#HerbalMedicine

In the realm of natural remedies, Bhulan Bel, known scientifically as Cuscuta and colloquially as dodder, has been revered for its calming properties that may offer a natural solution to stress relief, anxiety reduction, and mental clarity. Emerging research and rediscovery of its historical applications in Ayurveda have sparked renewed interest among the global scientific community and wellness enthusiasts.

Bhulan Bel’s emergence in modern discourse is tied to its unique capabilities as a parasitic plant used in traditional medicine to effectively soothe the nervous system without notorious side effects associated with pharmacological interventions. Its calming compounds are believed to provide a natural balmy effect, easing tension and reducing anxiety, which could signal an important breakthrough for individuals seeking holistic approaches to manage mental wellness in today’s fast-paced society.

Across the patchwork of Thailand’s diverse landscapes, where traditions have deep roots and herbal lore thrives, the yellow-fleshed rhizomes of Curcuma zedoaria—locally called ขมิ้นอ้อย (Khmin-aoy)—have played a dual role: as a revered traditional remedy and as a fixture in the kitchens and apothecaries of Thai communities. Known internationally as zedoary or white turmeric, this member of the ginger (Zingiberaceae) family is celebrated in folk medicine, cuisine, and Buddhist ritual. As Thailand’s modern health seekers look anew to their herbal heritage, questions arise: does science echo the ancient trust placed in Curcuma zedoaria, and what secrets lie beneath its knobby, pungent façade?

Nestled in the nutrient-rich waters of Thai rice fields and surrounding wetlands, the small, spiral-shelled freshwater snail known locally as “hoi khom” or “hoi juub” (Filopaludina sumatrensis Dunker, family Viviparidae) occupies more than just the mud—it’s deeply embedded in the culinary traditions, folklore, and folk medicine of Thailand and Southeast Asia. For centuries, this humble organism has sustained local communities, not only as a nutritious food but also as a folk remedy, revered for its perceived healing properties. But what does science say about hoi khom’s medicinal claims, and how does this living link between waterways and kitchens connect ancient healing wisdom to modern research?

Across Thai kitchens and herbal pharmacies, few names resonate with more familiarity than ผักชีลา (also known as coriander or cilantro globally, and Coriandrum sativum in scientific circles). This humble herb, instantly recognizable from the aroma wafting from “tom yum” soup or sprinkled over spicy salads, is more than a culinary afterthought. In Thai traditional medicine, ผักชีลา holds a time-honoured place as a herbal remedy—its journey through folklore and modern science is a compelling saga of local wisdom, global exchange, and increasing scientific validation.

The dried seeds of Myristica fragrans, known as nutmeg (ลูกจันทน์), have captured human imagination for centuries, straddling the realms of food, medicine, and mystique. From ancient trade routes to the heart of Thai and Southeast Asian traditional medicine, nutmeg’s journey is an illuminating saga—a testament to nature’s therapeutic potential and the evolving scrutiny of modern science. In recent decades, research has begun to substantiate many folk claims while issuing important cautions for contemporary users.

Saba (สะบ้า), known to botanists as Entada rheedii Spreng., is a giant climber found winding its way through Thailand’s forests, bearing massive pods filled with glossy, oval seeds. Known by many local names—สะบ้ามอญ, สะบ้าใหญ่, มะบ้าหลวง, มะนิม, หมากงิม, and more—this remarkable plant holds a special place in traditional Thai and Southeast Asian herbalism. Yet, while Saba’s seeds have long been a source of healing, ceremony, and even magic, a new chapter is unfolding as science begins to validate—and sometimes challenge—the wisdom sewn into local customs. For Thai readers curious about natural health solutions with ancient roots, Entada rheedii represents a fascinating intersection of folklore, pharmacology, and global botanical research.

Sakae Na—known scientifically as Combretum quadrangulare and called by various local names across Thailand—holds a storied place in the landscape of traditional Southeast Asian herbal medicine. For generations, the seeds and other parts of this modest riverside tree have been used in folk remedies, especially in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, with revered status for their healing potential. Today, as science casts its analytical lens on ancient practices, Sakae Na finds itself at a fascinating crossroads: validated by centuries of use, yet continually examined by modern pharmaceuticals for real-world therapeutic power. With growing interest in plant-based wellness, understanding how tradition and science intertwine in the story of Sakae Na speaks not just to health-conscious readers but also to the cultural heart of Thailand.

