Alpinia calcarata – Chittarutha

Alpinia calcarata, commonly known as galangal, is referred to as rasna in Sanskrit, kulainjan in Hindi, and chittaratha in Malayalam. This perennial herb features a non-tuberous, pungent rootstock and can grow up to 1.5 meters tall, yielding approximately 24 suckers per clump annually. The rhizome, the plant’s economic part, is integral to many traditional medicine formulations. It is valued for its properties in alleviating throat inflammation, stimulating digestion, purifying the blood, enhancing voice quality, and maintaining youthful vigor.

(Medicinal value/use of the plant or any part of the plant is neither guaranteed nor assured by ByPlants (www.byplants.in). Information on the website is provided from different online and offline sources, which may or may not have scientific assurance.)