Nutrition

A handful of galangal carries a significant amount of vitamin C, but because it is never used in that quantity in cooking, its nutritional worth is unimportant. Its value lies primarily in its medicinal or personal hygiene use. For example, in India, it is used as a breath purifier and as a deodorant, and a paste made from the rhizomes is used to treat skin infections. A tonic made from galangal and lime juice is considered an energy booster in parts of Southeast Asia.