Stemona collinsae

Roots are prepared in northern Thailand as a bitter tonic and cough remedy. Thai healers decoct chopped root or entire aerial parts to drink for fevers and respiratory complaints (Boonraksa et al., 2008). In Laos, the root is also boiled as an expectorant, sometimes combined with lemongrass and galanga, and drunk for coughs and lung complaints (Elkington et al., 2008). Vietnamese traditional practice treats dysentery and diarrhea with a root decoction; it is also given as a general tonic postpartum (Le et al., 2010). Across the Indochinese region, crushed leaves or poulticed roots are applied to wounds to “draw out heat,” and a mild leaf tea is taken for malaria-like fevers and inflammatory swelling (Bennett et al., 2021).

Modern ethnobotanists have documented these preparations: leaves by infusion for fever, roots by decoction for coughs and diarrhea, and crushed leaves or roots as poultices for topical infections (Bennett et al., 2021). The emphasis is always on the specific plant parts (leaves versus root or aerial parts), and the amount of plant material is measured by handfuls or “a pinch” rather than precise weights. The notable factor is the consistency across three cultures—Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese—of using Stemona collinsae for respiratory conditions, fevers, and gastrointestinal complaints, with a focus on bitterness and heat-clearing effects.

A practical cough tonic can be made from chopped Stemona collinsae root. Boil one tablespoon (≈ 2 g) of dried root in 250 ml of water for 10–15 minutes, then cool and strain. Take half a cup (≈ 120 ml) 1–3 times daily for cough, reducing the dose if gastrointestinal irritation occurs (Boonraksa et al., 2008). Do not use during pregnancy or with anticoagulant medications due to the known toxicity of some Stemona alkaloids (Fang et al., 2011).

The pharmacological profile of Stemona collinsae aligns with its uses: root and aerial parts contain tuberostemonine and related stemofoline-type alkaloids, benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids such as sanguinarine, and small amounts of stilbenoids (Du et al., 2014; Mitreiter et al., 2016). Tuberostemonine and its derivatives are bronchodilatory and antitussive, helping explain traditional respiratory applications, while benzo[c]phenanthridines contribute antibacterial and anti-inflammatory actions relevant to dysentery and topical poultices. Current research continues to focus on this group for cough and gastrointestinal inflammation, and commercial herbal products in the region include mixtures of dried Stemona collinsae leaves or roots for expectorant and fever-reducing teas.

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