Know the herbs
Scientific name
Zingiber zerumbet (L.) SmithFamily
ZingiberaceaeLocal name
Lempoyang (Malaysia dan India)Description
This herb consists of the dried rhizome of the Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith plant processed into a yellowish-brown powder with an aromatic odor and an astringent taste. The macroscopic characteristics of the plant and its rhizome show that it is a perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plant with erect, round stems standing 1–2 m tall. The leaves are thin, measuring 25–35 cm long, and are sometimes purplish on the lower side of young shoots. The inflorescence of this plant is 6–12 cm long, green when young and turning red when old, while the flowers are pale yellow or white. The rhizome itself is perennial, thick, scaly, aromatic, and pale yellow on the inside.
Usage
Generally, lempoyang is known worldwide as "shampoo ginger" and is used as an ingredient in commercial shampoos in Asia and Hawaii. For traditional use, it is employed to treat swelling, sores, hypertension, and loss of appetite. The Malay community uses the rhizome to relieve intestinal and digestive problems, loss of strength, and vertigo. A decoction of the rhizome water is used to treat worm infestation in children, as well as to treat fever, cough, bacterial infections, thrush, diabetes, fish poisoning, wounds, and hemorrhoids. In Polynesia and Hawaii, this plant is also used to treat toothache and stomach-ache.