#Phytotherapy

In Thai gardens and temple grounds, the coral plant, Jatropha multifida, known locally as fin ton, malako farang, and ma hung daeng, stands out with fiery, coral-like foliage. It has long been valued in traditional medicine and remains a living link between folk wisdom and contemporary science. This plant embodies both beauty and a cautionary tale about natural remedies.

Jatropha multifida is a striking member of the Euphorbiaceae family. It was introduced to Asia from the Americas centuries ago and is still grown across Bangkok and northern Thailand as living fences and as a plant with medicinal significance. Thai herbal lore uses the plant’s latex for wounds and skin problems, while roasted roots aid digestion and leaf decoctions act as purgatives. In some Southeast Asian communities and beyond, seeds and oils have been used for skin and rheumatic conditions. In Indonesia and the Philippines, its local name even translates to “iodine,” reflecting its healing reputation for cuts and abrasions. Data from Southeast Asian botanical references shows the plant’s wide traditional applications, though care is advised given its potent biological activity.

Across the lush landscapes of Thailand, the towering shade of the มะเดื่อชุมพร (Ficus racemosa) whispers stories woven into the fabric of traditional healing and everyday life. Also known in Thai as มะเดื่ออุทุมพร, เดื่อเกลี้ยง, and more, this versatile tree—known globally as the cluster fig—has been a cornerstone of local remedies passed down through generations. But as contemporary science delves into the healing secrets of this age-old botanical, new light is being shed on why the roots, bark, and fruits of Ficus racemosa have remained steadfast in Thai herbal medicine. These intersections offer a compelling bridge between cultural heritage and evidence-based healthcare that Thai readers can walk across, equipped with knowledge and curiosity.

In Thailand’s gardens and folk clinics, เจตมูลเพลิงแดง (Plumbago indica L.) captivates both traditional healers and scientists. Known locally as ปิดปิวแดง in the North and ไฟใต้ดิน in the South, this vibrant shrub with scarlet blooms sits at the intersection of culture and curiosity. Across the past decade, modern research has started to explain why Thai practitioners have trusted this plant for generations.

Thai herbalism treats health as a balance of bodily elements, and the plant’s pungent roots have long been used to support digestion, regulate menstrual flow, and soothe skin conditions. In southern communities, a root decoction described as having “hot” qualities was historically given to strengthen the body and restore energy. The use of fiery red plants like เจตมูลเพลิงแดง reflects deep Southeast Asian ethnomedical traditions that see transformation as a healing force.

Across Thailand’s vibrant herbal landscape, the fiery roots of Jetamun Plueng Daeng—known scientifically as Plumbago indica—have long held a special place in the nation’s healing traditions. Revered as a potent medicine for digestive ailments, inflammatory conditions, and even mystical purposes, this scarlet-leafed shrub serves as a living bridge between ancient wisdom and today’s pharmacological advances. As a new generation of health-conscious Thais explores holistic well-being, Jetamun Plueng Daeng finds itself at the heart of a fascinating dialogue: How much of its longstanding reputation stands up to modern scientific scrutiny, and what should today’s readers know about its safe and effective use?

Kluai Teep (กล้วยตีบ) is more than a fruit in Thailand’s herbal heritage. From the Musa ABB group, this banana is valued for its medicinal roots as much as its firm, less-sweet flesh. In rural communities, Kluai Teep has long been a go-to remedy in folk medicine, used to balance internal heat and support recovery from mild ailments. Recent research is renewing interest in this traditional knowledge and exploring how it might complement modern health approaches for Thai readers.

In the heart of Thailand’s herbal tradition, Kluai Teep (กล้วยตีบ), a unique banana plant from the Musa ABB group, stands as both food and medicine, cherished through generations for its healing potential. This banana—distinct in appearance and less sweet than its dessert cousins—has long been a staple in rural Thai apothecaries, featuring prominently in folk medicine. But how does traditional wisdom about this “stubborn banana” (as its name’s literal translation suggests) hold up to scientific scrutiny? Today, a growing body of research is casting renewed light on Kluai Teep, reconnecting the past with the future for a new generation of health-conscious Thais.

