
Vietnam boasts rich biodiversity, including a vast array of medicinal plants. With over 4.000 registered species, these plants are essential in traditional Vietnamese medicine. Following is an itinerary for exploring this natural wealth.
Day 01: Cat Tien National Park
Cat Tien National Park is home to more than 1,655 plant species, many of which have traditional medicinal uses.
Morning: Gather at the meeting point or directly at Cat Tien National Park headquarters. Visit the Park’s museum and engage in a discussion of medicinal plants of the area.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon exploreing the jungle and primary forest. Look for plants that treat digestive and liver diseases, such as Common Red-stem Fig (Ficus variegata), Siam weed (Kingsweed, Eupatorium odoratum), Eurycoma longifolia, Lagerstroemia calyculata, Mallotus philippnensis, Irvingia malayana, Barring tonia, Indrajao (Holarrhena pubescens), Shyleaf (Aeschynomene americana) and Barringtonia acutangula.
Day 02 – 04: Jungle, Rapids, Grasslands, and Wetlands
Spend three days exploring Cat Tien’s diverse ecosystem of jungle, river rapids, grasslands, and wetlands. Identify medicinal plants used in traditional medicines to treat a variety of ailments.
– Urinary and kidney diseases: use Red Leea: (Leea rubra), Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica), Wild Cane (Saccharum spontaneum), Pandanus tonkinensis, Gymnopetalum, Irvingia malayana, Eurycoma longifolia, and Suregala multiflora, Ant plant (Hydnophytum Formicarum).
– Blood pressure treatment: use Spatholobus parviflorus.
– Skin disease treatmen: consider Butterfly-tree or Camel’s foot tree (Bauhinia affinis), Candlebush (Cassia alata), Burmese Fishtail-palm (Caryota mitis), Bird’s Nest Fern (Platycerium grande), Ironwood (Hopea odorata), Giant Elephant’s Ear (Alocasia odora), Dipterocarparpus alatus, Knema globularia, Suregala multiflora, or Fibraurea recisa.
– Diabetes Treatment: use Chamberbitter (Phyllanthus urinaria)
– Rheumatism and heart edema treatment: consider Red Leea (Leea rubra), Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica), Gnetum montanum, Toothache Plant (Acmella oleracea), or Billygoat Weed (Ageratum conyzoides), Earth Ginger (Etlingera littoralis)
– Insect and snake bite treatment: use Waxy Leaf (Breynia fruticosa), Kudzu bea (Pueraria thomson), or Alpinia conchigera.
– Goiter and thyroid disease treatment: consider Pandan tree (Pandanus tonkinensis), Crêpe Ginger (Costus speciosus), or Ancistrocladus tectori.
– Cardiovascular disease and sedation treatment: use Axlewood (Anogeissus acuminata), Spatholobus parviflorus, Pandan tree (Pandanus tonkinensis), or Stinking Passionflower (Passiflora foetida).
Day 05: Farewell
Early morning: continue seeking out medicinal plants.
Fever treatment: try Billygoat Weed (Ageratum conyzoides), Wild Oat Grass (Chrysopogon aciculatus), Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica), False Mangosteen (Garcinia xanthochymus), Spatholobus parviflorus, Colona auriculata, Crateva nurvala, Irvingia malayana, Gmelina philippinensis, or Scaphium macropodum, Cratoxylon prunifolium.
Remember to consult a healthcare professional before using any herbal treatments. Enjoy your trip and keep an eye out for fascinating fungi and amphibians
11:30 am: Enjoy lunch and depart from Cat Tien to:
* Ho Chi Minh city (Tan Son Nhat airpost);
* Dalat plateau (Lien Khuong airpost, Dalat city);
* Beach of Mui Ne (Phan Thiet province), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), Baria (Vung Tau province).