32 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



Cliinese name is derived from ^ g, which was formerly 

 the name of j^ >}]] }(f Kao-chon-fu in Knangtung province. 

 The plant is sometimes called ^ ^ (Mau-chiang), or the 

 *' ginger of the Man-tzu," aborigines of the southwestern part 

 of China. The Phitsao says that the plant is now found in 

 every part of Southern China, and extending into Szechuan. 

 Galangal root is about two inches long, less than half an inch 

 in diameter, externally of a rust brown color, longitudinally 

 striated and transversely marked with the remnants of the leaf 

 sheaths. Internally it is greyish-brown, and breaks with a 

 fibrous fracture. It has an agreeable aromatic odor and a warm 

 aromatic taste, resembling that of mingled ginger and pepper. 

 Stomachic, carminative, sialagogue, tonic, and antiperiodic 

 properties are the most important of the effects ascribed to this 

 drug, which has from ancient times, as at the present time, 

 been held in much esteem by Chinese physicians. 



The seeds of this plant, ^ H K •? (Kao-liang-chiang-tzu), 

 3&! S ^ (Hung-tou-k'ou\ 537, 1091, are the '•'• Galanga Carda- 

 viovi " described by Hanbury. The capsule is about half an 

 inch in length, oblong or pear-shaped in form, and prominently 

 crowned with the remains of the calyx. Some are shriveled 

 on the outside and some are smooth, apparently depending 

 upon their maturity at the time of gathering. The pericarp 

 also varies as to thickness and color, in proportion to the 

 maturity of the fruit ; in the less mature being pale and thick, 

 and in the more mature of. a reddish-brown and thin. The seeds 

 are in a three lobed mass ; each lobe containing two seeds, placed 

 one above the other. The seeds are ash-colored, flattish, and 

 somewhat three-cornered, and have a large hilum. They 

 have a pungent, aromatic taste, and an odor resembling that 

 of the root. 



The seeds have much the same properties as the root, 

 being given in pyrosis, cholera, diarrhoea, toothache, ague, and 

 diseases arising from damp and chills. They seem to have the 

 virtues of cardamoms and ginger combined, and may be 

 suggested for more general useas a stomachic and general tonic. 



In the Customs List there seems to be considerable 

 uncertainty as to terms and classification. In 713, "% ^ 

 (Liang-chiang; is used for Alpinia officinorum. It is probable 



