#Antiviral

Kheaw Hom, a fragrant Thai herbal blend, has long been part of traditional care for fevers, skin rashes, and infections, especially among children. Today, researchers are examining its potential through a scientific lens, linking time-honored practice with modern evidence. This piece explores how Kheaw Hom is understood in Thai culture and what current science suggests about its effects.

Historically, Kheaw Hom reflects the enduring legacy of herbal care in Southeast Asia. Before modern medicines, Thai households used blends of roots, leaves, barks, and resins. The green, aromatic remedy gained prominence for managing childhood illnesses marked by fever and skin eruptions. In Thai thinking, healing is a balance of heat, moisture, and wind within the body, and Kheaw Hom is seen as supporting that equilibrium. The preparation is often given to children in a comforting, communal ritual that reinforces family ties and trust in natural healing.

For centuries, the Thai herbal remedy known as “Kheaw Hom” (เขียวหอม) has been a cornerstone of traditional medicine, revered by healers and families alike for its ability to combat fevers, rashes, and skin infections—particularly in children. Today, as a new wave of scientific inquiry validates the efficacy of natural remedies, Kheaw Hom stands at a fascinating crossroads between time-honored wisdom and rigorous clinical scrutiny. By examining both its culturally rooted uses and modern pharmacological research, this article offers an engaging exploration of a remedy that continues to shape Thai health traditions.

Researchers from a major U.S. university have unveiled an antiviral chewing gum designed to help reduce the spread of common viruses, including influenza and herpes simplex. The approach, described in a study published in Molecular Therapy, builds on earlier work showing the gum can lower viral loads in the mouth.

The gum uses ingredients from lablab beans, specifically a protein called FRIL, which can trap and neutralize viruses in the oral cavity. The study’s lead author, a professor from a dental school, says the formulation has the potential to reduce oral viral loads by a substantial margin, echoing prior results against SARS-CoV-2 detected in saliva. This points to a broader use for oral-transmitted viruses.

In an exciting development from the University of Pennsylvania, researchers have introduced an innovative means to combat the spread of common viral infections through the use of antiviral chewing gum. Responding to the global challenge posed by infectious diseases highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have focused on reducing transmission rates of influenza and herpes simplex viruses, which remain prevalent around the world. This approach is highlighted in a study published in Molecular Therapy.