigestion and other ailments. In traditional use, the rhizome was ground in a stone mortar with a
stone pestle, was mixed with a ripe Noni fruit and then used to treat severe sprains. The pulp was
placedinaclothandlooselyboundaroundtheinjuredarea.Foratoothacheoracavity,thecookedand
softenedrhizomewaspressedintothehollowandleftforaslongaswasneeded.Toeaseastomach
ache,thegroundandstrainedrhizomematerialismixedwithwateranddrunk.

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