#Traditionalmedicine

Maduk, known scientifically as Siphonodon celastrineus, has long been a staple in Thai herbal practice. Across provinces, it is celebrated in local names like มะดูก (Maduk), บักดูก in Isan, บักโคก among Khmer communities, and ยายปลวก in southern regions. The tree’s heartwood, bark, and roots have fed a tradition of decoctions, salves, and tonics used to ease inflammation, skin issues, and chronic aches. Women have historically relied on Maduk’s bark as a galactagogue, underscoring its valued place in family health. Recent ethnobotanical work supports these traditional uses, highlighting its role in managing inflammatory conditions and supporting recovery after injuries.

For centuries, the spicy, aromatic vine known as สะค้าน (sakaan)—derived from the species Piper interruptum, Piper ribesioides, and Piper wallichii—has occupied a unique place in Thai and Southeast Asian herbal tradition. Sometimes called ตะค้านเล็ก or ตะค้านหยวก, this plant has been handed down through generations of healers as both a culinary delight and a medicinal powerhouse. Now, as the scientific community shines a modern spotlight on herbal medicine, sakaan invites us to examine its rich cultural tapestry as well as the emerging evidence behind its traditional uses.

For generations, communities across Thailand have celebrated the deep-rooted legacy of มะดูก (Maduk), or Siphonodon celastrineus Griff., integrating it into a rich tapestry of traditional herbal medicine. Local names such as บักดูก (Isan), บักโคก (Khmer), and ยายปลวก (South) reflect its widespread recognition, while the regional moniker ดูกหิน hints at its multifaceted roles in Thai life. Today, as a wave of scientific curiosity washes over ancient remedies, Maduk stands at a fascinating crossroads: its historical healing wisdom now meets the transformative lens of modern pharmacology. How does tradition measure up to laboratory scrutiny, and what can health-conscious readers in Thailand glean from this botanical heritage?

Alum, known in Thai as “สารส้ม” (san-som), sits at the crossroads of everyday life and scientific inquiry. In Thai households it appears as a chunky mineral block beside water jars or a fine powder in bathrooms. Its long-standing presence reveals a culture that blends practical home remedies with curious exploration of new evidence.

Alum embodies the spirit of folk wisdom meeting science. Thai communities have historically used it to clarify water, reduce swelling, stop minor bleeding, and deodorize. From riverbanks to research labs, alum illustrates how ancient practices can inform, yet be refined by, evidence-based medicine.

For centuries, alum, known in Thai as “สารส้ม” (san-som), has shimmered as a crystalline cornerstone in Southeast Asian households. Its appearance in the home—whether a chunky mineral block resting beside a rural water container or a fine powder in bathroom cabinets—reveals a legacy interwoven tightly with both daily life and healing customs. But as modern science explores ancient remedies, alum emerges as a unique case: a mineral of almost mythical versatility, yet one that requires scrutiny for safety in contemporary times.

Cordyline fruticosa, known in Thai as หมากผู้หมากเมีย, has long brightened gardens and temple grounds with its striking, palm-like leaves. Beyond beauty, the plant sits at a crossroads of traditional healing and contemporary science. Thai communities refer to it by names like มะผู้มะเมีย, หมากผู้, or ปูหมาก, reflecting a rich tapestry of local knowledge. Recent research is beginning to test ancient claims, offering a nuanced view for modern Thai readers on how to approach this botanical treasure.

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.

The green wetlands of Southeast Asia nurture many ancient botanical treasures, but few rival the enduring popularity of ผักกระโฉม (Limnophila rugosa). Known by Thai names such as อ้มกบ, ผักกะโสม, and ราน้ำ, this aromatic marsh plant has grown alongside Thai civilization—seasoning food, perfuming homes, and playing pivotal roles in both folk and formal medicine. Today, amidst a resurgence in interest for time-tested natural remedies, Limnophila rugosa stands out as a compelling example of how traditional wisdom and modern science can enrich our path to wellness.

Rock salt, or เกลือสินเธาว์, sits quietly at the intersection of tradition and science in Isan and across Thailand. For generations, it has shaped daily cooking, healing rituals, and cultural identity. As modern research weighs in, what should Thai readers know about its benefits, risks, and enduring significance?

Tradition holds that rock salt is more than a seasoning. In many Thai communities, it has been used to ease digestive woes, cleanse wounds, support oral health, and purify spaces during rituals. Passed down through families, these practices connect people to the land and to centuries of local knowledge.

