Luya

Family Zingiberaceae

Scientific name:  Zingiber offinale Rosc.

Local names

                                    Agat (Pang)

                                    Basing (IIk)

                                    Gengibre (Sp)

                                    Laial (Sbl)

                                    Laiya (If)

                                    Laya (IIk, Bon, Ibn, It)

                                    Luy-a (Bis)

                                    Ginger (Engl)

Traditional uses

            A.            Rhizome

1.      made into plaster and applied for headache and toothache

2.      fresh rhizome sliced and heated then applied for muscle and joint pains.

3.      juice rubbed on and around the navel for diarrhea

4.      chewed to increase flow of saliva

5.      decoction also taken in for sore throat, colds, cough and tuberculosis

6.      decoction also taken in for indigestion, gas pain, stomach pain, diarrhea and to expel intestinal worm.

7.      fresh juice taken in to increase amount of urine.

8.      infusion taken to increase perspiration

B.            Leaves

            Pounded and heated, then spread on a cloth to be applied to bruises.

 Reasearch Findings

             Rhizome has several volatile oils.

 Food Values

             The rhizome is used popularly as a condiment.

 Recommended Medicinal Uses

             An antiseptic:  Prepare tincture of dried rhizome with 70 percent alcohol (not rubbing alcohol) and apply on superficial cuts.  For the same purpose, the juice of the fresh rhizome can be also be used.

             For gas pain:  Take decoction of the rhizome (salabat or tahu) as tea.

            For sore throat and pharyngitis:  Take warm decoction of the rhizome as tea or chew a small piece of rhizome.

             For rheumatism:    Pound, roast, mix with oil and apply on painful joints.

 Botanical and Agricultural Characteristics

             Habit:  herb

            Habitat:  Cultivated in low and medium altitudes

            Propagation:  Rhizome