#Gymnopetalumchinensis

In the lush, biodiverse forests and rural village gardens across Thailand, the Kradom plant—known scientifically as Gymnopetalum chinensis (กะดอม), and by many regional names such as ขี้กาดง in Saraburi, มะนอยหก in Mae Hong Son, and ผักขาว in Chiang Mai—has been quietly woven into local healing practices for generations. Today, as interest in traditional remedies surges and scientific curiosity deepens, Kradom stands at the captivating crossroads of ancient Thai wisdom and 21st-century phytochemical research. What can this lesser-known plant reveal about the enduring relationship between people and the natural pharmacy around them?

In Thailand’s rural villages and diverse forests, the Kradom plant, scientifically known as Gymnopetalum chinensis and known locally by many names, has long woven itself into daily life. Across provinces like Saraburi, Mae Hong Son, and Chiang Mai, Kradom appears in home kitchens and herbal practices. Today, it sits at the crossroads of traditional wisdom and contemporary phytochemical research, inviting Thai readers to consider what this plant reveals about the bond between people and nature’s pharmacy.