Nestled in temple gardens and northern markets, the delicate Saraphi blossom (Mammea siamensis) releases a sweet, uplifting aroma. Beyond beauty, these flowers have long held a revered place in Thai traditional medicine, enduring for centuries as both remedy and symbol. Today, Saraphi sits at the crossroads of heritage and science, blending ancestral wisdom with emerging medical evidence to engage health-conscious Thai readers seeking harmony between body, mind, and nature.

Historically, Saraphi has been central to traditional Thai medicine. Healers prized the dried flowers for their scent and restorative properties, describing Saraphi as a heart tonic, fever reducer, and appetite stimulant. These uses persist across generations and regions, with practitioners in Lanna and Central Thai communities incorporating Saraphi into formulas that aim to “balance the inner winds,” a concept rooted in Thai and Southeast Asian healing cosmologies. In modern Thailand, Saraphi is planted near temples and royal sites as a symbol of purity, longevity, and strength, mirroring its enduring medicinal lore.

Amidst the fragrant gardens of Thai temples and the bustling markets of the North, the delicate yellow-white blossoms of the Saraphi tree (Mammea siamensis) exude a sweet, uplifting aroma. Yet beyond their ornamental charm, these blossoms have secured a place of deep reverence in Thailand’s traditional medicine, enduring through centuries as both remedy and symbol. Today, Saraphi stands at the intersection of heritage and scientific research, revealing a story that blends ancestral wisdom with emerging medical evidence—one that continues to captivate health-conscious Thais seeking harmony between body, mind, and nature.

Savad, known in Thai as ป่าขี้แฮด or หวาด, has long been part of rural healing across Thailand. The plant’s grey seeds and fragrant leaves are rooted in local practice, where they are said to cool fever, ease digestion, and support overall wellness. Beyond medicine, Savad also carries spiritual and cultural significance, with seeds once worn as protective amulets in northern and northeastern communities. According to traditional knowledge from Thai farmers and herbalists, these practices reflect a blended view of health that ties body, spirit, and daily life together.

Limnophila rugosa, known locally as ผักกระโฉม, has long flourished along Thailand’s wetlands and remains a cornerstone of traditional life. In Thai households, the plant is prized for its aromatic leaves, used in cooking, perfumed spaces, and as a gentle remedy in local medical practices. Today, renewed interest in time-honored, plant-based remedies positions Limnophila rugosa as a prime example of how ancient wisdom can complement modern science.

Generations of Thai communities have turned to ผักกระโฉม for a range of conditions. Across regions, the leaves are celebrated for their cooling, pungent aroma and dual role as food and remedy. Traditional texts and oral knowledge describe digestive benefits—relief from stomach discomfort, diarrhea, and loss of appetite—and topical applications for wounds and skin irritations. In central Thailand, decoctions are used as mild diuretics and febrifuges, while in the northeast, crushed fresh leaves are applied to irritations and insect bites. These practices reflect a rich, holistic approach to everyday health.

For centuries, the shimmering grey seeds and medicinal leaves of Savad—also known in Thai as ป่าขี้แฮด or หวาด—have played a quiet but consequential role in traditional healing across Thailand and Southeast Asia. Emerging from the branches of its thorny shrub (Caesalpinia bonduc), this ancient remedy is more than just folklore; it represents a fascinating nexus where spiritual belief, cultural tradition, and the frontiers of pharmaceutical science meet. As modern research peels back layers of inherited knowledge, Savad’s story exemplifies both the promise and the complexity of traditional medicine in a contemporary world, offering hope and inspiration for those seeking holistic health solutions.

In the world of traditional Thai medicine, few remedies have endured as universally and unassumingly as “เกลือสินเธาว์”—also known as rock salt, เกลือหิน, or เกลือเทศ. This simple crystalline mineral, gleaned from underground salt beds in Thailand’s northeast, has quietly shaped rituals of healing, daily cuisine, and even cultural identity. But as modern science investigates the claims of ancient tradition, what does evidence reveal about the true health benefits—and potential risks—of this everyday ingredient?

For generations across Thailand and Southeast Asia, the striking leaves of หมากผู้หมากเมีย (Cordyline fruticosa) have adorned gardens and temples not just for their beauty but for their revered properties in traditional medicine. This “good luck plant,” recognizable for its vibrant, palm-like foliage, stands at the intersection of ancient healing wisdom and contemporary scientific inquiry. Increasingly, researchers have begun to untangle the story behind this botanical treasure—known by many Thais as มะผู้มะเมีย, หมากผู้, or ปูหมาก—to validate, reinterpret, and, in some cases, challenge inherited knowledge in light of emerging pharmacological evidence. What does science now say about the long-trusted remedy, and how should modern Thais approach its continued use?

