Naturally better
Watcharapong Pongboriboon, MD of Thailand's oldest herbal medicine producer, sees his products as having a bright future in a health-conscious era of economic expansion
Watcharapong Pongboriboon, managing director of Khao La-Or Laboratories, one of Thailand’s oldest producers of traditional medicine, says the firm is set to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the coming Asean Economic Community (AEC).
Khao La-Or was established in 1929 by Watcharapong’s grandfather.
“About 80 years ago, we were the first maker in Thailand of a medicine to deal with worms in the colon. At that time, there was no Western medicine for that problem.
“Another first was a medicine for babies suffering from sores in the mouth. Back then, the healthcare system was still in its infancy, so there were a lot of babies in Thailand who got sores in their mouth due to bacteria left from breast feeding. My grandfather concocted a herbal formula to solve this problem. Today, that product is still available on the market, even though there are now several Western alternative products.
“Since the basic healthcare system in Thailand has greatly improved over the past few decades, we are now focusing on products that improve people’s well-being, and for helping senior people. For example, we’ve produced garlic extracts in the form of tablets that retain most of the active ingredients when taken by adults, so that they get the most health benefits.
“In fact, we have been preparing for the AEC for a long time, even though we’re not a large company. But there are both opportunities and threats from the AEC.
“Over the years, we have improved our production technology and process as well as our staff’s capabilities, so we are not afraid of increased competition. For instance, we use the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standard and ISO 9001, so our products are of high quality.
“When compared to Western medicine, our traditional herbal products have several competitive advantages. In terms of ingredients, we’re situated in a good tropical location blessed with a very diverse range of plants that can be used as medicine.
“Unlike synthetic chemical compounds in Western medicine, the traditional medicines from herbs have far fewer side-effects, so they are safer for humans.
“In addition to curing ailments, herbal medicine is also good as a preventative medicine. Besides the garlic extract, one of our latest products is aimed at boosting men’s and women’s health, especially senior citizens.
“One product is made from a Thai herb called pa lai peuk. We also produce bai marum, another Thai herbal plant, in capsules, which is effective especially in terms of increasing bone density for senior citizens, while the amino acid helps rebalance the immune system.
“Another health supplement comes from klao khua khao, which is great for the menopause and also for older men. Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to our products, so we know that they are safe for your health.
“Now, our foreign markets include Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. For Cambodia and Laos, our products are distributed via border trade channels.
“Products that rejuvenate men’s and women’s health are among the best-sellers, since people are now living longer and want to look younger and stronger, whereas the older kinds of illnesses are becoming rarer due to the better healthcare system.
“In this region, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam are potential competitors, as they also have a lot of herbal plants.
“This year, we expect sales to increase from the current US$2 million annually, with higher export sales to other Asean markets,” he says.
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