Family: Zingiberaceae
Synonym: Amomum zingiber L.
Bengali/Vernacular name: Ada.
Tribal name: Ithing (Bawm), Paimui (Chakma), Ke (Chak), Kiching (Khumi), Sawhthing (Lushai), Kheyan (Marma), Sapsa (Murang), Aaithing (Pangkhoa), Shaen-pang (Rakhaing), Aara (Tanchangya), Hyching (Tripura).
English name: Ginger.
Description of the Plant: An erect, smooth plant arising from thickened, very aromatic rootstocks. Leafy stems 0.4-1 m high. Leaves sessile, linear-lanceolate, 15-25 cm long, acuminate, glabrous or puberulous along midrib beneath, shallowly bilobed.Inflorescence radical; peduncle 10-20 cm long; spike 4.5-7 cm long, ovoid.Corolla tube 2.2-2.5 cm long, lobes creamy yellow.Labellum obovate, purplish black, with creamy yellow blotches.
Plant parts Used: Rhizome.
Traditional
Uses: Fresh juice extracted from the rhizome of the plant is taken once
a day (three tea spoons amount each time) until the abdominal pain is cured.
A fresh juice extracted from the rhizome of the plant, after adding few drops
of honey it is taken three times a day (two tea spoons amount each time) until
the asthma is cured.
For hoarseness, warm decoction of the rhizome is drunk as ginger tea; piece of
small rhizome chewed for the same.
Cottonseed-sized pills made from rhizomes of the plant are taken with warm
water thrice a day (one pill each time) until the bronchitis is cured.
Juice from fresh root is used for treatment of burns.
Fresh juice extracted from the rhizomes of the plant is taken with salt thrice
a day (10 ml amount each time) for three days to treat flatulence.
Zinger decoction is used to treat indigestion, colic, abdominal chills, colds,
coughs, influenza, and peripheral circulatory problems.
Externally, the root is used to treat spasmodic pain, rheumatism, lumbago,
menstrual cramps, and sprains.
Decoction of rhizomes of the plant is drunk as ginger tea for treatment of sore
throat; piece of small rhizome chewed for the same.
A fresh juice extracted from the rhizomes of the plant is taken twice a day (40
ml amount each time) for two weeks to treat liver disorder.
Distribution: It is cultivated throughout the country.
Is this plant misidentified? If yes, please tell us….
