The Development of Traditional Thai Medicine and Thai Medicinal Plants II

During the Fifth National Economic and Social Development Plan (1982-1986), the Ministry of Public Health initiated a pilot project on the promotion of the use of medicinal plants under the sponsorship of UNICEF. The project, put into operation during 1984-1985, covered a total of 1,000 villages situated with in 25 provinces and primarily involved the selection of 66 medicinal plant species based on available data on their efficacy and safety so that they could be recommended for use in the primary helth care system within the designated areas. Other project activities included short training courses for rural health personnel as well as the production and distribution of promotional materials. With the cooperation of the Forestry Department, propagation and distribution programmes for selected medicinal plans were set into motion. Part of the funding went towards the setting up of a medicinal plant information centre as well as the mass production of a number of commonly used traditional plants, a number of research grants was offered for the studies on scientific, toxicological and clinical aspects of various medicinal plants.

Following the success of the UNICEF – sponsored project, another project on the use of medicinal plants in primary health care was initiated in 1985. Funded by the Federal Republic of Gernamy through the GTZ programme, this project concentrated on the formulation and clinical usage of five selected drug plants, namely Curcuma longa (turmeric), Andrographis paniculata. Cassia alata, Cilnacanthus nutans and Aloe vera. The projected area of operation was reduced to five community hospitals.

During the Sixth National Economic and Social Development Plan, further progress was made towards the development of Thai medicine and Thai medicinal ploants. As the result of the GTZ funded project, a new project called “The Development of Thai Medicinal Plants into Drugs” was introduced into the National Plan. In 1987, there was an amendment to the Royal Decree governing the practice of the medical professions to accommodate the newly trained Ayurvedic doctors. In the revised version, traditional practitioners were divided into two categories, namely the general and the applied traditional practitioners.

In that same year, the Ministry of Public Health published a book called “Traditional Thai Medicine- The Art of Self-Reliance” which acted as a guideline for futher development. Two years later, a centre for the coordination of the development of traditional Thai medicine and herbal drug was established. Its task was to devise strategies and coordinate activities leading to the advancement of Thai medicine and herbal drugs.

The government’s endeavor to affect the advancement of Thai medicine and gerbil drugs continues incessantly as is evident in its Seventh National Development Plan (1992-1996) whereby traditional Thai medicine, herbal drugs as well as other forms of indigenous health-related technologies, such as traditional massage, were to be revived, promoted and integrated into the existing health service system.

The success of the government’s efforts in the revival and preservation of an invaluable national heritage in the form of traditional Thai medicine and herbal drugs for future generations will depend on the attitude and perception of the entire nation. It is not unreasonable to envisage public consensus in the use of herbal drugs for common ailments and as health foods. Herbal drugs should be made available to the general public both in traditional dosage forms, as pills, fluid extracts and alcoholic macerates, and in modern dosage forms, e.g. capsules, tablets and ointments. When being ill, a person should have the option of choosing between traditional and western forms of treatment. The revival and preservation of traditional Thai medicine necessitates the commitment and cooperation of all parties concerned, including knowledgeable traditional practitioners, interested individuals, scientists, and health as well as law enforcement agencies. Such endeavor will not only help to perpetuate an important part of our national inheritance but will also result in the improvement in the quality of life for whole nation.

The Development of Traditional Thai Medicine and Thai Medicinal Plants

Over the past decades, government agencies have renewed their interest in traditional Thai medicine and Thai medicinal plants. This is probably a direct repercussion from the World Health Organization (WHO) conference on indigenous medicines held in 1977. The following year the WHO issued an announcement of Alma Ata urging member countries tto do their utmost to preserve their national heritage in the form of ethnomedicine and to include the use of medicinal plans into their primary health care systems.

In 1979, the Ministry of Public Health, in response to the WHO’s call for the revival of indigenous medicines, recommended a strategy on the development of primary health care to be included into the Fourth National Economic and Social Development Plan (1977-1981). The ministry was also responsible for appointing a committee called “The National Committee on the Development of Thai Medicinal Plans” presently “The National Committee on Thai Medicinal Plants”, to study ways and means of integrating the use of herbal drugs into community activities. In the same year, Mahidol University Hosted a seminar on indigenous Thai medicine culminating in a recommendation for the promotion and development of traditional Thai inedicine via the integration of both systems of medicine as well as promotion of herbal drug usage.

