The secang plant is a type of thorny tree with small leaves. At first glance, the secang fruit looks like greenish Chinese petai, but the secang fruit turns brown when it ripens. Also, there are yellow or orange flowers at the top.

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This plant has the Latin name Caesalpinia sappan or Biancaea sappan and grows well in Indonesia, India, and Malaysia. The part of the sappan plant that is most often used is the pith, which is the inner part of the wood stem.

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The active ingredients in secang wood are believed to be able to treat various diseases, such as diabetes, skin diseases, diarrhea, and even dysentery. Here are the potential health benefits of secang wood, as quoted from an article written by Shrishailappa Badami and his colleagues from J.S.S College of Pharmacy: Antitumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, boosts the immune system, stabilizes blood sugar levels, and keeps the liver healthy.