#HoiKhom

Hoi khom, the humble freshwater snail with a spiral shell, thrives in the nutrient-rich waters of Thai rice paddies and wetlands. In Thailand and Southeast Asia, this small creature is more than food; it sits at the intersection of culinary tradition, folklore, and folk medicine. Today’s examination asks: what does science say about hoi khom’s healing claims, and how can this rural lifeline connect to contemporary research and Thai realities?

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?