#Pharmacognosy

For centuries, the art of healing in Thailand has drawn from nature’s pharmacy, weaving together generations of knowledge into modern herbal practice. Among the rich tapestry of healing plants, the climber known locally as ตานหม่อน (Tan Mon), scientifically named Tarlmounia elliptica, stands out for both its striking presence and enduring reputation in traditional medicine. As science begins to validate many aspects of traditional wisdom, this plant offers a fascinating case study in the meeting of ancient and modern worlds.

In a world where modern pharmaceuticals dominate medicine cabinets, the ancient remedy of makhwaeng khreua—known scientifically as Solanum trilobatum—stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between Thai culture and healing plants. Revered for generations and intertwined with folk knowledge, this hardy climbing nightshade continues to find a place in both rural pantries and city herbal shops. But does science validate its traditional uses, or does its promise reside solely in memory and folklore? With Thai society redefining its embrace of traditional medicine in light of contemporary research, makhwaeng khreua’s journey from ancient kitchens to biomedical laboratories is both fascinating and instructive.

In the forests and farmlands of Southern Thailand, the aromatic bark of chaluud (Alyxia reinwardtii), a vine entwined with the region’s folklore, continues to waft through herbal markets, rural kitchens, and spiritual ceremonies. Revered for generations, chaluud is prized in traditional medicine as both a fragrant offering and a versatile herbal remedy. Yet only now is its rich legacy being scientifically decoded, shedding new light on its time-honoured role as a “natural protector” for body, spirit, and environment alike.

Within the sunlit grasslands and forests of Thailand, a spectacularly beautiful plant sprouts at the edges of tradition and modern caution. Known by many Thai names—ดองดึง, คมขวาน, ว่านก้ามปู, ก้ามปู, ดาวดึงส์, มะขาโก้ง—Gloriosa superba, or the “flame lily,” stands out with fiery flowers and trailing green tendrils that once inspired legends and herbal remedies throughout Southeast Asia. For centuries, Thai and regional folk healers have entrusted parts of this plant as powerful medicines—a remedy of reputation, but also risk. Today’s surge in herbal health interest asks: Just what does the science say about this celebrated, and sometimes feared, botanical?