Lac, the resin secreted by the lac insect Laccifer chinensis, has long bridged ritual, traditional medicine, and industry. In Thai, it’s known as ครั่ง; in Chinese contexts it’s referred to as จุ้ยเก้ง. This glossy, carmine-tinted material has colored textiles, sealed documents, and temple murals. Today, researchers are revisiting lac’s pharmacological potential, sparked by early evidence that aligns with some traditional uses. How should health-focused readers interpret these claims?

Lac’s influence runs deep in Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. In northern Thailand, rural communities cultivate lac via host trees, securing a versatile resource for dye, varnish, and healing preparations. Across India, Ayurveda venerates lac, while Chinese traditional medicine documents its presence in materia medica. Historic murals in Lanna and Ayutthaya celebrated lac’s cultural significance, while contemporary herbal practitioners in Thailand continue to cite its astringent, coagulant, antifungal, and bone-supporting properties.

Few substances straddle the worlds of ancient ritual, traditional medicine, and modern industry quite like lac (ครั่ง)—the intriguing resin secreted by the lac insect, Laccifer chinensis. Known in Thai as ครั่ง and in Chinese as จุ้ยเก้ง, this natural exudate has colored textiles, sealed documents, delivered vivid reds in temple murals, and, more quietly, worked as a healing agent in traditional remedies across Asia for centuries. Today, as scientists revisit the pharmacological potential of natural compounds, lac is in the spotlight once again—not only for its rich legacy but for surprising early evidence supporting some of its traditional uses. What makes this glossy, carmine-tinted resin so special, and how can today’s health-conscious readers separate myth from material fact?

In the vibrant gardens and medicinal lore of Thailand, few remedies have captivated both traditional healers and modern scientists as profoundly as เจตมูลเพลิงแดง (Plumbago indica L.), known locally by names such as ปิดปิวแดง in the North, and ไฟใต้ดิน in the South. This striking shrub, with its scarlet flowers and powerful roots, has a centuries-old presence in Thai folk medicine. Yet, in the past decade, this botanical treasure is increasingly stepping into the scientific spotlight, as contemporary research begins to validate and explain much of what Thai healers have long believed.

Pomegranate leaf, or Punica granatum L., travels from village remedies to modern laboratories, revealing a story of healing that resonates worldwide. In Thai traditional healing, the leaves are valued under names such as มะเก๊า, มะก่องแก้ว, and พิลา, where they are used in remedies passed down through generations. Today, researchers are re-examining these uses with rigorous science, highlighting pomegranate leaf as a bridge between heritage and evidence-based medicine. As antibiotic resistance and chronic disease rise globally, integrating traditional knowledge with modern validation is especially timely for Thailand’s health-conscious readers.

Across Thailand’s rich herbal landscape, Jetamun Plueng Daeng—scientifically Plumbago indica—has long figured prominently in traditional healing. Revered for digestive support, anti-inflammatory properties, and even symbolic uses, the scarlet-flowered shrub stands at the crossroads of ancestral wisdom and today’s pharmacological inquiry. As health-conscious Thais explore holistic wellness, the question arises: how does modern science validate its reputation, and how should readers use it safely?

Jetamun Plueng Daeng, also known as red leadwort or Chitrak, occupies a storied place in Thai traditional medicine and Southeast Asian healing practices. Roots have been used to stimulate appetite, ease flatulence, treat skin conditions, and function as a general tonic. In rural communities, healers often incorporate the plant into polyherbal blends, while its vivid appearance has inspired beliefs that it can ward off bad spirits or toxins. Yet the same potent compounds that give it value can pose risks when misused or overdosed.

With its signature refreshing aroma and a presence in Thai cuisine, teas, and traditional healing, saranae (สะระแหน่, Mentha × cordifolia) is more than a culinary flourish—it’s a living link between ancient wisdom and modern herbal science. The story of saranae weaves through Thai kitchens, bustling markets, and the annals of both folk medicine and laboratories worldwide, showing how a humble herb continues to captivate health-conscious Thais with its potent, versatile properties.

