Perennial zingiberaceous plant with evergreen foliage.
Medicinally important part : Rhizomes
Lesser Galangal
Scientific name : Alpinia calcarata
Family : Zingiberaceae
Synonym : Alpinia bracteata Rosc.
Vernacular names:
English : Lesser galangal
Malayalam : Chittaratha, Kolinchi
Sanskrit : Rasna
Chittaratha is the main medicine used in Ayurveda for rheumatism . The plant is also known as Chukannaratha, Chittaratha, Aratha and Sugandhavaka . ( Scientific name : Alpinia calcarata ) The leaves are similar to those of cardamom . Hence Chittaratha is also known by the Sanskrit name Elaparni [1] . The plant is also known by the Sanskrit name Rasna [1] . Although native to Malaysia , it is also widely grown in the hilly regions of Kerala. In Kerala, Chittaratha is used only for medicinal purposes while in North IndiaIt is used as a spice [1] .
The tubers of Chittaratha are like ginger . It grows to a height of about 1 m to 1.5 m and its stalks are not strong. The leaves are long and narrow. Inflorescence axillary racemes , white to greenish white .
Medicine
The root of Chittaratha contains 3 components namely Camphiride, Galangin and Alpinin. Its stalk contains the essential oils Methyl Cinnamate, Cincole, Camphor, and D-pinenei [1] .
In addition to rheumatism, it is used to treat a number of ailments, including respiratory illnesses, suffocation, urinary incontinence, normalized blood pressure, and diabetes [1] .
Used in Rasnadi powder, Rasnadi tincture and Rasnasundadi tincture. Chittaratha, Amrit, Devataram, Dashamoolam , Rasnadiganam [3]
It is also used in Rasnadi ointment, Ashwagandharishtam , Maharasnadi infusion and Rasnasaptakam. [4]
