The aborigines (Orang Asli) are well known for their deep ethonobotanical knowledge and skills in combining herbal remedies from forest resources. Their close and symbiotic relationship with the forest forms the foundation of their cultural identity and survival. Traditionally, they use a wide variety of plants to cure or alleviate ailments such as bruises, bee or snake bites, tooth and stomach aches, rashes, kidney pains, haemorrhoids, ulcers, bone fractures and malaria [1]. Many of these medicinal plants are similar to those employed in traditional Malay medicine. It is estimated that about 25% of modern herbal medicines that utilise forest resources are derived from plants formerly used by the aborigines [2].
Earlier studies demonstrated the extent of medicinal plant use among the Orang Asli. For example, the Orang Asli community in the Air Hitam Forest Reserve collected about 20 plant species for purposes other than house construction, with approximately 30% used for handicrafts and medicine (3). Commonly used species included Eugeissona utilis (akar bertam), Ficus calicarpa (tengkuk biawak), Labisia pumila (kacip fatimah), Mapina petiolata (serapat), and Eurycoma longifolia (tongkat ali). Studies in Perak and Pahang revealed that aborigines living closer to urban areas tended to use modern medicines due to accessibility and affordability, while those in remote areas continued to rely on traditional methods of healthcare (4). Kumari et al. (5) also reported that about 80% of respondents in Perak, Pahang, and Kelantan still depended on traditional medicine, though the influence of modern healthcare was contributing to a gradual decline in usage.
Recent studies, however, show that Orang Asli traditional medicine remains an integral part of community health practices in many regions, although generational knowledge loss is becoming evident. A study in Kampung Donglai Baru, Hulu Langat, Selangor, recorded 39 plant species from 22 families used by the Orang Asli for medicinal purposes, particularly for treating gastrointestinal ailments, wounds, and fevers (6). Similarly, research in Terengganu documented over 100 medicinal species still actively used for human health, though younger generations increasingly prefer modern clinical treatments (7). Other studies in Perak, Pahang, and Johor have reported comparable findings, with roots, leaves, and bark being the most common plant parts used for healing (8,9).
At the national level, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has been systematically documenting indigenous medicinal plant knowledge to ensure preservation and equitable benefit-sharing. Since 2007, FRIM has recorded 677 species of medicinal plants (2,452 herbarium specimens) from 18 Orang Asli sub-ethnic groups across Peninsular Malaysia. For comparison, 634 medicinal plant species have also been documented from 358 Malay traditional practitioners since 2013 (10). This initiative not only conserves biological and cultural diversity but also aligns with the principles of access and benefit-sharing (ABS) to protect indigenous intellectual property and promote sustainable use of medicinal resources.
Recent ethnobotanical trends also show a growing recognition of the overlap between nutritional and medicinal uses of plants among the Orang Asli. For example, Strobilanthes crispus is used both as a herbal drink (“health tea”) and a tonic, highlighting the blurred boundary between food and medicine (11). These findings underscore the holistic nature of Orang Asli ethnomedicine, which integrates health, nutrition, and ecology.
Nevertheless, the decline in intergenerational transmission of traditional medical knowledge remains a pressing concern. Modernisation, relocation, and increased access to biomedical healthcare have resulted in reduced dependence on forest-based remedies, especially among younger community members. Studies note that while traditional medicinal practices persist in remote settlements, urbanised Orang Asli communities increasingly favour synthetic medicines and government clinics (7).
Overall, despite the gradual decline in the use of traditional plant-based remedies among the Orang Asli is gradually diminishing, recent documentation demonstrates that their ethnomedical knowledge remains extensive and continues to contribute significantly to Malaysia’s biodiversity heritage and in advancing modern herbal research. Continued efforts in research, validation, and knowledge preservation are vital to ensure that this indigenous wisdom remains a living component of Malaysia’s cultural and scientific legacy.
Table 1: Selected medicinal plants used by aboriginal communities in Kampung Bawong, Perak (2010), Jah Hut, Pahang (2012), Donglai (2022) & Temuan (2024), Selangor.
| Illness | Medicinal plants used |
| Malaria | Eurycoma longifolia, Pometia pinnata, Artocarpus rigidus, Alstonia sp., Elateriospermum tapos, Carica papaya, Lansium domesticum |
| Headache | Zingiber officimale, Scleria sp., Planchonella obovata |
| Cough | Eugeissona tristis, Areca catechu, Calamus exilis, Alphonsea sp. |
| Stomach ache / gastrointestinal / ulcers / diarrhoea | Curcuma petiolata, Annona muricata, Uvaria sorsogonensis, Jatropha curcas, Tinospora crispa |
| Fever | Bulbophyllum mutabile |
| Wound / cuts / skin infections | Hoya coronaria, Syzygium sp., Imperata cylindrica, Strobilanthes crispu |
| Jaundice / liver problems | Morinda citrifolia, Ancistrocladus extensus |
| Diabetes / glycemic control (traditional use) | Tinospora crispa |
| Earache / ear inflammation | Sansevieria trifasciata |
| Warts / topical skin growths | Barleria lupulin |
| Diuretic / urinary | Eupatorium odoratum |
| Sexual tonic / aphrodisiac | Eurycoma longifolia |
References:
- Kumari S, et al. Traditional use of medicinal plants among aborigines in Peninsular Malaysia. 1998.
- Anonymous. 2001a.
- Rusli R, et al. Forest resource utilization among the Orang Asli community in Air Hitam Forest Reserve. 1998.
- Lim H. Traditional and modern medicine use among the aborigines in Perak and Pahang. 1997.
- Kumari S, et al. Traditional and modern medicine among the aborigines in Malaysia. 1998.
- Ramli MR, Milow P, Abdullah N. Traditional knowledge of medicinal plants in Kampung Orang Asli Donglai Baru, Hulu Langat, Selangor. Biodiversitas. 2021;22(3):1472–1481.
- Abdullah MF, et al. Exploring ethnomedicine plants used by the indigenous communities in Terengganu, Malaysia: Human health and the environment. Malays J Public Health Med. 2021;21(1):126–133.
- Samuel AJSJ, Kalusalingam A. Ethnomedical survey of plants used by the Orang Asli in Kampung Bawong, Perak, Malaysia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2010;6(1):5.
- Ramli MR, Milow P. Traditional knowledge and ethnobotany of medicinal plants among indigenous communities in Malaysia. 2021.
- Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). FRIM documenting medicinal plants in effort to preserve Orang Asli and Malay knowledge. Malay Mail. 15 Sept 2023.
- Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. Wild edible and medicinal plants among indigenous communities in Malaysia.Front Sustain Food Syst. 2023;7:1036490.