E Zhu belongs to the ginger plant family, originates in Northern India, but today is extensively cultivated in India, South-East Asia, and China as well. The English name

is "zedoary". The rhizome is used after being dug up, cleaned, cut into centimetre-thick slices and dried, its sharp, bitter aroma being reminiscent of ginger. Chinese natural medicine values E Zhu as a fungicide as well as as an excellent stomach medicine for digestive weakness, colic and cramps. Zedoary is also used by the slimming industry due to its effect on fat metabolism.