In 1980, the National Economic and Social Development Board commissioned the Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University to conduct a study on the strategies for the development of Thai medicinal plants. This resulted in the recommendation of the following strategies to be carried out :

1. The development of Thai medicinal plants for use in primary health care.;
2. The development of Thai medicinal plants for use in traditional and modern drug industries;
3. The development of Thai medicinal plants as strategic supplies in case of war; and
4. The development of Thai medicinal plants for export.

In 1981, the government made a commitment to survey and implement the use of raw material from indigenous sources for the local drug industry in order to be self-sufficient. Research on the efficacy and safety of traditional drugs was also conducted so that they could be employed in primary health care. In order to realize these goals, a new division was set up under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Health. The division, known as “the Medicinal plans and Traditional Medicine section”, was directly responsible for the promotional and supporting activities relating to the use of medicinal plans and traditional Thai medicine in primary health care.

The year 1982 was another turning point for traditional Thai medicine, in that a foundation called “The Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Thai Medicine” was established by Professor Dr. Ouy Ketusingh. Its objectives were to revive, promote and upgrade traditional Thai medicine, as well as to promote the research and usage of medicinal plants. The foundation also set up the “Ayurved-Vidyalaya” (Chewaka Komarapaj) in order to train a new class of traditional practitioners who not only possessed skills in traditional medicine but were also knowledgeable in modern diagnostic procedures.

Thai Medicine in the Rattanakosin Period

After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767 and the establishment of a new capital in Bangkok, the revival of the nation’s economic, cultural and public health systems began to take place.

King Rama I , the founder of the persent Chakri Dynasty, ordered the renovation of Wat Po or Wat Potharam in Bangkok and renamed it “Wat Phra Chetupon Wimonmangklaram”. The King also gave instructions for the inscription of herbal drug recipes onto the walls of the temple in addition, there was an establishment of a royal dispensary in the royal palace similar to the one in Ayutthaya.

During the reign of King Rama II under royal guidance, there was an attempt to assimilate together a number of drug recipes to replace those that were lost during the war with the Burmese. Furthermore, Phra Chao Lukyather Kromameum Jesadabordin ordered the restoration of Wat Chom Thong and renamed it “Wat Raj Oros”. In the process of restoration, a number of drug recipes was ordered to be inscribed onto the walls of Phra Viharn and Phra Ubosed (principal buildings) of this temple.

In 1816, a Royal Decree governing the roles of royal drug dispensers was promulgated, thus emphasizing the importance placed on drug dispensing as a highly sophisticated art. Those bestowed with the title of royal drug dispensers must possess a high degree of honesty and integrity. It was, therefore, believed that these highly sought after titles probably remained within a few chosen families.





After his ascension to the throne, King Rama III began the task of the second renovation of Wat Phra Chetupon. He also ordered the inscription of drug formulae onto marble tables to be used to decorate the walls of the principal building as well as the surrounding walls. In addition to the drug recipes, these inscriptions also included the diagnosis as well as the cure for each ailment. Furthermore, numerous useful medicinal plants together with some rare species were planted within the temple’s compound. This move marked the first attempt to educate the general public on the attributes of Thai medicinal plants, Similarly, the restoration of Wat Raj Oros was effected with the inclusion of tablets bearing drug recipes which were used to adorn the columns supporting the corridors of Phra Viharn of the Reclining Budda. During this reign, there was a reintroduction of western medicine by the name of Dr. Dan B. Braley. Bradley introduced, for the first time in the kingdom, the practice of vaccination against smallpox as well as the use of quinine as a cure for malaria. It was a turning point in the history of Thai medicine.

The reign of King Rama IV saw many changes towards the adoption of various aspects of western civilization. There was much trading between the kingdom and the western countries. With the arrival of numerous trade missions, came western trained doctors. One doctor by the name of Samuel Reynold Haus, was said to have received much favour from the King. He was accredited with the introduction of modern obstetrical practice into the health system. The majority of public, however, remained faithful to the old tradition and culture.




