#PlantScience

St. John’s wort, a bright yellow flowering herb, has long fascinated people. Once believed to ward off evil and ease emotional distress, it now sits at the crossroads of traditional wisdom and clinical research. For health-conscious readers in Thailand, the plant offers lessons about how natural remedies can both help and harm when used with modern medicines.

This article traces its rich history, traditional uses in various cultures, current scientific evidence, and essential safety considerations for anyone curious about this herbal option.

From yellow blooms gleaming in midsummer fields to bottles lining pharmacy shelves, St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) has captured human fascination for centuries. Once considered a magical plant to ward off evil and heal the mind and body, today this humble wildflower sits at the intersection of folk medicine and rigorous clinical investigation. As health-conscious readers search for natural ways to support mental health, St. John’s wort stands as a classic example of how traditional botanical wisdom and modern science sometimes converge—and sometimes diverge—in the ongoing quest for well-being.

In Thailand’s evergreen forests, the golden resin exuded from great dipterocarp trees after storms has long been part of local healing lore. Known as Chanyoiy, this resin comes from trees such as Yang Na, Takhian Thong, Teng, and Rang. For generations, dried exudates were valued by traditional healers and rural communities, weaving ethnobotanical knowledge with contemporary interest in plant-based therapies. This piece examines why Chanyoiy endures and what modern science reveals.

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.

In Thailand’s evergreen forests, the sight of a great dipterocarp tree bleeding golden resin after a monsoon storm would be familiar to generations past. To many, this thick aromatic substance—locally known as “ชันย้อย” (Chanyoiy)—seems little more than nature’s bandage. Yet, for centuries, the dried exudates from Dipterocarpaceae family trees such as the Yang Na, Takhian Thong, Teng, and Rang have been treasured by Thai traditional healers and rural communities, forming a bridge between ancient ethnobotanical wisdom and today’s rebirth of plant-based therapeutics. What lies behind the enduring appeal of Chanyoiy, and does modern science validate its traditional role?

For generations, Thai communities have found medicine not only in pharmacies, but also in the forests and waterways of the kingdom. Among the green treasures is Krumanam (กุ่มน้ำ), a native tree whose bark and young leaves have flavored diets and healing traditions, while now attracting modern scientific interest. Known by its scientific name, Crateva religiosa G.Forst., or simply the sacred garlic pear and spider tree, Krumanam is an herbal protagonist whose story weaves folklore, culinary use, and emerging pharmacological promise—with its roots reaching from ancient rites to contemporary research benches.

Makrut lime, the knobby green citrus also known as kaffir lime, sits at the heart of Thai kitchens and folk medicine. Across Thailand—from remote northern villages to Bangkok’s lively markets—the aroma of its leaves and the brightness of its zest connect daily cooking with centuries of traditional healing. Modern science is now exploring this beloved herb, highlighting how indigenous knowledge can inform contemporary health and wellness in Thailand.

In Thai culture, makrut lime leaves and peel are woven into everyday life and spiritual practice. Locally called ma-krut, som-krut, or ma-khoon, the fruit features in postpartum steam rituals to support new mothers, while the thick peel is pounded into shampoos and hair care remedies. Its juice and zest are commonly used as general tonics, applied both internally and externally. Symbolically, makrut lime is associated with purification and good fortune, often used to cleanse teapots and altars or carried during Songkran, Thailand’s water festival.

In every Thai kitchen, the knobby green fruit known as makrut lime (Citrus hystrix DC.) is more than a culinary staple – it’s an emblem of culture, tradition, and natural healing. From northern rural hamlets to Bangkok’s bustling wet markets, the aroma of makrut lime leaves and the zingy freshness of its peel invoke centuries of folk medicine, family wisdom, and scientific intrigue. As modern research shines new light on this beloved herbal staple, makrut lime’s remarkable journey from ancient remedy to subject of laboratory scrutiny underscores the vibrant intersection of indigenous knowledge and contemporary health science.

