Thailand does not intend to confine itself to the only vaccine to fight against Covid-19 and continues to conduct research on the side of medicinal plants to multiply the weapons in the face of the disease
A stone’s throw from the Warorot market in Chiang Mai, pharmacists are busy in part of the Chinese dispensary Jip Ang Tueng Osot. They prepare herbal treatments, while Doctor Sheng Zhong Wang sees patients for all types of ailments in individual consultation. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March, many Thais and expatriates have come forward to obtain preventive or curative treatment for Covid-19 in this Chinese pharmacy whose reputation has not weakened for 80 years.
“Some people come to see me only for preventive treatment against Covid-19, but most patients come to see me for other health problems, to make sure that they do not have ailments under- that could worsen their health if they were to become infected with the coronavirus. Covid-19 is a dangerous virus, herbs are not enough to cure it. In addition to the barrier gestures, it is important to be in good health, to strengthen your immune system so that this virus is not more serious than the flu ”, explains Dr Wang, a specialist in Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Of Chinese origin, Doctor Wang took over his uncle’s pharmacy 30 years ago and receives consultations every day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the modest sum of 100 baht in order to assess everyone’s needs. “Faced with Covid-19, there is no miracle formula, especially since each person is different. Chinese medicine is above all preventive, my role is to carry out a health check-up and to assess the best prescription to treat, prevent or strengthen the immune system ”, adds the doctor who can speak perfectly in English, Chinese and Thai.
Spared for several months by the Covid-19 epidemic, Thailand discovered two epidemic outbreaks in December, one linked to a market near Bangkok and the other to an underground casino in Rayong province, and has since recorded a continuous increase in the number of cases of infection in more than half of the country.
To deal with the virus, the Thai government has announced that it has ordered an additional 35 million doses of the COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine, bringing its total vaccine procurement plan to 63 million doses. The kingdom intends to vaccinate at least half of its population, which has 70 million inhabitants.
However, other research is being carried out in parallel in Thailand with a view to finding solutions to treat or prevent infections linked to the coronavirus. The Minister of Health approved at the end of December the use of a medicinal plant, Fah Talai Jone (Andrographis Paniculata) in the treatment at an early stage of Covid-19.
An authorization that follows clinical research carried out in February by the Faculty of Medicine of Siriraj Hospital, the Chulaborn Research Institute, the Department of Medical Sciences, the Pharmaceutical Organization and the Department of Traditional Medicines Thai.
The results of this research show that people who were tested within 72 hours of the onset of the first symptoms saw improvement after receiving Fah Talai Jone. According to Dr Amporn Benjapholpitak, director of the department of traditional medicines, studies show that the plant is effective in killing the virus that causes Covid-19 and in preventing the multiplication of viral cells. On the other hand, it will not be effective in treating Covid-19 once declared.
Clinical studies have been carried out with several patients placed in quarantine and under treatment at Samut Prakan hospital, all of them showing signs of improvement after three days of prescription, reports Thai PBS.
In Thailand, Fah Talai Jone is a plant easily accessible in Chinese pharmacies and herbalists where it is sold at 160 baht per 100 capsules. It had already been prescribed during the SARS epidemic in 2004, it is also recommended for influenza or chikungunya fever.
On the side of the Chinese pharmacy in Warorot, Fah Talai Jone is also recommended. “Fah Talai Jone is a treatment used for colds, fever, cough, or liver problems, it also helps strengthen the immune system,” says Dr. Wang. “Afterwards, if you are in good health, eat healthy, exercise regularly, wear a mask and keep your distance, then there is no need for medication, even as a preventive measure” , concludes the doctor.
Thailand, which has been hailed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for its management of the Covid-19 epidemic, uses chloroquine in its medical protocol to treat people with Covid-19 at certain stages of the disease.
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