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Knowledge of Folk Healers concerning Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicines for Health Promo-
tion: A Case Study of Mor Serm Jaitat of Yasothorn Province
Kusuma Sriyakul*, Piyanuch Yoadsomsuay*, Chunthida Inthep*, Reamsiri Ninpattama-a-morn*
*Division of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Thammasat University
A qualitative study on the collection of the body of knowledge of folk healers on single herbal medicine
and herbal medicine recipes for health promotion was carried out. The objectives of the study were to compile
the names and therapeutic application of herbs used by Mor Serm Jaitat in Yasothorn Province, and to deter-
mine the pharmacological activities of medicinal plants and herbal medicine recipes that he uses for health
promotion and treatment of patients. The data were collected by conducting an in-depth interview to learn
about his knowledge and concepts of disease treatment. The local forest was surveyed in order to collect the
herbs for botanical identification and for the preparation of herbarium specimens. A specialist from the
Royal Forest Department was consulted for plant identification, and a literature review on the pharmacologi-
cal and toxicological studies of those medicinal plants was then performed.
It was found that Mor Serm Jaitat was forced to learn by helping his grandfather take care of patients
since he was 12 years old. After his grandfather died, he took up his grandfather’s responsibility in taking
care of the health of the people in the community and he has developed his experience and career as a folk
healer from patient contacts. He has also generously transferred and passed on his knowledge to other folk
healers in and outside the communities so that they all can help in taking care of patients. One of his students,
Mor Prapas Maskao can now apply that knowledge in the treatment of patients.
There are 106 herbs that he commonly uses; they can easily be found in the community, such as herbs for
treatment of venomous snakebite and fever, and for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract
diseases. Literature reviews show that those medicinal plant materials and their therapeutic applications
comply with the principle of Thai traditional medicine regarding the taste and therapeutic efficacy of medici-
nal plant materials. For his herbal medicine recipes, the formulation and the preparation of such recipes also
comply with the principle of Thai traditional medicine regarding main tastes of herbal medicine. The exami-
nation of patients is based on patient’s history and complaint, as well as information on food consumption,
seasons, age and physical examination to determine the balance of the body, mind, and the environment.
Overall, Mor Serm Jaitat commonly uses basic symptomatic treatment and also treats some chronic diseases,
such as cancer of the intestine. The dosage forms of herbal medicines used are simple, such as decoction and
granular medicine.
This study showed the benefit of collecting folk healers’ knowledge which could lead to further studies on
the active constituents of medicinal plants, preclinical and clinical studies to develop herbal medicine that can
be used more efficiently in patients.
Key words: folk medicine, Thai traditional medicine