#Phytomedicine

In the bustling markets of Thailand, amidst the aromatic waft of herbs and spices, lies a yellow-tinted rhizome called ‘plai’ (ไพล) that has earned a cherished place in traditional medicine and the day-to-day lives of Thais. Revered for generations under names like ไพลเหลือง, ว่านไฟ, ปูลอย, and มิ้นสะล่าง, Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. stands as a bridge between ancient healing knowledge and cutting-edge scientific inquiry. While grew first in the lore of village healers, plai has recently become the subject of intense interest among scientists seeking to validate its age-old uses.