RED SETAWAR HALIA

Common name: Setawar, Penawar Padang, Setengteng, Tawar, Tawar-Tawar, Teng.

Scientific name: Costus speciosus (Koenig) Smith

Family: Zingiberaceae

Medicinal :

• The roots are used for making tonic.
• The roots are also useful to treat fever.
• The rhizome which is rich in starch can be used as an ingredient for cooking.
• The whole plant is boiled for a decoction to bathe patients with high fever and for smallpox.
• The stem scrapings for leprous skin.
• The juice of the rhizome is purgative.
• The Malays attribute the plant with magical properties: drives away spirits causing illness.

References:

http://www.rimbundahan.org/environment/plant_lists/taman_sari/index.htm

http://malaysianherbs.multiply.com/