I LOVE that Thai culture still deeply values its herbal traditions. When expat culture, the imploding economy and the endless covid restrictions threaten to drive me to drink or into a deep funk at the very least, I only have to see the hopeful Thai herbal vendor and my smile breaks through.
In the last few months, The Thai government confirmed its treatment protocol for ALL confirmed Covid19 cases in Thailand, which MUST (by law) be treated in this way. All "patients" must be treated with an anti-viral Favipiravir, which the Thai Government Pharmaceutical Organization now produces itself and sells extremely cheaply, and a common Indian-Asian-Thai herb, Fah-Tha-Lai-Jone. Andrographis paniculata. Positive Covid patients have to be treated until they have x2 negative tests, 5 days apart.
The effectiveness of Andrographis paniclata is well documented, and it's been a staple in our Thai household for well over a decade. It's so effective at treating a range of diverse health glitches that we literally have a candy-like ceramic jar of them on our kitchen counter, in the same way that other households have a jar of mints. We take them at the first sign of most anything. I've blogged before about this powerful healing plant, way back at the start of Covid and before this amazing herb got official endorsement: Traditional Thai Herb Treats Symptoms of #CoronaVirus & Respiratory Flu, Says Thai Hospital
And because Thai people are GREAT at following a trend, a whole lot of people started talking, posting about and selling other effective herbs, including what western people call Finger Root. Locally in Thai it's called Krachai กระชาย. Botanically Boesenbergia rotunda, sometimes called Thai Ginseng, Chinese Ginger, Chinese Keys or Lesser Galangal.
Honestly, in traditional Thai culture, this plant doesn't need to be grown on a large commercial scale, since almost every traditional Thai household has a few plants poking up when the rains start.
Krachai IS an astounding plant. Traditionally:
It is used for the treatment of illnesses such as muscle pain, rheumatism, peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal disorder, dental caries, dermatitis, diarrhea, wounds and diuretic.
The tonic made from roots is used as carminative, stomachic and an aid for colds, sore throat and coughs.
It is useful for rheumatoid ailments.
The rhizome is helpful for the people with erectile dysfunction, sexual problems and low sperm counts.
It prevents the chances of dengue fever.
Apply rhizomes and crushed roots to the painful body parts to ease rheumatic pain.
It is also used internally to eliminate flatulence, improve digestion and appetite.
It is a remedy for ulcers and dry mouths.
It is useful for muscle pains, dysentery, diarrhea and rheumatism.
It is also used to increase male libido.
It maintains balance in blood pressure.
It helps to relieve dysentery.
It assists the function of kidneys.
Roots and rhizomes are useful for treating ringworms.
It is used to cure skin diseases.
It is used for lung and sinus issues.
It assist in detoxification of the body. Source
You can see WHY it's common in most every traditional Thai garden!
What I REALLY love is when clinical science not only supports these traditional uses, but confirms them. Indeed, expands them. And this is exactly what has happened in the case of Krachai and Covid19.
...we identified B. rotunda extract and its active compound, panduratin A, as the promising anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents by using the high-content imaging system coupled with the plaque reduction assay. Importantly, B. rotunda extract and panduratin A exhibited the potent antiviral efficacy in Vero E6 cells when the treatment was performed after SARS-CoV-2 infection, with the optimal IC50 (3.62 μg/mL and 0.81 μM, respectively) and the favorable cytotoxicity profile (CC50 28.06 μg/mL and 14.71 μM, respectively). Panduratin A inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in the pre-entry phase as well. The information from this present study suggested the promise of panduratin A as a single therapy, and as the combinational therapeutic with other FDA-approved agents, for the effective treatment of COVID-19. Source
Word sort-of got out via a couple of local news articles online, and consequently you can currently buy Krachai EVERYWHERE. I spotted this little stall walking from our office in Diya Valley to our home in Baan Wat Kong Sai on the Lamhun Rd Hwy 106 a few days ago.
I asked the little man in charge of the stall what they're selling it for. He looked a bit bewildered. "Everything. Mae said you can use it for everything." And, working through the list of traditional uses I quoted above, he's not wrong.
How much? 40 THB (USD $1.20) per kilo. Very cheap.
The Thai government, erring on the side of caution, has STOPPED people specifically selling Krachai as a Covid19 treatment. And insisted in the Thai media that it is NOT authorized for this use.
Mahidol University, located in Nakhon Pathom, a central Thai province, has denied they are associated with any claims made by product advertisers that extracts from Fingerroot, a root that has the appearance of long, jaundiced fingers, can be used to treat Covid-19 sufferers.
A rector from the university, Professor Dr. Banchong Mahaisavariya, attempted to distance the university from the advertisers’ claims by explaining the “root” of the problem was a research report put out by the University, as well as the Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences. The report was concerning the efficacy of extracts from fingerroot in relation to curbing the spread of the virus.
The rector maintained in a statement that the claims put forth by the advertisers were issued without the Mahidol University or TCELS’S approval. The statement elaborated on the discovery that extracts from Fingerroot are effective at killing the SAR-CoV-2 virus.
The statement said, however, that researchers had discovered that extracts from Fingerroot are effective at killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus and halting its spread in test tubes. However, further studies are still being conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of the extracts, as well as determining the correct dosage for humans, if any at all. Source
Whoever would have believed 2 years ago that we'd be politicizing the use of Krachai?
Nevertheless, it continues to be widely sold and widely consumed, as Thailand rides through it's 3rd-4th-5th Delta variant waves, with upwards of 20,000 "confirmed Covid infections" per day nationally. In a country with a very relaxed, passive testing regime.
How is it eaten locally? How about this:
Image Source
Although, locally where we live, it's as likely to be cooked with frogs, land-crabs or the HUGE local snails that emerge after heavy rain.
I never cease to be amazed at this herbal culture I have chosen to live within - and never cease to be amazed by it.
BlissednBlessed.
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