#Elephantfootyam

Across the kitchens and folk medicine chests of Thailand lies a knobby, curious tuber known as บุก (elephant foot yam), cherished as much for its culinary versatility as for its reputation in traditional healing. Recognizable under its scientific name, Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, this plant’s massive underground corm has been both a staple food and respected herbal remedy throughout Southeast Asia for centuries. As Thai people continue to draw on local herbal wisdom for wellness, modern research increasingly turns its gaze on this peculiar plant, investigating whether the old tales of บุก’s healing power hold up to scientific scrutiny.

Thai households cherish บุก, the elephant foot yam, for both cooking versatility and traditional healing. Known scientifically as Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, its large underground corm has long sustained communities with meals and remedies alike. Today, researchers are examining whether age-old beliefs about บุก’s healing powers hold up under modern science, while Thai cooks continue to celebrate its texture in curries, stews, and even desserts.

In Thai kitchens, the tuber is especially common in the Northeast, where regional names vary—from บักกะเดื่อ in Sakon Nakhon to ครื่องบุก in other provinces. Its reputation for nourishment runs deep: the tuber can be transformed into hearty dishes or used to make plant-based substitutes that mirror meat textures. Traditional medicine has long treated บุก as a versatile remedy, with boiling, drying, and grinding techniques used to address a range of ailments.