The Wisdom and Science of หมากผู้หมากเมีย (Cordyline fruticosa): From Thai Folklore to Modern Evidence
For generations across Thailand and Southeast Asia, the striking leaves of หมากผู้หมากเมีย (Cordyline fruticosa) have adorned gardens and temples not just for their beauty but for their revered properties in traditional medicine. This “good luck plant,” recognizable for its vibrant, palm-like foliage, stands at the intersection of ancient healing wisdom and contemporary scientific inquiry. Increasingly, researchers have begun to untangle the story behind this botanical treasure—known by many Thais as มะผู้มะเมีย, หมากผู้, or ปูหมาก—to validate, reinterpret, and, in some cases, challenge inherited knowledge in light of emerging pharmacological evidence. What does science now say about the long-trusted remedy, and how should modern Thais approach its continued use?