killerplants.com | Herbal Folklore | Free Newsletter Signup

Why was shampoo ginger indispensable?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

January 19, 2004

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

The shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Smith) is frequently cultivated in home and village gardens from southern Asia throughout the Oceanic and Pacific Islands. Ancient Polynesians carried the ginger on their outriggers when settling new islands. Called ava pui vao in Samoan and awapuhi kuahiwi in Hawaiian, it is considered one of the Polynesians' main medicinal plants.

Shampoo Ginger, A Plants Used in Asia and Hawaii to Make Shampoo, Asheboro, North Carolina Joel Sartore Buy Photographic Print at AllPosters.com

According to the Hawaiian Medical Library, the ashes of the leaves were used to treat cuts and open sores. The rhizome (underground stem) was used on ringworm (Tinea fungus), a common skin problem in the tropics, along with injuries like sprains and bruises. A decoction, made by soaking the crushed rhizome in water, straining, and drinking, settled upset stomachs and relieved stomachaches and headaches. ("Mala La'au: A Garden of Healing Plants")

According to Canoe Plants of Ancient Hawai'i, the fresh rhizome was ground, placed in a cloth, and bound to severe sprains. Cooked until soft, the rhizome was pressed into caries to relieve toothaches. Dried and powdered, it was placed between folds of kapa cloth (bark cloth made from paper mulberry, Broussonetia papyrifera) when the cloth was stored. Awapuhi leaves were laid over baking pork or fish for flavoring. ("Awapuhi")

The Hawaiian uses of awapuhi probably did help for certain injuries. In a letter to the Indian Journal of Pharmacology (2003), M. Nhareet Somchit and M.H. Nur Shukriyah report that volatile oils from the rhizome contain zerumbone, humulene, and camprene. The zerumbone has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce swelling. ("Anti Inflammatory Property of Ethanol and Water Extracts of Zingiber zerumbet")

Perhaps awapuhi will one day enter into chemotherapy or cancer prevention. In the British Journal of Cancer (April 1999), S. Vimala, A.W. Norhanom, and M. Yadav report that zerumbone has shown inhibitory activity against the Epstein-Barr virus which can cause certain cancers. ("Anti-tumour promoter activity in Malaysian ginger rhizobia used in traditional medicine")

Plant of the Week 01/19/2004

Shampoo Ginger (Zingiber zerumbet)
The pinecone or shampoo ginger (Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Smith) is believed native to India and the Malaysian Peninsula. It is one of those plants so long under cultivation in so many places throughout Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and Oceania that it is uncertain where the plant originated. Pinecone ginger is considered a canoe plant, that is, a plant introduced throughout the Pacific by the ancient Polynesian settlers. All parts of the pinecone ginger are spicy fragrant. Plant of the Week 01/19/2004

Plants of Hawaii, part of theHawaiian Ecosystems at Risk Project, has posted three great photographs of awapuhi taken by Forest and Kim Starr. To view the photographs, click on the link:

Click here to view the photographs

Click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images.

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - Save $20 on $50 order