Thai Herbal Spotlight: The Enduring Legacy of Bitter Fennel and Bitter Cumin in Modern Health
Across generations, dried seeds of เทียนลวด—known in English as bitter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and bitter cumin (Centratherum anthelminticum)—have long featured in Southeast Asian folk medicine. In Thai communities, these seeds are valued for digestive comfort, antimicrobial potential, and soothing effects. Today, many health-conscious Thais seek a careful blend of ancestral wisdom and scientific validation, viewing เทียนลวด as both heritage and a gateway to contemporary herbal research.
Two plants share a common reputation in Asian traditional medicine, yet modern botany separates them clearly. Foeniculum vulgare belongs to the Apiaceae family and is celebrated for its feathery foliage and sweet-spicy aroma. Centratherum anthelminticum sits in the Asteraceae family and is recognized for its robust seeds with a mildly bitter profile. Both are embedded in regional healing practices, but their scientific profiles and uses merit careful, updated framing for Thai readers.