Discover the Stories of Thai Herbs

Jasmine -- Calm, Sooth & Destress

Among all the oriental herbs, jasmine may be the most popular one all over the world. Widely cultivated for its flowers, it is enjoyed in the garden, as a house plant, and as cut flowers.

The delicate jasmine flower opens only at night and may be plucked in the morning when the tiny petals are tightly closed, then stored in a cool place until night. The petals begin to open between six and eight in the evening, as the temperature lowers.

Thais drop jasmine in cool water to fragrance the welcome drink for the guest. It is also used to fragrance many dessert which adds on to ending taste of meal.

Moreover, Jasmine flower is used to honor the mother, The white colour of the flower symbolizes purity of mother's true love. On the mother's day, Jasmine Garland is the most favorite gift for mothers. It is called 'Phuang Malai', which is a unique way of arranging flowers and using them in decorations in Thailand.

Ginger --Stimulates circulation and a good anti-oxidant

Rooted in tropical Asia, Ginger is one of the most widely used spices not only in oriental cooking, but also for medical purposes.

For centuries, people in Thailand use ginger to treat everyday aches and pains and relief muscle tensions. There is a remedy in Thailand which use a hot cassumunar ginger compress during traditional massage session to help the energy flow within the body. And legend has it that this technique was used to treat soldiers during the epic Thai-Burmese battles some 200 years ago. (Eide. J, 2009).

Modern scientific research has revealed that ginger possesses numerous therapeutic properties including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. (George Mateljan Foundation for The World’s Healthiest Foods - WHfoods.org)