Have you ever noticed how words change as they cross cultures? An ancient Chinese word, "liang-tiang," made its way to the Arab world. There it was perhaps mispronounced or misheard and emerged as "galangal." You might think from the genus name, Alpinia, that this pretty flowering plant grew in some alpine region but your guess would be wrong. It grows only in the tropics in thickets on barren mountain slopes or in sparse forests which have a lot of light. It is named for Prospero Alpini, a 17th-century Italian botanist who specialized in exotic plants but you probably know it as "ginger."

Like its name, the "Galangal" plant species has spread across borders. You would recognize both the flowers and the root as some kind of ginger, a member of the Zingiberaceae family. Used in many Asian recipes as well as for cosmetic and medicinal uses, it is known as "lesser Galangal" or simply "Chinese ginger." The rhizome (root) is ground up into a powder and is the main ingredient in the marinade for the ever-popular Asian satay barbecues and in "detox" and stomach-settling drinks.

That same powdered galangal is used for its warming properties in a popular Malaysian traditional body scrub used nowadays in spas across Asia. The exfoliant consists of ground rice, turmeric, nutmeg and galangal and is said to stimulate circulation and metabolism as it cleanses.

Native to the southeast Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan, it now grows wild on China's southernmost island, Hainan, and in Thailand, and is cultivated in India and in Taiwan. Its modern Chinese name is "Gaoliangjiang" and its "pungent, hot" qualities are used in Chinese medicine for "warming the middle, for dispersing cold, regulating qi-flowing and for suppressing pains."

Western medicine and science has started to 'wake up' to the wisdom of traditional medicines. The British Journal of Cancer published a paper in 1999 jointly written by an Italian and a Chinese scientist noting that 'galangin' is a flavonoid with evident anti-cancer benefits. It has been reported that lesser galangal extract was found to kill cancer cells and promote the ability of healthy cells to resist carcinogens.

Paul Penders International is based on a tropical island in the Andaman Sea in northern Malaysia with so many rare species that UNESCO has designated it a "GeoPark." The galangal herb grows wild in the mountain jungles and the indigenous people have long known its therapeutic and cosmetic value. As a tonic with anti-bacterial properties, it has been used medicinally to heal stomach and intestinal ailments, joint and ligament pains, bronchitis, skin diseases, and even cholera. A fragrant Malaysian massage oil uses galangal, coconut oil, cloves, nutmeg, and lemongrass.

The modern cosmetics industry is just starting to discover the centuries-old traditions used by native peoples. Lesser galangal has proved to be an excellent and powerful astringent for cosmetics. We proudly use it in Paul Penders "Alpinia & Tea Tree Facial Wash."

Alpinia Cleansing Wash

A light, foaming facial cleanser with plant-derived ingredients to gently remove surface dirt and impurities. The natural antibacterial action of Alpinia extract and essential Tea tree oil gently but effectively cleanses normal to oily skin, while helping to normalize sebum production and reduce blemishes.

By Teviot Fairservis.

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