During the reign of King Rama V, Siriraj Hospital was established in 1888, combining both western and traditional medical practices. There was, however, a scarcity of trained personnel to serve in the hospital. Therefore, Prince Dumrong Rajanuparp ordered the establishment of the first medical school within Siriraj Hospital. The school was to train western-styled surgeons and general practitioners. A course on traditional Thai medicine was also incorporated into its three-year-curriculum. In 1895, the first medical textbook called Paetsart Sonkhrau was published. The series consisted of three volumes combining western and traditional Thai medical doctrines. A new edition of this textbook appeared in 1904, in which the section on traditional medicine was virtually omitted. There were four volumes in this series. Next came Vejasart Wanna in 1907. It consisted of two volumes, wherein references were made to the various khampees or old writings on traditional drug matters. The 2-volume Tumra Paetsart Sonkhrau Chabub Luang consistiong of ten old writings on herbal drugs and traditional medicine constituted the first Thai National Formulary considered too complicated for most scholars, Phraya Pitsanu Prasartvej, in 1908, wrote a sim;lified version of this book, noting only relevant information. This series was entitled Tumra Paetsart Sunkape and consested of three volumes. These, together with the aforementioned Tumra Paetsart Sonkhrau Chabub Luang, are still in use today.

On the administrative side, the royal dispensary, first set up during the reign of King Rama I, was changed into the Department of Health in 1888. Its main functions were to take care of the sick, to make arrangements for the vaccination of the population against smallpox, to establish and oversee the operation of public hospitals including Siriraj Hospital, as well as to train doctors.

In 1891, two general drug stores, under the jurisdiction of the Department of Health, were opened in Bangkok. These were called “Osod Sala” or drug pavilions. The first of these was taken over from a missionary doctor and only sold western-styled drugs while the second only dispensed Thai medicine. Subsequently, other drug stores and clinics were opened in other provinces around the country.

In 1902, the first government pharmaceutical operation, called “Osod Sapa” was set up in order to manufacture drugs for the general public. At first, only western drugs were produced but they wrer not well recived by the people. Therefore, a number of Thai drug formulae was also included. During the reign of King Rama VI, many changes were forthcoming. Firstly, in 1913, the teaching on traditional Thai medicine was discontinued in the medical school since the two doctrines were considered incompatible and, therefore, tended to confuse the students. A course on the formulation of Thai medicine was also ordered to cease after being taught ofr only five years.

In 1916, the Department of Health was further expanded and three years later, all health related agencies were combined together to form the Department of Public Health under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior Affairs. In 1923, a decree governing the practice of the medical professions was promulgated in order ot safeguard the welfare of the general public.

The reign of King Rama VII saw more development which resulted in the complete segregation of the two systems of medicine. A law was promulgated which defined different classes of medical practitioners and, in 1929, came a ministerial regulation separation the medical practice into modern medicine and traditional medicine. This dealt a detrimental blow to indigenous Thai medicine which was already losing favour. During this period, however, the government dispensary was still producing ten traditional drug formulae for sale to the public. The cessation of the production of these traditional drugs by the government dispensary in 1941 marked the end of official involvement in traditional medicine.

Subsequent development on Thai medicinal plants was directed entirely toward modern medicine from the start of the first medical school in Siriraj Hospital through to the inception of the first Faculty of Pharmacy. Tith the establishment of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation in 1940 and the Ministry of Public Health in 1942, serious attempts were made to examine the attributes of indigenous herbal drugs in order to transform them into modern drugs.

Due to the shortage of modern medicine during the Second World War, Professer Dr. Ouy Ketusingh was motivated to carry out a clinical study at Sattaheep Hospital on a number of Thai medicinal plants reputed to possess antimalarial properties. The study confirmed the efficacy or certain medicinal plants such as the barks of Oroxylum indicum and Nyctanthes arbor-tristis. However, the problem of drug shortage did not dissipate with the end of the war. The Royal Thai Government took measures to rectify the situation by assigning the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation to produce drugs from Thai indigenous plants. To achieve this goal, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation engaged a German expert, Dr. Charlor, to conduct research on Thai medicinal plants and set up a medicinal plant garden at Bann Ang in the district of Makham, Chataburi Province. As the result of this study, a report, listing some 400 plants which had already been investigated, was published in both Thai and English. Prior to this, a project was initiated in 1938 to cultivate Cinchona species in Chiang Mai for the production of quinine. The project was later abandoned because it was not deemed economically feasible.

