Galangal and Ginger Root: What Are the Differences and Health Benefits of Each?

Galangal and ginger are two plants from the Zingiberaceae family. Galangal is good for stomachache, colds, and swelling and ginger is good for arthritis, colds, headaches, and stomachaches.

Galangal and ginger are two plants from the Zingiberaceae family. They grow in relatively similar parts of the world and have both been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.

At this point, scientists have studied ginger a lot more than galangal. This means that we have a better idea of how ginger impacts your health than we do for galangal. Luckily, though, research into both plants is ongoing, and new information is coming to light all the time. 

The scientific name for galangal is Alpinia officinarum. The plant naturally grows in parts of the world near: 

• China
• India
• Thailand 

These plants are perennials, which means that they come back every year without the need for someone to re-plant them. Galangal plants have thick rhizomes, which are the underground stems of plants. They’re used for storing starches and producing a plant’s root systems. 

Galangal plants also have ornamental leaves and large, white flowers. 

People have been aware of these plants for thousands of years in their native lands. They only arrived in Europe during the Middle Ages. 

The official name for the ginger plant is Zingiber officinale. These plants mostly grow in Asia. 

As with galangal, the part of the ginger plant that you’re likely the most familiar with is the rhizome. In ginger, the rhizome is: 

• Thick
• Full of knots
• Beige in color

Above ground, the plant has thin, heavily-ribbed leaves and moderately sized flowers. The flowers are usually white or yellowish-green. These plants are also perennials.

Ginger has been used in cooking for over 4,000 years and in medicine for at least 2,000 years. Today, it’s easy to acquire in grocery stores all over the world. 

Since galangal and ginger come from the same plant family, they have a lot of properties in common. Both of them have been used in Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Ayurvedic medicine is traditional Indian medicine. 

Also, unlike other herbal preparations where we prioritize the leaf or the flower, we mostly use the rhizomes for both of these plants. Root extracts are also sometimes used. 

Another key similarity is that both of these plants contain a large number of biologically active compounds. These can have important impacts on your body and overall health. 

There’s also a very good chance that many of the bioactive molecules found within the plants are not found in both. For example, ginger contains gingerols. These are thought to play a large role in the health benefits that we get from ginger. So far, gingerols have not been reported in galangal extracts. This makes sense because the plants were used to treat distinct health problems in their traditional applications. 

Even so, extracts from these plants are sometimes used in combination during clinical trials. If you check the nutrition labels, some products that contain ginger will also contain galangal. 

Galangal root has many uses in traditional medicine. Most of these have not yet been verified by modern science. Symptoms that galangal is traditionally used to treat include: 

• Stomachaches
• Common cold symptoms
• Swelling 

Extracts were also used to invigorate the circulatory system. Chemicals within the galangal root and rhizome are thought to have a number of different beneficial properties, including use as an: 

• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Antiulcer
• Antidiarrhea
• Anticoagulant
• Antidiabetic  

Galangal has also been used to specifically treat hemorrhoids. 

We need a lot more research into galangal to verify many of these claims, though. 

Currently, there’s some preliminary evidence that it can help with chemotherapy, work as an antibacterial agent, and assist with pain relief through its anti-inflammatory properties. 

Additionally, recent studies have started extracting molecules from galangal to determine their biological activity. Early work has confirmed that some of the compounds found in galangal display antioxidant and antibacterial properties in test tubes. 

Ginger root has been used to treat a large number of health conditions for thousands of years. These include: 

• Arthritis
• Colic
• Colds
• Headaches
• Painful menstrual cycles

It’s also been used for more generic symptoms, like: 

• An upset stomach
• Diarrhea
• Nausea

Current research has verified that ginger has a positive effect on people with stomach problems caused by a number of conditions, including: 

• Pregnancy
• Motion-sickness
• Chemotherapy-induced nausea 

Researchers are still exploring other uses for ginger, though. It’s likely able to help with a much broader range of health conditions than those listed above.  

Some studies have looked at the effects of both galangal and ginger. For example, one study found that when taken in combination, they were able to reduce knee pain more than a placebo did. This means that they both have potential when it comes to helping with issues like osteoarthritis. 

They may also supplement chemotherapy. One study found that galangal caused breast cancer cell lines to die. However, these effects have not yet been replicated in humans. 

Another study compared the effects of both ginger and galangal preparations on a strain of Staphylococcus. Bacteria from this group can cause a wide variety of human health issues. The study found that galangal had a stronger effect than ginger. It was able to damage the bacteria’s inner and outer membranes. 

The amount of galangal that you need for positive health effects is unclear, but there are some established guidelines for the amount of ginger that you should consume. 

Adults shouldn’t ingest more than four grams of ginger a day from any source, whether as a tasty spice or a medicine. Typical studies use one gram of ginger a day or less when testing effects on human health. 

Don’t give these plants or their extracts to children under two years old. 

You should always talk to your doctor before introducing a new botanical supplement into your diet, like galangal or ginger extracts. Ginger may interfere with certain medications, like blood thinners. 

Your doctor can recommend the best amount to start with and a source of good, pure extracts. They can also monitor your health when you’re first starting out to make sure that you don’t experience any negative side effects.