FAQ - About Thai Medicines
• Why are traditional Thai medicines able to address multiple conditions?
The term sap means “all” or “entire,” while khun refers to the inherent beneficial qualities of a substance. When used to describe traditional Thai medicine, the term “sapphakhun” (therapeutic properties) therefore denotes the full range of benefits or functions of a particular formula.
Traditional Thai medicines are known for their broad spectrum of therapeutic properties. For those accustomed to modern medicine—where treatments are often designed to address a single symptom or condition—this may raise the question of how a single Thai medicinal formula can be used to treat multiple illnesses or symptoms in such a comprehensive manner.
In the study of traditional Thai medicine in ancient times, students were required to study and memorize numerous texts and scriptures. One of the most important scriptures to be mastered was the Sapphalak Sana Sapphakhun Lae Mahapikat, which details the therapeutic properties and benefits of various medicinal ingredients, enabling practitioners to formulate remedies accurately for the treatment of patients.
This scripture is believed to have been well known since the Ayutthaya period, with clear evidence appearing in the early Rattanakosin era. It was later revised and systematized during the reign of King Rama V, and subsequently compiled into the Royal Medical Texts (Tamra Vejjasat Chabap Luang).
Image from the Sapphalak Sana Sapphakhun Lae Mahapikat Scripture
The Sapphalak Sana Sapphakhun Lae Mahapikat Scripture describes the therapeutic properties of each medicinal substance. Herbal ingredients derived from plants are classified as botanical materials. In addition to a single plant being able to address multiple conditions, large trees may possess different medicinal properties in each of their parts.
For example, champaca flowers are used to relieve wind-related disorders, fatigue, dizziness, and lightheadedness, and to cool the blood. Champaca seeds are used to nourish the bodily elements, relieve nausea and vomiting, and promote urination. Champaca leaves are indicated for certain febrile conditions, nervous system disorders, and infantile diarrhea. Champaca wood is used to nourish the blood, while the heartwood is used to treat certain skin conditions, among other uses.
For this reason, each traditional Thai medicinal formula clearly specifies which part of the plant is to be used. The pharmacist responsible for compounding the medicine must adhere strictly to the text, using the correct part of the plant and possessing the knowledge to determine whether that part has reached the appropriate maturity to yield its medicinal essence. Only then can the resulting remedy possess the therapeutic properties intended by the original formula.
For example, Benja Lok Wichian (also known as Kaew Ha Duang) is prepared from the roots of five different plants. If the practitioner is unable to obtain the roots and substitutes branches instead, the resulting medicine is unlikely to deliver the intended therapeutic effects.
Because a single herb may possess multiple therapeutic properties, and each traditional Thai medicinal formula is composed of a variety of herbs—some formulas, such as Ya Hom, containing more than fifty ingredients—traditional Thai medicine is able to address multiple symptoms and conditions.
• What is Ya Luk Klon?
Ya Luk Klon refers to a traditional pill-making form in which powdered herbal medicine is mixed with honey, thoroughly blended, and shaped into small, round pills. In ancient times, these pills were sun-dried until completely dry and then stored in glass jars, allowing them to be preserved and consumed over an extended period.
In modern practice, Ya Luk Klon may be formed not only with honey as a binder, but also with sugar syrup or starch-based solutions. However, honey is regarded as a rejuvenating substance (ya ayuwatthana) with inherent medicinal properties; therefore, pills formed with honey are considered to offer greater therapeutic benefits.
Today, the drying process no longer relies on sun-drying. Instead, controlled heat sterilization is used to ensure cleanliness and safety, providing a more hygienic method of preparation.
The origin of the term Ya Luk Klon remains unclear. It is generally presumed that the name derives from the shape and size of the pills, which resemble the rounded knob or handgrip portion of a traditional door latch (klon).
• Do Mowaan’s medicines contain steroids?
No steroids are used.