Item #HGALRC:
Galangal Root, Cut (Lo John)

Also known as chewing John, Little John, and Alpina galangal, Galangal has long been used in a wide variety of oriental cuisines, and in its raw form it offers a smell that is quite reminiscent of citrus, with rich hints of pine. Throughout Southeastern Asia it can also be used as a component in a tonic, often mingled with lemon juice, for the treatment of coughs and throat ailments. Perhaps more famously to those of the Western world, Galangal has come to be known as Low John in Hoodoo practices, where it is often carried in a mojo bag or otherwise used in spiritual ritual and spells to find aid in winning court cases, increasing your wealth, and break and protect from hexes and curses. Less commonly, it can also be found used in spells seeking to increase psychic potency or those rituals and spells involving sexual magic.

Outside of spiritual practices, Galangal is still most commonly found today used in South Eastern Asia as a culinary herb, most famously perhaps in Tom Yum Soup as well as Dtom Kha gai. Medicinally, the folk remedy where it is used as a tonic still holds to be the most common treatment, where it is still used throughout South East Asia to treat coughs and colds when blended with lemon juice.

Item #HGARP: Garlic, Powdered

Also found under its lesser known Latin name, Allium satirum, Garlic is closely related to shallots, leeks, and chives, is perhaps most commonly known for its use in the culinary arts, where it is notorious for causing bad breath despite its widespread popularity for the taste that it lends to a dish. Historically however, it is also quite well known for its medicinal applications, with records dating back thousands of years to its use in medicine. Indeed, the famed philosopher Pliny even cited it as the "rustic`s cure-all," as many thought it to be an aid in reducing most any disease`s symptoms. Known globally, it was even venerated in Korea, where it is said that the gods gave garlic to women to provide them with supernatural power as and immortality, while in Greece and Rome, it was placed at crossroads in offering to Hecate. Today, it survives spiritually and is still used in spell and ritual with many legends and writings referring to its ability to repel evil curses and magic, a legend that only grew with its inclusion as a vampire-bane in Bram Stoker`s Dracula.

In modern uses, some claim that Garlic can be a great aid in heart disease and cancer, with early studies showing possible cardio vascular benefits, though there is still some debate and controversy around the subject. It is also frequently seen as a preventative aid against the common cold, or as an expectorant for coughs, and in both of the World Wars it was used as an antiseptic. Around this time, it was also even used to aid in treating small pox, tuberculosis, and other such traumatic diseases.

Item #HGINC:
Ginkgo Leaf, Cut

Also known as yin xing, ginkgo biloba or the Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo is one of the best known examples of a living fossil. The modern plant has been shown to have deviated little from found fossil remains, appearing much the same now as it did in times before man. Long thought extinct in the wild it was recently found growing wild in Zhejing, a province in Eastern China, though there is some debate to this as well,a s some argue that the ginkgo trees were planted and preserved by Chinese Monks over a period of 1000 years. While it is easy to get lost in the fascinating history of the herb`s growth and evolution (or lack thereof), one should also note that the herb has long been used in a wide variety of culinary dishes throughout Asia, and that one can now find it within such cuisine globally.

Modern studies have also shown that the herb is quite useful in treating dementia, and possible even in prevention of the onset of Alzheimer`s. Other studies, though wracked with conflicting results, have also shown that Ginkgo can help alleviate allergies, reduce inflammation, and possibly even aid in the treatment of cancer as an anti-tumor treatment. Elsewhere, it has also been shown to aid in treating male impotency, where the chief cause is impaired blood circulation to the involved tissues.

Item #HGINSP:
Ginseng Powder, Siberian

Ginseng, or Panax Ginseng as it is known in latin, has long been valued in Chinese medicine as a valued treatment for "yang" difficency in the spleen and kidneys, as well as for the effect it has on "Qi," or the vital force thought to be inherent in all things. It is also widely considered to be great in aiding mind and body in adapting to stress, trauma and fatigue, as well as having some ability to increase stamina and stimulate the immune system. In spiritual use, it can be considered a potent aid in spells involving love, healing and protection, and can also be quite potent in increasing and empowering one`s personal energy.

In more modern studies, it has been shown to help the body deal with physically and mentally stressful exposures, such as heat and cold exhaustion, viruses, bacteria, chemicals, extreme working conditions, noise, pollution, and other such factors that can be traumatic when experienced over time. Some studies have also affirmed the traditions that Ginseng can stimulate the immune system, showing that it can help prevent illness. In some circles, it is also widely used to increase sexual potency and fertility.