#Ethnomedicine

Alum, known in Thai as “สารส้ม” (san-som), sits at the crossroads of everyday life and scientific inquiry. In Thai households it appears as a chunky mineral block beside water jars or a fine powder in bathrooms. Its long-standing presence reveals a culture that blends practical home remedies with curious exploration of new evidence.

Alum embodies the spirit of folk wisdom meeting science. Thai communities have historically used it to clarify water, reduce swelling, stop minor bleeding, and deodorize. From riverbanks to research labs, alum illustrates how ancient practices can inform, yet be refined by, evidence-based medicine.

For centuries, alum, known in Thai as “สารส้ม” (san-som), has shimmered as a crystalline cornerstone in Southeast Asian households. Its appearance in the home—whether a chunky mineral block resting beside a rural water container or a fine powder in bathroom cabinets—reveals a legacy interwoven tightly with both daily life and healing customs. But as modern science explores ancient remedies, alum emerges as a unique case: a mineral of almost mythical versatility, yet one that requires scrutiny for safety in contemporary times.

In the lush forests of Southeast Asia, the fruit known as สมอดีงู—also called สมอเหลี่ยม or สมอหมึก—has long been a trusted remedy in Thai traditional medicine. Scientifically named Terminalia citrina Roxb., this member of the Combretaceae family sits at the intersection of ancestral wisdom and modern science. Today, researchers are exploring how ancient practices can inform new medical discoveries, while underscoring the importance of careful, evidence-based use.

Thai herbal practitioners value the five-angled, slightly spherical fruit for a range of ailments. Traditional healers decoct or infuse the fruit to create a mildly astringent liquid believed to cool the body and rebalance internal harmony. Across nearby regions—India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia—related Terminalia fruits are used in multi-herbal blends to treat diarrhea, abdominal pain, and general cleansing. The Thai approach reflects a broader Southeast Asian philosophy: health depends on equilibrium and respectful use of nature’s resources.

Nestled in the verdant forests of Southeast Asia and cherished in traditional Thai medicine, the fruit known as สมอดีงู (pronounced “sammo dee ngu” and also called สมอเหลี่ยม or สมอหมึก) has served generations as a trusted herbal remedy. Scientifically recognized as Terminalia citrina Roxb., this remarkable plant—belonging to the Combretaceae family—stands at the intriguing crossroads of folk wisdom and emerging biomedical science. Today, as the world looks to nature for wellness, สมอดีงู offers an inspiring example of how ancient practices can ignite new scientific inquiries—while underscoring the need to balance reverence for tradition with careful, evidence-based use.

Mesua ferrea, enchantingly known in Thailand as “Bunnak” and regionally as สารภีดอย or นากบุต, radiates legacy not just from its fragrant white blossoms but from centuries of healing practice stretching across Southeast Asia. Revered in traditional Thai medicine and celebrated in the rituals of diverse cultures, the flower of Mesua ferrea has become emblematic of the delicate intersection between cultural heritage and emerging biomedical science. As contemporary researchers begin to illuminate the mechanisms behind its renowned therapeutic roles, Bunnak stands at the fascinating crossroads of ancient wisdom and scientific validation—inviting a new generation to rediscover the potential within a single, aromatic bloom.

Mesua ferrea, known in Thailand as Bunnak and regionally as Nagkesar or Nagkesara, carries a deep healing heritage across Southeast Asia. Its fragrant white blossoms symbolize a bridge between traditional Thai medicine and the advancing science of today. As researchers uncover how its compounds work, Bunnak stands at the crossroads of culture and biomedical insight, inviting Thais to explore its potential with careful scrutiny.

Historically, Bunnak has been woven into temple gardens and folk medicine. Its flowers, celebrated for their sweet aroma, were used in remedies for fever, respiratory ailments, inflammation, and more. Local healers drew on multiple parts of the tree: leaves for bites and allergies, bark and roots for digestive and airway issues, seed oil for skin conditions and rheumatic pain, and the flowers themselves for respiratory and circulatory concerns. In Thai herbal practices, these approaches were often combined with other botanicals in composite formulas, reflecting a holistic view of health that has sustained communities for generations.

Across rural Thailand, Cha-em Thai (Albizia myriophylla Benth.) remains a familiar healer in homes and villages. Locally known as ชะเอมป่า, ตาลอ้อย, ส้มป่อยหวาน, and อ้อยช้าง, this climbing legume has long served in simple home remedies. As interest in ethnomedicine grows, researchers are revisiting Cha-em Thai to see how traditional knowledge aligns with modern science and how the plant can be used safely today.

Traditionally, Cha-em Thai appears both as a standalone remedy and as a key ingredient in classic polyherbal blends known in Thai medicine as the ten roots. Decoctions from the wood, bark, or stems have addressed fever, sore throat, mouth ulcers, and general inflammation. The plant’s wide distribution—from northern to southern Thailand—reflects regionally diverse healing practices, where local names and preparations vary and enrich the country’s medical heritage. In Thai households, Cha-em Thai supports convalescence and digestion, and is often combined with other herbs to bolster wellbeing.

Across rural Thailand, Cha-em Thai – known to botanists as Albizia myriophylla Benth. – occupies a unique place in the landscape and in traditional healthcare. Locally called by many names like ชะเอมป่า (Central Thailand), ตาลอ้อย (Trat), ส้มป่อยหวาน (Northern Thailand), or อ้อยช้าง (Songkhla and Narathiwat), this woody climbing plant from the Fabaceae family has been utilized for generations as a key ingredient in home remedies for a range of ailments. As wellness-seekers look back to the roots of ethnomedicine, interest in Cha-em Thai is blossoming anew. But does modern research support its venerated role in Thai healing tradition? And how can this ancient botanical be used safely today?

In the world of Thai traditional medicine, few remedies conjure as much intrigue as “khon dok” (ขอนดอก), a unique crude drug derived not from the foliage or flowers of a plant, but from the fungus-infused heartwood of ancient trees, specifically the sacred “pikul” (Mimusops elengi) and “tabak” (Lagerstroemia calyculata). Revered for centuries across the region, khon dok resonates as an intersection of deep-rooted animist tradition, classical Thai and Ayurvedic healing, and emerging biomedical research. Today, as both practitioners and scientists re-examine humble old formulas in the quest for greener, more localized therapeutics, the story of khon dok stands as a compelling model of how ancient wisdom and modern science can harmonize.

Khon dok is a remarkable Thai traditional remedy drawn from fungus-infused heartwood, not leaves or flowers. It comes from pikul or tabak trees and is used in many communities to support digestion, heart health, and as a general tonic. Today, researchers are re-examining this ancient formula as interest in local, sustainable medicines grows.

Thai herbalists across the central, northern, and northeastern regions have long valued khon dok for its purported astringent, cooling, and anti-inflammatory properties. In the era of antibiotic resistance and concerns about side effects from synthetic drugs, scientists are revisiting khon dok to understand what makes the wood-fungus complex potentially beneficial.