At the Herbs Expo, an aphrodisiac and a lost opportunity
There’s more than mere kitchen seasonings on sale at the National Herbs Expo continuing at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani through Sunday (September 3). You can also buy an aphrodisiac.
The traditional Thai aphrodisiac sao reun klon (which means “shaking the house pillars”) is drawing attention, as is a decidedly non-sexual herbal tea buffet.
The annual event promoting traditional and alternative medicines and new herbal products opened on Wednesday with a discussion among Thai academics as to whether krathom has become a victim of international bio-piracy.
Bio-piracy is the commercial appropriation of a country’s indigenous plants and knowledge by foreigners. The leaves of krathom can induce a mild narcotic effect when chewed.
The scholars noted that people in other countries had extracted components of Thai krathom and created medicines, including a painkiller that’s reportedly more effective than morphine.
In Thailand, though, the plant is listed as an illegal narcotic, preventing any such medicinal research. The academics said the law should be amended to allow for krathom’s medicinal use.