Nestled beneath the lush canopies of Southeast Asian forests thrives Wan Ron Thong—known to botanists as Ludisia discolor and cherished in Thai herbal lore as “ว่านร่อนทอง” or “Jewel Orchid.” This unassuming ground orchid, with its velvety dark leaves etched in golden veins, is far more than an ornamental plant. Across generations, its rhizome has figured prominently in folk remedies intended to soothe a range of ailments, from mysterious abdominal discomforts to urgent wounds. Modern science, armed with phytochemical analysis and laboratory models, is gradually illuminating the truths behind this legend, sparking new questions and fueling the ongoing dance between tradition and evidence-based medicine.

Wan Ron Thong, botanists’ Ludisia discolor, is known in Thai herbal lore as “ว่านร่อนทอง” or Jewel Orchid. This unassuming ground orchid hides a powerful story: its rhizome has long been used in folk remedies for abdominal discomfort, wounds, and other ailments. Modern science is starting to clarify which compounds might underlie these traditional claims, while raising new questions about safety and efficacy.

The plant thrives in the highlands of Thailand and neighboring regions, with small white blossoms that belie its deeper value in ethnomedicine. In northern Thailand, dried rhizomes have traditionally been decocted to “chase away wind,” alleviate pain, or strengthen internal organs. In China, Ludisia discolor has been described as supporting kidney function, moistening the lungs, and “clearing heat.” Such complementary medicine concepts reflect distinct cultural frameworks but share an emphasis on balance and overall system health. Thai researchers at the College of Pharmacy, Ubon Ratchathani University, highlight the plant’s role in rural healing traditions, while analyses in global literature point to similar uses across East Asia.

Deep in the herbal traditions of Thailand, “หมักม่อ”—known also as “ต้นขี้หมู,” “หม้อ,” or “หม่อ”—has long been a steadfast remedy referenced in the annals of folk medicine. Sourced from the wood and heartwood of Rothmannia wittii, a member of the Rubiaceae family, this plant intertwines centuries of healing folklore with an emerging body of scientific research. Today, as health-conscious Thais increasingly seek natural ways to maintain wellness, หมักม่อ stands at a fascinating crossroads: respected by traditional healers, scrutinized by scientists, and ready for a new generation of curious minds.

Betel nut, known locally as หมาก, remains a vivid thread in Thai markets, temple courtyards, and social rituals. The areca nut from the Areca catechu palm is both a symbol of hospitality and a traditional remedy, even as new research questions its safety. This piece revisits the cultural significance while presenting current health perspectives for Thai readers.

Across the region, betel chewing involves the nut, slaked lime, and betel leaf. In Thailand, the practice is woven into weddings, offerings, and daily interactions. The bright red stain on lips and teeth has long marked social status and community belonging, underscoring how deeply the habit is embedded in life’s ceremonies and everyday moments.

In the vibrant markets and shaded courtyards across Thailand and Southeast Asia, the distinctive reddish tinge of betel nut-chewers’ lips reveals a tradition as old as Thai civilization itself. The seed of the Areca catechu palm—better known as “หมาก” or “betel nut”—stands at the crossroads of culture, medicine, ritual, and modern controversy. Today, it continues to be revered as both a symbol of hospitality and a medicine of tradition, while modern research sheds new light on its potential and peril (Wikipedia).

A traditional herb known as Bhulan Bel, scientifically related to Cuscuta and commonly called dodder, is drawing renewed global interest for potential stress relief, anxiety reduction, and mental clarity. Contemporary research and a revived interest in Ayurveda’s history are pushing Bhulan Bel into the spotlight for wellness and scientific exploration alike.

Bhulan Bel stands out for its use as a parasitic plant in ancient medicine to calm the nervous system. Proponents suggest its soothing compounds may offer a natural alternative to some pharmaceutical approaches, helping ease tension and reduce anxiety without the heavier side effects often associated with synthetic drugs. This aligns with a growing demand for holistic strategies to support mental well-being in a fast-paced world.

In the fragrant tapestry of Thai herbal medicine, few remedies are as enduring and evocative as อบเชย — the inner bark of trees from the Cinnamomum genus, globally known as cinnamon. Revered for centuries in traditional Thai practice and now validated by an emerging body of modern scientific research, cinnamon’s story is one of remarkable intersection, where ancient wisdom and cutting-edge pharmacology converge. As cinnamon once wove itself into the heart of local temples, kitchens, and healing ceremonies, today it stirs renewed curiosity among health-conscious readers and researchers wishing to unlock the secrets behind this cherished bark.