Evidence supporting the use of: Galangal
For the health condition: Abdominal Pain
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2
Galangal, referring to several species in the genus Alpinia (e.g., Alpinia galanga and Alpinia officinarum), has a long history of use in traditional medicine systems, particularly in Southeast Asia, India, and traditional Chinese medicine. Historically, galangal rhizomes have been used to address a range of digestive complaints, including abdominal pain, bloating, indigestion, and loss of appetite. These uses are described in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, as well as in Thai and Chinese herbal traditions, where galangal is thought to possess carminative (gas-relieving) and stomachic (digestive-supporting) effects.
Scientific evidence supporting galangal’s efficacy for specifically treating abdominal pain is limited. While some in vitro and animal studies suggest that galangal extracts may have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and gastroprotective properties, there is a lack of robust clinical trials in humans validating its effectiveness for abdominal pain. Most available studies focus on general digestive health or antimicrobial properties rather than pain relief. Therefore, the use of galangal for abdominal pain is primarily justified by traditional practices, with only preliminary scientific insights but no definitive validation.
Other ingredients used for Abdominal Pain
appleartichoke
berberine
caraway
chamomile
cinnamon
dandelion
fennel
fenugreek
fiber blend (proprietary)
gentian root
ginger
goldenseal
lactase
licorice root
lipase
mastic gum
peppermint oil
pomegranate
slippery elm bark
turmeric
triphala
aloe vera
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacterium
Bifidobacterium adolescentis
Bifidobacterium animalis
bifidobacterium bifidum
bifidobacterium breve
bifidobacterium infantis
bifidobacterium lactis
bifidobacterium longum
Abuta
Abrus
acacia
Achyranthes
Agarwood
Agastache
Agonandra
Agrimonia pilosa
Agrimony
Ajuga
akebia
Alchemilla
Alchornea
Allium tuberosum
allspice
alpinia galangal
Alseodaphne andersonii
Alstonia macrophylla
amber
Ambergris
American Liverleaf
Amomum
Amor seco
Anemone
Angelica
Angostura
anise
Anserina
Aquilegia formosa
Aquilegia viridiflora
Arani
Ardisia
Areca
Aerva lanata
Alsonia scholaris
Anamu
Angel's Trumpet
Anthraquinone
Arisaema
Arrowroot
Asafoetida
Asam gelugor
Asarabacca
Asarum heterotropoides
Asarum sieboldii
assam indigo
Asteracea
atractylodes
Atractylone
Avens
Baccharoides anthelmintica
bacillus coagulans
Bael
Bai Ji
basil
black pepper
boldo
bromelain
clove
devil's claw
dioscorea
ginseng
green tea
hawthorn
marshmallow
milk thistle
mint
olive
psyllium
rosemary
Baliospermum
Balsam
bamboo
banana
Banyan
barberry
Barleria
Bassia scoparia
Bayleaf
Bee products
Belamcanda
Berberis (unspecified)
Bergenia
berry
beta caryophyllene
betel
Betony
Bidens pilosa
Big Quaking Grass
Bishop's Weed
Bistort
Bitter Grass
Black Hellebore
Black Nightshade
Black root
Black willow
blackberry
blackboard tree
Blackthorn
Boerhavia diffusa
Bombax
Borassus aethiopum
Borassus Palm
Borneol
Boswellic Acid
Bottle gourd
Bougainvillea
Actaea spicata
Alisma
allyl isothiocyanate
aster root
Balloon Flower
Bee Propolis
bentonite
Bermuda Grass
black cumin
Black galingale
boxthorne
Brassica
buckthorn
bupleurum falcatum
butyric acid
bасора
caesalpinia crista
camphor oil
cannabis sativa oil
Cape Aloe
capsicum
cardamom
cayenne pepper
celery
Centaury
chaff flower
chen pi
chickweed
Cinnamomum
cissus quadrangularis
citrus oil
clerodendrum indicum
commiphora
cowage seed
cucumber
Curcuminoid
dogwood
elecampane
fern
ferula assafoetida
Fig
flowering quince
fu ling
fumaria parviflora
Galangal
garlic bulb
goldenrod
greek mountain tea
green banana
green chiretta
hedychium spicatum
hemp oil
herbal blend (proprietary)
holarrhena antidysenterica
horseradish
hyacinth bean
hyssop
Indian bael
Indian gum arabic tree
indigo leaves
Japanese sophora
juniper berries
l-glutamine
lactiplantibacillus plantarum
lactobacillus gasseri
lemongrass
lingusticum wallichii
Little ironweed
lovage
magnesium
melon
menthol oil
morinda
mugwort
Mustard
mustard seed
myrobalan
myrrh
nut grass
okra
oregano
paederia foetida
papain
papaya
parsley
paw paw
peony
phytocannabinoids
picrorhiza kurroa
pistacia integerrima gall
plantain
plum fruit
Poppy
prebiotic blend (proprietary)
prickly ash
Prickly Pear Cactus
pumpkin
punarnava
purslane
queen of the meadow
radish
raspberry
rhizome
rhubarb root
rice
root tuber
schizonepeta
shen-chu
Sichuan pepper
siler root
Snakeroot (unspecified)
solomon's seal
soursop
sphaeranthus indicus
Squash
squawvine
sweet flag
sweetgums
swertia
thyme
tinospora cordifolia
trichosanthes
typhonium
water
white oak
white willow
wintergreen
wood betony
Wormseed
xanthium (cockleburs)
yarrow
yellow root
zanthoxylum
zhejiang fritillary
Zucchini
Other health conditions supported by Galangal
Abdominal PainAcid Indigestion
Appetite (deficient)
Asthma
Belching
Bronchitis
Cancer (natural therapy for)
Cancer (prevention)
Canker Sores
Colds (antiviral)
Colic (adults)
Colic (children)
Congestion (bronchial)
Congestion (lungs)
Congestion (sinus)
Constipation (adults)
Constipation (children)
Cough (damp)
Cough (general)
Cough (spastic)
Diarrhea
Digestion (poor)
Dyspepsia
Fever
Gas and Bloating
Gastritis
Gingivitis
Glands (swollen lymph)
Headache (general)
Headache (sinus)
Headache (tension)
Inflammation