Finger Root
Proven Health Benefits of Finger Root:
- Prevents dental caries and tooth decay.
- Boost's sperm quality.
- Promotes weight loss.
- Prevents breast and colon cancer.
- Treats leukemia.
- Accelerates wound healing.
- Treats ulcers.
What is Fingerroot?
Fingerroot (Boesenbergia rotunda) is a kind of ginger valued for medicinal and culinary purposes from the Zingiberaceae family. Native to the tropical rain forest in Southern China and Malaysia and cultivated in Myanmar, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. It is a finger-like rhizome growing from a centerpiece hence the name fingerroot.
Fingerroot can be used in its fresh form or its dried form. The dried form is stronger with an extra medical flavor. Fingerroot is also known as Chinese ginger or Chinese keys characterized by thick yellow-brown roots, light green leaves, with pink to yellow to white flowers.
What is fingerroot useful for?
Traditionally, Fingerroot was used for medicinal purposes to treat inflammatory diseases, reduce allergies, cure infections and tonic for childbirth, promote good oral health by preventing fungi's growth responsible for candidiasis. It also cures mouth illnesses such as mouth ulcer, dry mouth, and oral eczema. 2
For culinary purposes, fingerroot is used as a vegetable in main dishes, fermentation of soya beans, and curries as a flavoring ingredient. Additionally, fingerroot is known to accelerate wound healing besides being used as an effective aphrodisiac for men. 3
Health benefits
- Treats ulcers by lowering the level of the reactive substances in thiobarbituric acid hence exhibiting antiulcer effects.
- Prevents dental caries and tooth decay by preventing the growth of streptococcus mutans which causes tooth decay.
- Treats amoebiasis, which is caused by entamoeba histolytica, by inhibiting the propagation of amoebas.
- Prevents breast and colon cancer by inhibiting the growth of breast and colon cancer cells.
- Treats leukemia by inhibiting cancer cell growth due to the presence of alpinetin, pinocembrin, pinostrobin, cardamonin, and boesenbergin flavonoid derivatives.
- Boost's sperm quality and protects testicular tissues from damage, thereby enhancing male fertility.
- Accelerates wound healing due to the presence of ethanolic extracts.
Nutrition
100g of fingerroot, contains:
- Calories 80
- Total fat 0.8 g
- Protein 1.8g
- Total Carbohydrate 17.8g
- Cholesterol 0mg
- Sodium 13mg
- Potassium 415mg
Additionally, fingerroot contains Vitamin C, Iron, Vitamin B6, Calcium, and Magnesium.
Toxicity
When taken in excess, fingerroot may cause allergic reactions such as swellings, diarrhea, skin irritation, and stomach discomforts.