This perennial tropical plant with an aromatic rhizome grows up to 5-6 feet tall. The plant belongs to the ginger family where the rhizomes are used for medicinal purpose. It has oblong, smooth leaves and fragrant, greenish white flowers.

In Ayurveda the rhizome has many varied uses, including treating rheumatism, bronchial catarrh, bad breath, ulcers, childhood whooping cough, throat infections, incontinence, fever and dyspepsia. It is also used as a digestive stimulant and useful to prevent flatulence.