Vietnamese Traditional Medicine
Thuốc Nam — a uniquely Vietnamese system blending TCM influences with indigenous southern herbs, emphasizing accessible local plants for everyday healing.
Vietnam & Southeast Asia
History & Philosophy
Origins
Vietnamese traditional medicine distinguishes between Thuốc Bắc ('northern medicine,' imported Chinese medicine) and Thuốc Nam ('southern medicine'), the latter championed by physician Tuệ Tĩnh in the 14th century under the principle of using native Vietnamese plants for Vietnamese patients.
Core philosophy
Thuốc Nam emphasizes accessibility — using common, locally available plants that ordinary people could grow and prepare themselves — over the imported, sometimes costly herbs required by Chinese formulas.
Practiced today
Vietnam maintains traditional medicine hospitals and training programs alongside its modern healthcare system, and home use of accessible local herbs for everyday complaints remains widespread.
Herbs, foods & remedies
186 herbs traditionally used within Vietnamese Traditional Medicine — most often for Digestive Issues, Fever, Liver Support.
Acacia Flower (Hoa Keo)
Acacia catechu
Acanthopanax (Ngu Gia Bi)
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Actinodaphne (Re Vung)
Actinodaphne cochinchinensis
Adenosma (Nhân Trần)
Adenosma caeruleum
Adinandra (Cây Chè Đuôi Lươn)
Adinandra milletii
Ageratum (Co Mui)
Ageratum conyzoides
Alisma (Trach Ta)
Alisma plantago-aquatica
Alphonsea (Cây Bưởi Rừng)
Alphonsea squamosa
Anneslea (Cây Mọ)
Anneslea fragrans
Artabotrys (Dây Hương Lài)
Artabotrys hexapetalus
Artichoke (Atiso)
Cynara scolymus
Astragalus (Hoang Ky)
Astragalus membranaceus
Atractylodes (Bach Truoc)
Atractylodes macrocephala
Baccaurea (Cây Dâu Da Đất)
Baccaurea ramiflora
Banana Flower (Bap Chuoi)
Musa paradisiaca
Bignay (Chum Ruot)
Antidesma ghaesembilla
Bitter Bamboo (Truc Dang)
Pleioblastus amarus
Bitter Melon (Kho Qua)
Momordica charantia
Black Bean (Dau Den)
Glycine max
Breynia (Cây Bọ Mắt)
Breynia fruticosa
Bupleurum (Sai Ho)
Bupleurum chinense
Cassia Seed (Quyet Minh Tu)
Senna obtusifolia
Cat's Claw (Moc Nhi)
Uncaria rhynchophylla
Celery (Can Tay)
Apium graveolens
Centella (Rau Ma)
Centella asiatica
Chinese Licorice (Cam Thao)
Glycyrrhiza uralensis
Chrysanthemum (Cuc Hoa)
Chrysanthemum morifolium
Chrysanthemum Root (Cuc Chan)
Chrysanthemum indicum
Cinnamomum Porrectum (Re Hương)
Cinnamomum porrectum
Cinnamon (Que)
Cinnamomum loureiroi
Codonopsis (Dang Sam)
Codonopsis pilosula
Connarus (Cây Dây Khế Rừng)
Connarus paniculatus
Coptis (Hoang Lien)
Coptis chinensis
Coscinium (Vàng Đắng)
Coscinium fenestratum
Crataegus (Son Tra)
Crataegus pinnatifida
Crateva Tree (Cây Màn Màn)
Crataeva magna
Dacryodes (Cây Trám)
Dacryodes rostrata
Dalbergia Heartwood (Gỗ Trắc)
Dalbergia cochinchinensis
Datura (Mam Xoi)
Datura metel
Desmos Flower (Hoa Hài)
Desmos chinensis
Showing the first 40 of 186 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.