Plai
Plai · ไพล（プライ）
Zingiber cassumunar
“The heart of the herbal ball”
| Thai name | ไพล |
|---|---|
| Species | Zingiber cassumunar |
| Family | Zingiberaceae |
| Part used | Rhizome |
| Aroma | Spicy and cooling, reminiscent of ginger |
What is plai?
Plai (Zingiber cassumunar) is a plant in the ginger family, called "phlai (ไพล)" in Thailand. With a cooling aroma reminiscent of ginger, it has long been valued in Thai traditional medicine as a material for steam baths and herbal compress balls — truly a RootHerb that represents Thailand. In Thailand it is recorded as having been used for bloating and diarrhoea, and — combined with other herbs into a “herbal ball” — for aching muscles and joints, bruises and sprains. Its aroma is led by sabinene and terpinen-4-ol.
The center of the herbal ball
The traditional Thai herbal ball "luk prakop" wraps plai and other herbs in cloth, steams them, and presses them to the body as warm care. Plai carries the center of its aroma and warmth, inseparably bound to the cultures of Thai massage and herbal sauna. In a formulation recorded in the peer-reviewed literature, plai rhizome is the largest single component at about 40%. This compress, known as ya-pra-kob, is described as having been used in Thai traditional medicine to ease musculoskeletal pain.
A staple ingredient of op samun phrai and herbal balls. Its cooling, spicy aroma rising with the steam is one of the scents that symbolize Thailand's bathing culture.
In Thailand it is rooted in daily life as herbal balls and warm compresses. Still rare in Japan, it is a RootHerb you are most likely to encounter at its source through on-site training in Thailand.
Note: this page introduces the traditions and culture around the plant. It does not guarantee any effect.