In the warm, humid air of Thai gardens, a delicate fragrance wafts at dusk—a scent locals immediately associate with the creamy-yellow blossoms of Lamduan (ลำดวน), the Melodorum fruticosum Lour. Far more than just a garden beauty, Lamduan has, for centuries, occupied a prominent place in the cultural, spiritual, and healing landscapes of Southeast Asia. As modern science takes a closer look, new insights are emerging about its medicinal promises—a testament to the enduring dialogue between tradition and the rigor of laboratory research.

For centuries, the fragrant seeds of ‘raew’—better known to botanists as Amomum villosum (เร่วน้อย) and Amomum xanthioides (เร่วใหญ่)—have been legends in Thai kitchens and apothecaries alike. Celebrated for their unique aroma, these “Siamese cardamoms” are deeply entwined with both local tradition and the broader pulse of Southeast Asian culture. But what happens when this ancient remedy meets the scrutiny of modern science? As laboratories investigate its age-old promises, ‘raew’ stands at the fascinating crossroads between folk wisdom and contemporary pharmacology—offering a lesson in balancing reverence for tradition with healthy skepticism.

Across the rice fields and riverbanks of Thailand’s Northeast, stories spin about a curious plant whose roots are as twisted as the folklore surrounding them. Known as “ปลาไหลเผือกน้อย” (pla lai phueak noi) or regionally as “เอี่ยนด่อน,” Eurycoma harmandiana Pierre has woven itself into the medicinal traditions of Thai and neighboring Lao communities for generations. Bearing a name that translates to “white eel” in local dialects—“เอียน” meaning eel and “ด่อน” denoting the white color—this small but potent shrub holds a revered place in Isan folk practice as a source of wellness, vitality, and resilience, cherished particularly for its powerful roots.

Few remedies possess the allure and complexity of “pimsen”—a fragrant resin and essential compound embedded in centuries of traditional healing across Southeast Asia. Known variously as พิมเสน, พิมเสนเกล็ด, พิมเสนตรังกานู, and พรมเสน, pimsen is both a substance and a legacy, with roots extending from the forests of Sumatra and Borneo to the heart of Thai herbal pharmacopoeia. Extracted primarily from Dryobalanops aromatica (Sumatran camphor), but also sourced from Blumea balsamifera (หนาดหลวง, sambong) and Pogostemon cablin (patchouli, พิมเสนต้น), pimsen bridges the worlds of traditional medicine, cultural symbolism, and modern pharmacological research. Thai wellness enthusiasts, practitioners of traditional medicine, and the scientifically curious alike have much to discover in the evolving story of pimsen.

Thailand’s lush forests have long been a pharmacy for its people, with “เปล้าใหญ่” (Pao Yai or Croton oblongifolius Roxb.) prized as both a household herbal medicine and a subject of modern scientific inquiry. Once the preserve of village healers and traditional midwives, the leaves of Pao Yai are now being examined with the lens of pharmacological research, offering a fascinating bridge between the wisdom of the ancients and the rigor of modern science. As health-conscious Thais and global communities turn to natural options, understanding the story of Pao Yai opens a window on how local plants can support—yet must never replace—conventional healthcare, especially as research unfolds.

From the tranquil waters of rural Thailand to the ornate altars of ancient India and Sri Lanka, the blue-hued blossoms of Nymphaea stellata—known locally in Thailand as บัวเผื่อน and occasionally as บัวแบ้—have captivated human attention for centuries. More than a mere aquatic ornament, this elegant water lily has woven itself deep into the fabric of Southeast Asian culture, spiritual practice, and traditional folk medicine. Today, as science peers ever more closely at ancient herbal wisdom, Nymphaea stellata stands out as a protagonist in the compelling story of how age-old remedies are finding renewed life—and validation—in modern pharmacology.

In the landscape of traditional herbal medicine, few remedies bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary scientific endorsement as seamlessly as เทียนเกล็ดหอย, known internationally as Plantago ovata or Ispaghula seed. Revered from the arid plains of South Asia to bustling Thai communities, the husk of its tiny seeds has been a natural healer for centuries—a gentle laxative, a digestive soother, and, recently, a subject of rigorous clinical research. As health-conscious Thais increasingly seek remedies that respect both tradition and modern evidence, the story of เทียนเกล็ดหอย offers a blueprint for harmonizing old and new approaches to well-being.