Saranae, known in Thai as สะระแหน่ (Mentha × cordifolia), is more than a garnish. It is a living link between ancestral wisdom and modern herbal science. In Thai kitchens, markets, and clinics, this humble mint continues to captivate health-conscious readers with its versatility and aroma.

A familiar sight in Thailand, saranae is valued both as a flavor enhancer and a traditional remedy. Its bright leaves brighten laab, desserts, and beverages, while also cooling the body and soothing the mind. During Thailand’s hot season, mint water and mint tea are common home remedies for stomach discomfort, headaches, and heat-related fatigue. Folk healers long attributed digestive relief, reduced bloating, and refreshed senses to saranae, mirroring its broader Southeast Asian appreciation for mint in food and healing.

Ching Chi, a hardy shrub with tangled branches and spines, has long functioned as a quiet healer in Thai forests and fields. Referred to locally as ชิงชี่ (Ching Chi) and known by many regional names—from กระดาดป่า in Chonburi to เม็งซอ in Chiang Mai and พญาจอมปลวก in the Northeast—Capparis micracantha DC. carries a lineage that spans generations. Today, science is beginning to clarify the plant’s pharmacological potential while honoring its cultural roots.

In the lush tapestry of Southeast Asian gardens and hedgerows, the fiery foliage of Jatropha multifida—known in Thailand as ‘fin ton’ or sometimes ‘malako farang’ and ‘ma hung daeng’—stands as a quiet testament to both botanical beauty and ancient healing. Revered in traditional medicine across continents, this coral-like shrub is more than an ornamental; it is a living bridge between folk wisdom and the frontiers of scientific exploration.

The significance of Jatropha multifida, called in English the coral plant, takes root in a heritage that spans tropical America to the old civilizations of Asia and Africa. In Thai herbal lore, the plant’s bark, leaves, roots, and especially the latex have been treasured for their medicinal properties. Across Thailand, it has been included in remedies like the Tri-Kesornmas or Tri-Kasorn-Mas formula—a classical herbal composition valued for its purported energizing and restorative powers (JAPSON Online). Yet, like many traditional remedies, the legacy of Jatropha multifida is complex: straddling hope and hazard, promise and caution.

Chaphlu, known to scientists as Piper sarmentosum and to Thais by a myriad of regional names—ผักอีเลิด, นมวา, ผักปูนา, ผักพลูนก, among others—stands as an enduring figure in Southeast Asia’s rich herbal tradition. Its glossy leaves are a familiar sight in village gardens, bustling fresh markets, and the culinary vocabularies of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia. For centuries, Thais have relied on this humble herb for far more than its peppery taste: chaphlu is a mainstay in local remedies for fevers, digestive woes, inflammatory disorders, and even chronic diseases. But as contemporary science seeks to unravel the truths behind ancestral wisdom, what does modern research say about this versatile Thai remedy? And how can today’s health-conscious readers make sense of its reputed powers?

Alpinia galanga, known in Thai as kha (ข่า), is a fragrant rhizome in the ginger family that has long anchored Thai culture. Once a common ingredient in tom yum and other dishes, it also sits at the heart of traditional healing. Today, researchers are exploring its potential in modern medicine, while Thai communities continue to value its dual role in cuisine and care.

Historically, kha has addressed everyday discomfort. Thai households have used its warming aroma to aid digestion, ease respiratory ailments, and soothe minor pains. The plant’s significance goes beyond food; it appears in temple rituals, ancestral offerings, and protective practices. In rural areas, decoctions of the rhizome have been linked to ideas of balancing the body and expelling illness, a reflection of traditional Thai medical concepts that still influence village clinics and apothecaries. This enduring role reinforces national pride in indigenous knowledge as wellness trends spotlight galangal worldwide.

