Herbs that heal

IT’S NOT always easy to follow in the footsteps of a family member, especially when the ancestor in question is as famous as Mo (Dr) Waan Rodmuang, the Thai traditional doctor whose herbal remedies were among the most popular forms of treatment during the reign of King Chulalongkorn.

Mo Waan’s great-granddaughter Phasinee Yanotai is determined to keep the family tradition alive and continues to offer his original Thai herbal preparations from the residence he built on Bamroong Road back in 1924.

Mo Waan created a wide selection of pills and preparations from local herbs, plants, minerals and even animals to relieve fever, indigestion, sore throats and many other ailments. 

“Traditional medicine thrived during the reign of King Rama V with clinics and old-fashioned apothecaries openings in several areas. It went through a slump late in the reign of Rama VI when western medical science came into favour,” Phasinee says. 

“After my grandfather died, his heirs tried to carry on the business but my mother and aunt were forced to scale down production and ended up preparing herbal medicines just for older customers.”

Phasinee founded the Mo Waan label four years and offers a selection of useful yahom (cordials), based on four original formulas.

She’s also renovated the beautiful house that served as a clinic and turned part of it into a shop and a museum to showcase old-fashioned pharmaceutical tools and rare herbs.

Younger generation Thais are more likely to turn to western remedies when they feel off-colour but they would do well to at least try some of the old-fashioned remedies. Each yahom recipe contains 40 to 50 herbs that help relieve shock, faintness, fatigue, indigestion, vomiting and dizziness.

Yahom Suramrith is wrapped with pure gold and is made from Korean ginseng, borneol, ambergris, saffron, civet and guliga, a combination that alleviates tremors and faintness and provides nourishment for the heart.

Yahom Indhara Osoth, on the other side, is ideal to treat the common cold. It is made of such useful herbs as elephant grass roots, cinnamon, polyporaceae, civit and saffron to help boost energy, relieve coughing and loosen phlegm.

If you’re suffering from flatulence, Yahom Prajakara, which contains ginger, ginseng, borneol, civet and saffron, is the perfect choice while if your head won’t stop spinning, a little Yahom Sawang Phob will soon have you seeing straight.

“Yahom was created in the reign of King Narai Maharat and combines Thai, Chinese and Indian techniques. It improves body functions and is good for the health,” Phasinee says. 

Phasinee has developed a new formula of her great-granddad’s famed Mo Waan lozenges. Aromatic and fresh, this slight bitter candy is made from female ginseng, liquorice root, ginger, menthol and cinnamon bark and is designed to improve the digestion. It’s best eaten after a meal.

“All my medicines are certified by the Food and Drug Administration,” she says. “The lozenge, which has a pleasant flavour, is proving popular with young people.”

Another novelty is Mo Waan analgesic oil made from cassumunar ginger, turmeric, Asian spiderflower, vedt grape and mint flakes. It relieves tired and aching muscle and reduces inflammation

Mo Waan’s herbal medicines are also available at Museum Siam, Phayathai Palace, Mrigadayavan Palace and King Power.

 

 

TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS

Mo Waan is located at 9, Soi Thesa, Bamroong Muang Road near Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. It’s open daily from 9am to 5pm. Call (02) 221 8070, (086) 316 6309 or visit www.MoWaan.com