History of Pueraria Mirifica

”White Krao Krue” A Miracle Herb

Local communities in Thailand have used Pueraria Mirifica for well over one hundred years, specifically for its rejuvenating qualities.

Local communities in Thailand have used Pueraria Mirifica for well over one hundred years, specifically for its rejuvenating qualities. the belief in the rejuvenating properties of Pueraria Mirifica has been passing down from one generation to another and more recently through the publication by Luang Anusan Suntara.

In May 1931, Luang Anusan Suntara published a pamphlet on the subject of “Kwao Kreu”. It is stated in the pamphlet that Pueraria Mirifica can:

• Serve as the “fountain of youth” for aged men and women


• Serve as an anti-wrinkle agent for aged and wrinkled skin


• Darken white hair, and increase hair growth


• Alleviated cataract problems


• Help with memory loss


• Increase energy and vigor, more reflexive bodily movements


• Increase blood circulation


• Increase appetite, and – Alleviate sleep disorders

In 1932, Dr. A.F.G. Kerr, the Director of the Botanical Section of the Journal of the Siam Society, directed the attention of the scientific community to the fact that the tuberous roots of a Thai plant called “Kwao Krua”, mistakenly identified then as Butea Superba, were considered to be of value as a rejuvenating drug.

Dr. Kerr was the first to create international awareness of the rejuvenating qualities of this plant, which subsequently led to the isolation of a potent phyto-estrogen that is unique to this plant only and to the identification of the plant as Pueraria Mirifica in 1952.

Myanmar – The Source of Pueraria Mirifica

Arimuttama was the old capital of the Pookham City of Myanmar. They had a sacred Buddhist precinct and one day the sacred Buddhist precinct was broken down. The Buddhist monks found this ingredient that was inscribed on the palm leaf and placed it in the sacred Buddhist precinct. The information is as below:

To take the tuberous root of Pueraria with big leaves, pound and blend with cow’s milk. The benefits of this medicine is to support memory, talk big, and be able to remember three books of the astrology, make the skin smooth like six year old kid, live more than 1,000 years and parasite diseases are not able to be of trouble

Kwao Krua is a native herbal plant found in deep forests of the northern region of Thailand. Since it is found deep within the bush, its notoriety has only been more widely recognized for approximately 80 years. In 1931, Luang Anusan Suntara published a pamphlet discussing the health benefits of Kwao Krua. He claimed it reduced wrinkles, got rid of gray hair, improved eyesight and memory, amongst other benefits. In 1952 Dr. Kerr, the Director of the Botanical Section of the Journal of the Siam Society, raised the profile of the plant when he identified the white variety of Kwao Krua to be Pueraria Mirifica. Dr. Kerr characterized the plant as the “Fountain of Youth” for men and women.

Kwao Krua is a plant indigenous to the forests of northern Thailand. There are four varieties of Kwao Krua: white, red, black and grey. White Kwao Krua is also known as Pueraria Mirifica. It is a white tuberous root (pictured below). The shrub it grows is unassuming in appearance. It is the most coveted type of Kwao Krua since it contains the most phytochemicals that are key to the health benefits associated with the plant.

There are 4 varieties of kwao krua. They are White Kwao Krua (Pueraria mirifica), Red Kwao Krua (Butea superba), Black Kwao Krua and Dull Grey Kwao Krua.

History of Pueraria Mirifica