In the heart of Thailand’s traditional medicine cabinets sits a plant with a storied history and a pungent aroma—Cleome viscosa, or “ผักเสี้ยนผี.” Revered in folk culture for generations, this herbal remedy, known in various regions as “ส้มเสี้ยนผี,” “ผักเสี้ยนตัวเมีย,” or even the poetic “ไปนิพพานไม่รู้กลับ,” has been transformed from backyard weed into the protagonist of new scientific inquiry. Now, as health-conscious Thais seek natural remedies rooted in local wisdom, the dialogue between tradition and modern research places Cleome viscosa in the spotlight like never before.

Cleome viscosa, known in Thai as “ผักเสี้ยนผี,” sits quietly in many Thai homes and markets. Once just a pungent weed in backyards, it has become a focal point for researchers exploring how local wisdom can inform modern health, especially in health, education, culture, and tourism contexts.

The plant remains deeply rooted in daily Thai life. Leaves, seeds, and stems are used in simple remedies and everyday foods. Traditional practices include fermenting the leaves as a side dish to aid digestion and cooling the body. Folk healers across regions describe its role in reducing fevers, easing muscle pains, and treating minor wounds, often alongside narratives about boosting vitality. As Thailand weighs global health trends, Cleome viscosa invites curiosity about what local knowledge may contribute to contemporary science.

Thonglang Bai Dang, known scientifically as Erythrina variegata, stands out in Thai herbal tradition for its striking coral-tree form and its long-standing role in traditional healers’ cabinets. With bright red flowers and variegated leaves, the tree weaves centuries of Southeast Asian healing into modern curiosity. Recent research is beginning to validate what Thai herbalists have long claimed: this plant may offer meaningful, safety-conscious benefits when approached with expertise and care.

Galangal, known in Thai as kha, is more than a fragrant addition to tom yum and curries. Classified as Alpinia galanga, this fiery rhizome has long sat at the crossroads of food and medicine in Thai, Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Unani traditions. Today, modern science is uncovering why galangal has endured as a trusted remedy in Southeast Asia and beyond.

In Thai culture, galangal embodies the close bond between cooking and healing. Traditions passed from master to apprentice and mother to child describe its use to warm the body, improve appetite, settle the stomach, and boost immunity. In Ayurvedic practice, galangal is considered a hot herb, believed to balance bodily energies. In rural households, it remains a practical remedy for aches, coughs, nausea, fever, and minor infections. It has historically been used in poultices for bruises, as a post-meal digestif, and even as a preventive tonic during the rainy season when respiratory and stomach ailments are common.

Few plants hold as esteemed a place in Thailand’s culture and kitchens as ข่า (kha), known in English as galangal and classified scientifically as Alpinia galanga (L.) Willd. Beyond its unmistakable aroma infusing tom yum soup and curries, galangal’s gnarled rhizome has, for centuries, played a starring role in Thai, Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Unani medical traditions. Today, science is shining new light on why this fiery root has endured in the apothecaries of Southeast Asia and around the world.

A traditional wood-based remedy known as khunthongphayabat is drawing attention from scientists. In rural Thailand and across Southeast Asia, the Suregada multiflora wood has long been used to treat skin issues, fevers, and inflammatory complaints. Now researchers are exploring how its ancient uses align with contemporary health studies, shedding new light on this storied plant.

For Thai communities, khunthongphayabat is both familiar and enigmatic. Its heartwood has been a staple in regional healing traditions and is often included in mixtures aimed at cooling inflammation and soothing hot ailments. Regional names such as Yai Pluak, Dook Hin, and Ma Duk Lueam reflect its wide presence in local pharmacopoeias. What exactly is inside this wood, and how is modern science validating its traditional reputation?

Deep in the lush forests of Thailand and across Southeast Asia, a powerful traditional remedy has long whispered its healing secrets. Known locally as khunthongphayabat (ขันทองพยาบาท) and by a host of regional names—from Duk Sai in Isan to Jaduk Lekluam in the North—the wood of the Suregada multiflora tree has woven its way through the patchwork of Thai herbal medicine for generations. Now, with the surge of scientific interest in plant-based pharmacology, khunthongphayabat is poised to make an impression far beyond traditional medicine cabinets, as researchers illuminate how its ancient uses resonate with cutting-edge health studies.