Black ginger is not as common as yellow ginger, which is still commonly used in everyday life. However, black ginger offers many more amazing health benefits than regular ginger. Let’s learn about black ginger Vietnamese right in the following article.
1. What is Black Ginger?
Black ginger in Vietnam also has other common names such as purple wormwood, forest root, etc. However, these are only names according to the local regions of Vietnam.
There are many types of black ginger among which the most famous and studied is Thai black ginger, scientifically known as Kaempferia parviflora. In Vietnam, some regions also grow Thai black ginger varieties such as Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An.
In Vietnam, there are 4 other varieties of black ginger, respectively:
- Distichochlamys citrea: grown in Pu Mat National Park, Cuc Phuong National Park. This is the type species of the genus black ginger.
- Distichochlamys orlowii: grown in Gia Lai, mainly to collect essential oil.
- Distichochlammys benenica: found in Ben En National Park, Thanh Hoa.
- Distichochlammys rubrostriata: Grown in Cuc Phuong National Park.
However, the above 4 ginger varieties are less studied, Kaempferia parviflora alone is the most studied, bringing many values and benefits to human health.
2. Health benefits of black ginger
2.1. Anti-fungal, antibacterial
In a January 2004 study, black ginger contained 9 types of flavonoids. Several flavonoids exhibit antispasmodic, antifungal, and antimicrobial activities. These isolated flavonoids were not cytotoxic against KB, BC and NCI-H187 cell lines, and this cytotoxicity information suggests that the rhizome of K. parviflora may safe when used as an ingredient in traditional medicine. (1)
2.2. Against stomach ulcers
When using black ginger at doses of 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg, it inhibits the formation of stomach ulcers. (2)
2.3. Anti-allergy
Black ginger has long been used in traditional Thai medicine to combat allergies. Among them, the stem and root of Kaempferia parviflora have the strongest anti-allergic effect. (3)
2.4. Effect against ovarian cancer
The inhibitory effect of Kaempferia parviflora on cell proliferation, migration and cell invasion along with induction of apoptotic cell death in SKOV3 cells suggests that Kaempferia parviflora has the potential to become a novel candidate for chemotherapy agents for ovarian cancer. (4)
2.5. Black ginger is effective for patients with knee arthritis
The main components of black ginger such as 5.7-dimethoxyflavone and 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone are highly absorbed by the body, reducing the activity of extracellular enzymes (metallicoproteinases) that cause collagen depletion in cartilage. (5)
See more: Ginger Vietnam
3. How to use black ginger
- Soak with honey: Soaking Black Ginger with honey is a way to create a very healthy drink. The method is very simple, cut black ginger and then put it in a sealed jar with honey, cover and store in the refrigerator. After a while, the honey will penetrate into the black ginger, which can be sucked directly or mixed with warm water into a very healthy tea.
- Soaking: To create a unique liqueur, you can soak Black Ginger in a jar of wine. The active ingredients in black ginger will be released into alcohol, when used in moderate amounts will be very good for health.
- Cooking seasoning: Black ginger can be used like regular ginger, minced or thinly sliced and added to cooked dishes such as soups, soups, broths, chicken, beef, or stews. Black ginger will add a unique and slightly spicy flavor, creating a characteristic aroma to the dish.
- Black ginger tea: To make black ginger tea, boil water and add slices of Black Ginger. Cover and let Black Ginger soak in hot water for about 10-15 minutes. You can also add spices like basil powder, honey, or lemon to enhance the unique flavor.
Although black ginger is very beneficial for health, you should only use it appropriately for the best health effects. You should also consult your doctor before using black ginger daily.
Hope the article “Discovering great health benefits from black ginger Vietnamese” has brought a lot of useful information for you. Read more articles of Vipsen to update more information.
See more: Discover unique flavors: Ginger Vietnam cuisine and world cuisine