“All plants are medicine.”

This is what Jivaka, Thai traditional great physician in Buddhist Era learned from Taxila’s teachers that plants are medicine and they are related to human life from past to present.

On over 140 Rai (1 Rai is equal to 1,600 Square meters), a green part of Mahidol University is transformed into a source of knowledge management, a source of herb conservation also a source of Thai herb research from nationwide where more than 900 kinds of herbs are planted and collected. You will find the world of herbs is full of knowledge and related to your daily life when you visit this Sireeruckhachati Nature Learning Park.

It is regarded the pride when the place was certified as an international botanical garden in June 2021 which is Thailand’s first botanical garden certified by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI)* as “Model Classroom” towards achieving UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) comprehensively. 

An Alive-Herbal Classroom

Sireeruckhachati Nature Learning Park is outstanding for its three-leaf-designed building at the entrance. You can look around the park via bicycling as well as sitting on the tram. There will be speakers to give lectures at any landmarks along the way. Not only can you see but also smell and taste. 

“This is Paracress.” The speaker is urging to see a small plant with its oval yellow node which resembles a setting of a ring. The plant looks familiar because you can see it grow in your garden at home and pluck it out for assuming it an unwanted flora. “It can cure toothache, try it.”

Picking the yellow leaf and putting it to the mouth. The taste of spicy does not last long then feeling of the numb tongue. “It has an anesthetic effect.” The speaker is explaining, and it is a pity that it was thrown because of ignorance of its value. Here…at Lan Nana Samunprai, we are getting to know hundreds of herbs. Some are heard but never seen, some are seen but never heard. The QR Code will explain the herb’s names and provide knowledge like having a personal assistant giving the information.

From the outdoors herbal field, avoiding the sunlight and moving to Permanent Herbal Exhibition Room Thai Wisdom to International. What catches the eye first must be a large curved white table exhibiting pharmaceutical objects (since Thai medicine does not consist of ingredients derived only from herbs but animals and minerals, that’s why it is called pharmaceutical objects).

What makes the place interesting is its interactive zone which lets visitors find their own elements of life by doing a quiz. After knowing what their element of life is; earth water, ether or fire, they can find healthcare and diet suitable for their life element.

Comprehensive Study of Herb

Another role of Sireeruckhachati Nature Learning Park is being a learning source, publishing academic works as well as building both national and international networks. There is a plant search system, plant tissue culture laboratory center which is a study site on plant tissue culture. Moreover, the knowledge is disseminated through Webinar and online seminars which students and individuals can join. The content in each section is interesting, such as “Botanical Art with the meaning, botanical drawings, more-than-a- drawing science.” In addition, there is a workshop zone where participants can learn and DIY such as making herbal inhalant, knowledge from Herbarium, making dried flowers, cooking from herbs as well as making colorful herbal jelly, the children’s favorite activity.

After stepping out of the place, you will see plants and trees surrounding you differently. Grass and roadside flowers that you used to ignore will have a meaning again.

… Paracress is used as anesthetic.

…Gurmar is used to reduce blood glucose and diabetes.

…Oyster Plant has cooling properties and antipyretic effect. It is also tasty water.

Like the great physician Jivaka said “All plants are medicine.”
 

Location : Sireeruckhachati Nature Learning Park

Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon Sai 4, Nakhon Pathom Province

Opening hours : Open daily from 6.00 hrs. – 18.00 hrs.

Admission Fee

Children under 3 Year / Eldery Over 60 Year: Free

Individual: 50 Baht

Student / Undergraduate : 30 Baht