#TraditionalHerbs

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.