Among the lush forest canopies and the age-old village herb gardens of Thailand, there exists a rather unassuming yet remarkable climbing vine known locally as “Buap Lom” (บวบลม), “Chuk Rohini,” or “Thao Phung Pla.” Known scientifically as Dischidia major, this plant has woven its way through centuries of Thai folk medicine and whispers of ancient wisdom. Today, it stands at the crossroads of traditional healing and emerging modern research, inviting a new generation of health-conscious individuals to rediscover its legacy.

In Thailand’s forests and village herb gardens, the climbing vine Buap Lom—also known as Chuk Rohini or Thao Phung Pla—has long threaded itself into local healing. Scientifically named Dischidia major, the plant sits at the intersection of traditional Thai medicine and emerging scientific inquiry, inviting a new generation to rediscover its legacy.

For many Thai households, Buap Lom is more than a wild vine. village healers have used its leaves, roots, and stems to address fevers, digestive discomfort, coughs, and skin irritations. This knowledge has been handed down through generations, blending practical treatment with a respect for the plant’s ecological role. As one rural practitioner notes, “the entire vine has its uses.” Buap Lom’s significance spans practical care and ritual healing, reflecting a deep intertwining of health, spirituality, and ecology.

Annatto seeds, known locally as คำเงาะ, have colored Thai tea, temple robes, and folk remedies for generations. Today, researchers are exploring its health potential and safety for Thai families and travelers, linking culture to modern science.

In Thai kitchens and markets, คำเงาะ provides the vivid orange-red hue seen in curries, desserts, and especially Thai iced tea. In temples and rural homes, the seeds and leaves are part of traditional healing and cosmetic practices, with stories about wound care and fever relief passing through communities. Across Southeast Asia, color and symbolism around annatto reflect a broader belief that color offers protection and renewal.

In the vivid palette of Southeast Asian tradition, few plants are as striking—visually, culturally, and medicinally—as คำเงาะ, a botanical treasure whose ruby-red seeds have journeyed from indigenous ceremonies to modern scientific scrutiny. Often seen as the secret behind the iconic orange hue of Thai tea and Buddhist monk robes, คำเงาะ (Bixa orellana), known globally as annatto, is much more than a natural coloring. For centuries, it has occupied a central role in folk medicine, cuisine, and ritual, and is now finding renewed interest as researchers probe its potential health benefits and safety. As Thailand’s wellness movement embraces ancient herbal wisdom, the story of คำเงาะ reveals how tradition and modern science intersect in profoundly colorful ways.

For centuries, Artemisia annua—known in Thailand as โกฐจุฬาลัมพา and in Chinese tradition as qinghao—has been revered as a multi-purpose remedy across Asia. Its journey from local herbal tea and folk medicine to the front lines of global pharmaceutical research stands as a compelling testament to the power of tradition meeting scientific innovation. In the current health landscape, where interest in natural remedies is surging among Thai consumers, Artemisia annua’s story offers a timely lesson in respecting ancient wisdom while demanding scientific rigor.

Artemisia annua, known in Thailand as โกฐจุฬาลัมพา and in Chinese tradition as qinghao, traces a path from local herbal tea to a centerpiece in global medicine. Its journey demonstrates how traditional knowledge can spark scientific breakthroughs, while underscoring the need for rigorous evaluation before widespread use. For Thai readers attentive to natural remedies, the plant offers a timely reminder to balance wisdom from the past with modern evidence.

In Thai traditional medicine, โกฐจุฬาลัมพา has long been used to ease fever, inflammation, and digestive issues. It appears in local pharmacopoeias alongside other cooling herbs and is often combined with multi-herb formulas. Ancient Chinese texts describe similar applications for fever, wounds, and conditions associated with heat, reinforcing a shared history of herbal practice across East and Southeast Asia. Archaeological findings from Han-era tombs indicate the plant’s medicinal role dating back more than two thousand years. Research from Thai and regional scholars situates Artemisia annua within a broader tradition of cooling, anti-inflammatory remedies used to support convalescence and general well-being.