#PlantPharmacology

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.

Jasmine’s delicate scent instantly evokes Thai ceremonies, markets, and family rituals. Behind its beauty lies a long-standing medical tradition. Jasminum sambac, known in Thai as มะลิลา, has long graced shrines and kitchens alike. Now, science is revealing how this beloved flower can support health, offering readers a balanced view of ancient wisdom and contemporary evidence.

Jasmine, or Arabian jasmine, is grown across Asia and is a staple in Thai gardens. It symbolizes purity and love, and its blossoms are used in hair adornments, religious offerings, desserts, and beverages. In Thai traditional medicine, มะลิลา has been valued for wounds, fevers, asthma, and mild calming effects, reflecting a holistic view of well-being that blends beauty with healing.

Unfolding a jasmine garland instantly evokes the colors, scents, and gentle rituals of Thai culture. Yet beneath this delicate beauty lies a medicine chest centuries old. Jasminum sambac, known in Thai as “มะลิลา,” has graced not only shrines and homes but also pharmacy shelves in Thai and Southeast Asian traditions. Today, thanks to scientific inquiry, this celebrated flower is revealing its secrets—offering new hope for health-conscious readers seeking the harmony of ancient wisdom and modern evidence.

Across Thai villages and markets, Kan Tee Saw (Vitex trifolia) has long been valued as a versatile healer. In regions from Chonburi to the North, this unassuming shrub is known by many local names, reflecting Thailand’s cultural diversity and deep plant knowledge. Today, researchers are investigating Kan Tee Saw with modern methods, turning ancient remedies into potential scientific insights while preserving its cultural significance for Thai communities.

Vitex trifolia is modest in size but historically powerful in Thai ethnomedicine. The plant’s seeds are prized for their cooling, cleansing, and gentle stimulating qualities. Traditional practitioners use Kan Tee Saw to address a range of ailments—from fevers and headaches to respiratory issues and skin conditions—often integrating it into broader herbal recipes for digestive upset, wounds, and postpartum care. This broad utility has cemented Kan Tee Saw as a mainstay in folk health practices across the country, with practitioners citing generations of experience and regional formularies.

Nestled in the folklore and village gardens across Thailand, the unassuming Kan Tee Saw—known scientifically as Vitex trifolia—has for centuries been revered as a multifaceted healer. Called by names as varied as kan tee saw khaw in Chonburi, khon din saw in the central regions, phii suea noi in the North, or thian khaw in Phetchaburi, this plant’s rich medicinal history threads through every region and dialect, embodying a unique harmony of nature’s bounty and human ingenuity. Today, as researchers turn magnifying lenses and test tubes onto the ancient remedies of Thai traditional medicine, Kan Tee Saw emerges not just as a cultural artifact but as a botanical protagonist on the cusp of scientific validation. What follows is a journey through its uses, lore, modern research, and what the future may hold for this cherished herbal medicine.