Thai villagers use 129 plants to treat fevers naturally
Jitpromma T, Saensouk P, Watthana S, Srisuk P, Thanakornjuk K, Saensouk S.
Ethnobotany
Roots from wild trees growing near rural Thai villages, brewed into decoctions, represent generations of tested knowledge about which plants actually lower fever, the kind of practical wisdom that's disappearing as younger generations move away from traditional practices.
Scientists interviewed 108 people across nine districts in Thailand about which plants they use when someone has a fever. They found 129 different plant species from 46 families, with roots being the most commonly used part and boiling them into a tea-like decoction the go-to method. Twenty-five of these plants got a perfect score for how consistently people agreed on their fever-fighting use, making them prime candidates for future research into natural fever remedies.
Key Findings
129 medicinal plant species from 108 genera and 46 families were documented for treating fever
Roots were the most-used plant part (39.53%) and decoction was the dominant preparation method (93.02%)
25 species achieved a 100% fidelity level, meaning all informants agreed on their antipyretic use
chevron_right Technical Summary
Researchers documented 129 medicinal plants used to treat fever by traditional healers in northeastern Thailand, revealing a rich body of folk knowledge that could point scientists toward new fever-reducing compounds.
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Original paper
Traditional Antipyretic Medicinal Plants Used in Yasothon Province, Northeastern Thailand.
Fever is one of the most common health conditions traditionally treated with medicinal plants in rural communities, yet comprehensive documentation of antipyretic ethnomedicinal knowledge in northe...
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