#Jamu

Chaluud, a fragrant bark used in Thai traditional medicine, is mainly harvested from Alyxia reinwardtii. Locally known as luud, chanud, or nood, it has perfumed homes, herbal shops, and ceremonies for centuries. Today, researchers are examining its biology, scent compounds, and potential health effects, highlighting a bridge between age-old knowledge and modern science.

In Thai markets and households, chaluud’s aroma evokes memory and comfort. Across southern Thailand and neighboring Southeast Asian communities, its bark is valued not only for remedies but also for scenting clothing, spirits, and sacred spaces. Its place in the Thai pharmacopeia underscores its cultural significance as a link between health, tradition, and community. Studies by leading institutions underscore the bark’s central role in a regional tapestry of use and meaning.

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.