Sunday August 10, 2008

MOTHER NATURE'S HEALING HERBS

Thai herbalist finds the best natural remedies

ARUSA PISUTHIPAN

To Vichien Keeratinijakal, director of Kasetsart University's National Centre for Agricultural Biotechnology and herb expert, searching for the best species of medicinal herbs is like sifting out a beauty queen from beauty pageant contestants.

"Many herbs grow in Thailand. But to reap their full benefits, it is important that we find the best species of each type of herb. It is like finding the most beautiful lady to be crowned the beauty queen," said Vichien, a guru in plant breeding and cytogenetics.

During the past few years, the herbalist has dedicated most of his time and energy to studying and collecting samples of medicinal herbs around the country. He was the first scientist to propose the idea that in getting the most out of Thai herbs, it is essential to first find the best species.

"This explains why some herbs work well on some people but have no effect others. It is the result of different species of the same herb being used. One species might be good while the other not," he added.

Here are some of Vichien's latest discoveries about the best species of various types of Thai herbs.

Khamin chan (turmeric; Curcuma longa)

Although Khamin chan has been planted by and widely known among Thai people since the old days and is now easily found in almost every part of the country, the best species of Khamin chan was discovered only three years ago.

"I named it 'Dang Siam'," said Vichien. "The name sounds common but Dang Siam's properties are quite outstanding. The discovery of Dang Siam, I believe, proves that Thailand now grows the best Khamin chan in the world."

Among Thai cooking aficionados, Khamin chan is commonly used as an ingredient in popular dishes such as khao soi (a curry noodle dish from the northern part of Thailand) and satay (a dish of grilled slices of dice-sized meat on bamboo skewers).

According to Vichien, Khamin chan's root crushed and powdered into spice used in the aforementioned dishes contains Curcumin, which is believed to be a "super antioxidant" agent.

Curcumin, Vichien went on, is usually known for its anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.

"This is the reason why Indians and Pakistanis rarely suffer from colon cancer," explained the scientist. The herb is the main ingredient in many of their dishes.

According to Vichien, normally a root of Khamin chan contains approximately seven per cent Curcumin. Nonetheless his latest discovery, Dang Siam, is quite distinctive in that its root contains around 14 per cent Curcumin, making this new species the best Khamin chan in the world.

The benefits of Curcumin in Khamin chan are numerous. Apart from functioning as an antioxidant, it can also help a wound to heal faster, reduce cholesterol and enhance memory as well as alleviate blood-clotting problems, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, constipation and high blood pressure. Moreover, it is claimed that Curcumin can give effective relief for sore throats and coughs.

Curcumin is usually consumed as a nutritional supplement in form of a capsule. However, Vichien suggested that consumers use Curcumin as part of their cooking. Yet it is still vital to use the best species of Khamin chan possible so as to maximise the potential medicinal benefit.

Plai (Zingiber cassumunar)

One of Thailand's most famous herbal products, the commonly distilled Plai oil has been proven to be an effective anti-inflammatory. It is also widely used in massage houses and spas, as the medicinal essence in the oil can effectively heal bruises and relieve muscle pain.

Vichien spent almost four years comparing different Plai species around the country. He eventually found that from over 1,000 samples he collected, there are approximately 10 species of Plai altogether. And this year he was successful in sifting out from those 10 species the best type of Plai, which will be officially announced in the next few months.

"We used to be able to extract only 1.5 per cent of essential oil from Plai roots. With the new species of Plai, scientists can now distil as much as three per cent," noted the herbalist.

Vichien said that Plai can be easily planted at home and requires just the same planting techniques as other plants. Ideally, Plai roots are ready for use roughly two years after planting. To make your own Plai essential oil at home, he said, simply boil its roots in coconut oil. Only a small amount of Plai extract in coconut oil is sufficient to be used as therapeutic massage oil.

Norn Tai Yak (Stemona tuberosa)

In the world today where the trend of organic farming continues to grow in popularity, insecticides are regarded as a real threat by farmers and consumers alike. In an attempt to get rid of unwanted tiny creatures, farmers are opting for natural approaches, but unfortunately they often have no better alternative than to turn to chemicals.

Vichien's recent discovery of a new species of Norn Tai Yak, an herbaceous plant well known for its power as a natural pest control, thus appears to farmers as a saviour as, he said, the herb's potential insecticidal effect is quite promising.

"Just put roots of Norn Tai Yak in water and leave it overnight. The next morning, spray the water on your plants. It is lethal for pests and insects but certainly not for human beings."

Additionally, the oil can be applied externally to treat lice. "It works well with cattle and canine lice," he remarked.

"In a global context, if we use Norn Tai Yak solution with dairy cows all over the world, this can lower the risk of chemical contamination in dairy products."

More about medicinal herbs

Undeniably, it is almost impossible to judge whether chemical or herbal medicine is more effective. However, according to Vichien, while modern drugs are in most cases able to treat acute illnesses and conditions that need immediate treatment, herbal remedies might function better in a preventive approach.

The herbalist consequently recommended that in order to stay healthy, it is important first to eat healthy and maintain good sleeping and exercise habits. This healthy lifestyle should also walk hand in hand with an appropriate combination of modern treatments and herbal remedies.

Using herbs, the scientist said, does not necessarily make one stronger and healthier, as herbs commonly available in general markets are not always good quality.

In order for consumers to get the best benefit from Thai medicinal herbs, it is essential that researchers and scientists try to come up with the best species of each type of herb. In fact, taking herbs that are of low quality is in vain.

"Thailand is among the few places in the world that has the best herbal resources. What we lack is the knowledge as to how to get the best of the best things we have. And, as modern consumers opt more for medicinal herbs these days, it is important that we set a new standard for the market so that Thai people have access to good-quality herbs.

"Thai herbs are the best. We have mangosteen, for example, which is an efficient antioxidant. If we can make sure that these healthy natural products on the shelf are of excellent quality, I think expensive dietary supplements are not at all necessary."