Page 75 - EBOOK_Jamu: The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing

Greater galangal (laos or lengkuas; Languas galanga)

The use of greater galangal (commonly referred to as galangal in English) in
healing practice can be traced back to the 6th and 7th centuries, when it was
prescribed by physicians in countries as far apart as India, Arabia and Greece.
The Arabs even believed galangal was an aphrodisiac. Three hundred years later,
records show galangal was added to medicine by the Chinese and according to
scientist Isaac Henry Burkill, by AD 1200 they were exporting it to Palembang in
Sumatra. Marco Polo tells us that the Javanese grew and supplied galangal to the
spice traders in the 13th century.
Twelve kinds of galangal are widely used in Indonesian medicine, but the
most popular variety is languas galanga, used in jamu for indigestion, stomach
aches, diarrhoea and flatulence. Its active compound is cineol, a proven

antiseptic.

Kudu Laos is a typical jamu formula based on galangal. The recipe is a
good example of how jamu ingredients interact to achieve an effective result. It
cures indigestion, wind and loss of appetite. Among other ingredients, this jamu
combines the curing properties of galangal with garlic—antiseptic, anti-bacteria
and anti-inflammatory—and because both ingredients are full of natural vitamins
and minerals, the potion also boosts overall health. Kudu Laos also includes
mengkudu (Indian mulberry; morinda citrifolia), a laxative that is also especially
recommended for liver complaints; white pepper for its warming effect; young
tamarind, which contains vitamin B, for wind and diarrhoea; and white sugar,
Javanese brown sugar and salt. All these ingredients are selected to enhance one
another’s chemical action.

Writing on the Moluccas at the end of the 17th century, the knowledgeable