In the world of Thai traditional medicine, few herbal remedies are as multi-faceted, aromatic, and steeped in history as chaluud (ชะลูด). Harvested mainly from the bark of Alyxia reinwardtii—also known locally as “luud,” “chanud,” or “nood” depending on region—chaluud has perfumed Thai homes and pharmacies for centuries. Today, as interest in natural medicines grows worldwide, this “white cinnamon” is drawing modern scientific scrutiny, revealing an intriguing intersection between age-old folk wisdom and contemporary pharmacological research.

Few herbal medicines echo across as many generations and regions as chùm hèt thét (ชุมเห็ดเทศ), known to scientists as Cassia alata L. or Senna alata. Recognized in Thai as ขุมเห็ดเทศ, and by names such as chùm hèt yài, lúp mạn lûang, chî khàak, màak kà-líng thét, and sôm hèt, this striking “candle bush” is both common roadside greenery and a staple of traditional household pharmacies. Its yellow, candle-like flowers catch the eye, but it is the fresh and dried leaves—harvested in villages throughout the Kingdom—that have solidified its central role in herbal practice. Today, chùm hèt thét’s journey from ancient remedy for skin diseases and constipation to evidence-based pharmaceutical candidate reveals a fascinating intersection of culture, folk wisdom, and modern science—one vital to Thai readers seeking a bridge between old and new approaches to health.

For centuries, the slender, finger-like fruit known as ดีปลี (Dipli)—or long pepper to the wider world—has been valued in Thai kitchens and medicine cabinets alike. Revered for its spicy-hot kick and its potent medicinal reputation, Dipli has traveled the journey from sacred ritual and home remedy to the laboratory bench, where new research is validating some ancestral claims while raising important questions about its safety and efficacy. Today, this unassuming fruit—harvested just before ripening from the Piper retrofractum vine—stands at a crossroads between tradition and science, inviting curious minds and health enthusiasts to discover its story.

Deep within the forests, along waterways, and atop rural fences across Thailand, a twisting green vine known as โคคลาน (kok lan), or Mallotus repandus, quietly weaves itself into the cultural and medical heritage of the nation. Revered by traditional healers and often passed down in recipes from older generations, this little-known botanical—alternately called มะกายเครือ, มะปอบเครือ, กระเปี้ยะ, among numerous other names—occupies a unique intersection of folk wisdom and contemporary science. Once sought to quiet burning aches, sooth itching skin, and fortify the liver, Mallotus repandus now finds itself the focus of global biomedical inquiry, testing the boundaries between enduring Thai tradition and modern clinical scrutiny.

Deep in the heart of Southeast Asia, along the forested trails of Thailand and neighboring countries, grows a humble shrub known by many names—Jetaphangki, Chettaphangki, and a host of local monikers such as “plao ngam” and “tawng ta phran.” For centuries, the roots and leaves of Cladogynos orientalis, or Jetaphangki, have been prized in traditional Thai medicine cabinets, used to soothe stomach troubles, restore harmony, and invigorate the body. Today, scientists and health seekers alike are rediscovering this botanical treasure, probing its traditional roots while putting its ancient claims to the test.

For centuries, Artemisia annua—known in Thailand as โกฐจุฬาลัมพา and in Chinese tradition as qinghao—has been revered as a multi-purpose remedy across Asia. Its journey from local herbal tea and folk medicine to the front lines of global pharmaceutical research stands as a compelling testament to the power of tradition meeting scientific innovation. In the current health landscape, where interest in natural remedies is surging among Thai consumers, Artemisia annua’s story offers a timely lesson in respecting ancient wisdom while demanding scientific rigor.

The dried flower buds of Syzygium aromaticum, better known as clove or กานพลู, have long carried a reputation far beyond their potent aroma. In Thailand, these tiny, sun-dried buds—known in the North as จันจี่ or ดอกจันทร์—are a fixture not only in cuisine but in traditional herbal medicine, prized for their warming properties and used to address everything from toothache to digestive disturbances. As scientific interest in natural remedies surges globally, clove offers a compelling case study at the intersection of ancient healing traditions and modern pharmacological research—a story that continues to unfold with relevance for health-conscious Thai readers.