Contents:
- What is the difference between kencur, ginger and galangal?
- What are the benefits of kencur for health?
- 1. Cough medicine
- 2. Relieve stress
- 3. Diarrhea medicine
- 4. The main ingredient of herbal medicine
- 5. Other kencur benefits
Kencur, who has the Latin name Kaempferia galanga, is still one family with ginger or zingiberaceae. So, don't be surprised if many people often mistakenly distinguish kencur from ginger or galangal because of its similar shape. In fact, kencur can bring different benefits from ginger for body health. Read on to find out the various benefits of kencur for health.
What is the difference between kencur, ginger and galangal?
At a glance, kencur, ginger and galangal look similar. Although both belong to the root group, kencur has a distinctive skin appearance, tanned with a pale yellow inside.
In addition, kencur also has a very strong aroma and the texture of the flesh is slightly similar to turmeric, but softer. Kencur plants grow a lot in tropical and subtropical regions. Distribution areas are generally in Asia, including in Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Malaysia.
What are the benefits of kencur for health?
Aside from being a seasoning, in fact kencur has a variety of benefits that are good for health, including:
1. Cough medicine
The traditional herb Kencur mixed with salt has long been known as a medicine for coughing up phlegm. Taking it can make breathing easier and help relieve cough with phlegm faster. Aside from being a cough medicine, it turns out that these herbal ingredients are often consumed by singers before they appear to help maintain the condition of the vocal cords in the throat and relieve the throat.
2. Relieve stress
A study conducted by researchers from the Jahangirnagar University pharmacy department in Bangladesh showed that kencur plant extracts, both rhizomes / roots and leaves, have antidepressant properties on the central nervous system that can provide sedative or calming effects.
The results of the study reinforce the benefits of kencur for health as a significant sedative effect. That is why, many people use kencur as a drug used to reduce the effects of stress, anxiety, anxiety, and depression. However, this research still needs further research regarding the efficacy of kencur for the health of the human body.
3. Diarrhea medicine
The results of other studies conducted by the same researchers showed that the kencur extract contained quite a lot of cytotoxic and antibacterial substances. Well, it makes kencur a choice for diarrhea treatment.
4. The main ingredient of herbal medicine
In Indonesia, kencur is the main ingredient used to make herbs, whether it's traditional or modern herbal medicine. This herbal drink is often referred to as kencur rice which is made from a mixture of rice, kencur, tamarind, and brown sugar. The benefits of kencur which are processed into herbal drinks are beneficial for increasing appetite, overcoming digestive problems, stomach ache, shortness of breath, runny nose, and also headaches.
5. Other kencur benefits
In addition to the meat, the leaves and roots of the galingale also have health benefits. Some of the benefits that are produced from kencur leaves include to overcome fever, swelling, rheumatism, and others because they are anti-inflammatory.
While at the root, kencur has benefits for treating toothache and dandruff. Not only that, kencur root can also be used to help treat muscle injuries and swelling. The trick, mash the kencur root with a handful of rice until smooth. Then smear it on parts of the body that are injured or swollen.
