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Medicinal
Herbs and Spices |
| Many herbs and spices used in
Thai cuisine have beneficial medicinal properties.
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 CHILLI
(PHRIK)
An
erect, branched, shrub-like herb with fruits used
as garnishing and flavouring.There are many different
species. All contain capsaicin, a biologically active
ingredient beneficial to the respiratory system,
blood pressure and heart. Other therapeutic uses
include being a stomachic, carminative and antiflatulence
agent, and digestant.
CUMIN(YI-RA)
A small shrubbery
herb, the fruit of which contains an oil with a
pungent odour, and which is used as
a flavouring and condiment. Cumin's therapeutic
properties include acting as a stomachic,
bitter tonic, carminative, stimulant and astringent.
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GARLIC
(KRA-THIAM)
An
annual herbaceous plant with underground bulbs comprising
several cloves. Dried mature bulbs are used as
a flavouring and condiment. Therapeutic uses are
as an antimicrobial, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant,
and antiflatulence and cholesterol lowering agent.
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GINGER(KHING)
An
erect plant with thickened, fleshy and aromatic
rhizomes. Used in different forms as a food, flavouring
and spice. Ginger's therapeutic uses are as a carminative,
antinauseant and antiflatulence agent.
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GALANGA(KHA)
Greater
Galanga is an erect annual plant with aromatic,
ginger-like rhizomes, and commonly used in Thai
cooking as a flavouring. The oil content has therapeutic
uses as a carminative, stomachic, antirheumatic
and antimicrobial agent.
GHOARY
BASI(MAENG-LAK)
An
annual herbaceous plant with slightly hairy and
pale green leaves, eaten either raw or used as
a flavouring. Therapeutic benefits include the alleviation
of cough symptoms, and as a diaphoretic and carminative
agent.
SHALLOT(HOM-LEK,HOM-DAENG)
Shallots,
or small red onions, are annual herbaceous plants.
Underground bulbs comprise garlic-like cloves. Shallot
bulbs contain a volatile oil, and are used as flavouring
or seasoning agents. Therapeutic properties include
the alleviation of stomach discomfort, and as an
antihelmintic, antidiarrhoeal, expectorant, antitussive,
diuretic and antiflu agent.
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KAFFIR(MA-KRUT)
The
leaves, peel and juice of the kaffir lime are used
as a flavouring. The leaves and peel contain a volatile
oil. The major therapeutic benefit of the juice
is as an appetiser |
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LEMONGRASS
(TA-KHRAI)
This
erect annual plant resembles a coarse grey-green
grass. Fresh leaves and grass are used as flavouring.
Lemongrass contains a volatile oil. Therapeutic
properties
are as a diurectic, emmanagogue, antiflatulence,
antiflu and antimicrobial agent. |
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LIME(NA-NAO)
Lime
is used principally as a garnish for fish and meat
dishes. The fruit contains hesperidin and naringin,
proven anti-inflammatory flavonoids. Lime juice
is used as an appetiser,and has antitussive, antiflu,
stomachic and antiscorbutic properties. |
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MARSH(SA-RA-NAE)
The
fresh leaves of this herbaceous plant are used as
a flavouring and are eaten raw. Volatile oil contents
give the plant several therapeutic uses, including
carminative, mild antiseptic, local anaesthetic,
diaphoretic and digestant properties. |
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PEPPER(PHRIK
THAI)
Pepper
is a branching, perennial climbing plant from whose
fruiting spikes both white and black pepper are
obtained. Used as a spice and condiment, pepper
contains a volatile oil. Therapeutic uses are as
carminative, antipyretic, diaphoretic and diuretic
agent. |
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SACRED
BASIL(KA-PHRAO)
Sacred
basil is an annual herbaceous plant. The fresh leaves,
which are used as a flavouring, contain a volatile
oil that acts as a carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant
and stomachic. |
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SWEET
BASIL(HO-RA-PHA)
Sweet
basil is an annual herbaceous plant, the fresh leaves
of which are either eaten raw or used as a flavouring.
Volatile oil content varies according to different
varieties. Therapeutic properties are as
a carminative, diaphoretic, expectorant, digestant
and stomachic agent. |
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STURMARIC(KHA-MIN)
Turmeric
is a member of the ginger family, and provides yellow
colouring for Thai food. The rhizomes contain a
volatile oil with unique aromatic characteristics.
Turmeric's therapeutic properties manifest as a
carminative, antiflatulence and stomachic.
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