After the situation regarding the scarcity of modern drugs somewhat eased, the interest in medicinal plants also diminished. Sporadic research activites on Thai medicinal plants, nonetheless, still took place in certain departments of the Ministry of Public Health and various academic institutions over the years.***

Thai Medicine in the Ayutthaya Period

The system of medicine practiced during the Ayutthaya period was probably much the same as that of the Sukhothai period. Historical evidence pointed towards an integrated system of medicine incorporating the Indian derived Ayurvedic system and the Chinese system amalgamated with a deep-rooted belief in the supernatural, mystique and astrology. The principal philosophy of Thai medicine leans heavily toward the Ayurvedic teaching which is the attainment of an equilibrium among the four basic elements, namely earth, water, wind and fire, the very essence of life. To command respect from their patients, traditional doctors or healers must possess honesty and goodness in all their deeds. One of their virtues was to have veneration for their teachers. In Thai medicine, one of the most revered teachers was Chewaka Komarapaj, the royal physician of King Pimpisarn of India and personal physician to the Lord Buddha. He was lauded for his vast knowledge on drug matters as well as his skill in surgery.

During the reign of King Parai the Great, the existence of a number of drug stores serving the general public was well documented. There also existed a royal dispensary within the royal palace. In 1504, western style melecine was introduced into the kingdom for the first time by Portuguese merchants. Subsequently, there was an establishment of a western style hospital called “Ayutthaya Hospital” which was administered by a group of French missionaries. Under the pressure of such development, the royal Thai physicians united together to comply, for the first time in the history of Thai medicine, a book of Thai drug recipes called “Tamra Phra Osod Phra Narai”. Nonetheless, a number of French physicians found favour in the royal court and was, therefore, invited to contribute certain western drug recipes to this important document. Western medicine continued to flourish in Siam until the reign of Phra Ped Paja who ordered the banishment of all missionaries from the kingdom.

Thai Medicine in the Sukhothai Period

No evidence has been forthcoming on the subject but it is believed that a form of traditional medicine utilizing naturally derived drugs must have been in use during this period. The discovery of a stone metate and roller used in drug compounding from the Dvaravati period, which predated the Sukhothai perod, lent support to this theory. Furthermore, a study of the content of the “Ramkamhaeng Stome Inscription” revealed that, during his reign, the King had ordered the establishment of a large medicinal plant garden atop Kao Luang or Ka Suppaya which now lies in the districyt of Kirimas, a Sukhothai province. The garden was to serve as a source of drugs for the remedy of ailments for his subjects.

Thai Herbs The History and Evolution of Traditional Thai Medicine and Thai Medicinal Plants.

Thai Herbs
Chapter one
The History and Evolution of Traditional .Thai Medicine and Thai Medicinal Plants.

The possession of a sound mind and body has been impelled to search for cures for cures for his ailments. The act of physical healing constitutes, in all probability, one of the most important of human endeavours. Through the test of time, ethno medicine has evolved into an intricate art which has been perpetuated by the passage of knowledge down the generations within each ethnic group. Early civilizations spawned highly developed systems of medicine such as those practiced by the ancient Egyptians, the Chinese and the Indians. Evidence regarding the use of drugs and drug compounding technique, dating back some 3,000-4,000 years, exists in the form of old herbals such as the Chinese “Sern Nong Pen Las” and the famous Egyptian “Eber Papyrus” From these writings, it is evident that knowledge on drug usage is probably as old as the human race. Such knowledge must have been acquired together with the highly intricate art of frug compounding. The Eber Papyrus recorded the use of over 800 drugs which could be dispensed in a variety of dosage forms, such as snuffs, gargling solutions, inhalant, suppositories, ointments as well as oral dosage forms.

From existing evidence on drug usage by various ethnic tribes, it may be surmised that the inhabitants of the Indochinese Penninsula must have developed their own systems of traditional medicine long before Sukhothai became the thriving capital of the region. No evidence has yet been found to substantiate such claims except a stone inscription, dating back to the ancient Khom Empire, which stated that during 1182-1186, King Chaiworamon VII made merit in accordance with the Buddhist belief by ordering the establishment of one hundred and two Arokayasala (hospitals) in an area which is now the north-eastern part of Thailand.