Botany
· Perennial, aromatic, creeping and branching rhizomatous herb. Rhizome prostrate, firm and stout with compactly arranged annular rings with numerous rootlets.
· Leaves: arise from rhizome, linear, distichous, length 30 to 50 cm and width o.5 to 1 inch, base of leaf sheathed, clasping to each other.]
· Flowers: Very small, compacted into a concave-shaped spadix inflorescence. Sepals 6, stamens 6, rarely flowering in the Philippines.
· Fruits: Berries, turbinate, with pyramidal tops. diameter about 0.2 cm.

Properties
Stimulant, carminative, emetic, antispasmodic, insectifuge, insecticide, astringent.
Rhizomes contain a volative and aromatic oil, sugars, choline, mucliage.

Distribution
Along streams in mountains, creeks other moist places with running water, on boulders, etc., at low and medium altitude in Luzon (Laguna). Also found in Bontoc and Benguet provinces. Usually sold in the Quiapo herbal market.

Propagation
Divisionn of rhizomes and potted without drainage holes. For potting, use one part river sand, one part garden soil, one part coco coir dust and one part rice hull. When established, place in partial to full sun.

Part utilized
· Rhizome and leaves.
· Best collected before flowering, the months of October and November.
· Rinse, remove rootlets, cut into sections, sun-dry. May be stored fresh for a long time by keeping under moist sand.

Uses
Folkloric medicinal
· Rheumatic arthritis, lumbago and leg pains: As embrocation, by cooking vine or rhizome (50 gms) with coconut oil (3 oz) .
· Indigestion, gastritis.
· Toothache: Chew rhizome.
· Tinnitus, deafness, poor memory.
· Loss of consciousness during high fever.
· Sometimes combined with other drugs for treatment of insanity.
· Decoction: 30 gms of dried material (roots and leaves) to a pint of boiling water; tea drunk 4x daily for dyspepsia, gastritis, indigestion, stomch pains, diarrhea, asthma.
· Pounded rhizome as insecticide and insectifuge.
· Poultice of fresh material used for abscessed inflammation and scabies.
Folkloric fringe
Used to protect young children from bales or usog. The matured rhizome is round-peeled and dried and the pieces thread together and worn as a protective waist or wrist band.
Others
Fresh rhizomes can be candied or used in cordial liquers, soups and sauces, mixed with other condiments (ginger, mace or cinnamon).
Young shoots used in salads, believed to improve the appetite.

Availability
Wild-crafted.