Medical authorities consider certifying Mor Saeng as folk doctor for ‘cancer cure’

[webfact]

Medical authorities consider certifying Mor Saeng as folk doctor for ‘cancer cure’

By The Nation

 

Mor Saeng

 

THE DEPARTMENT of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has not yet certified “Mor Saeng”, the famous inventor of a so-called herbal cure for cancer, as a “folk doctor”.

 

Ongoing research has apparently uncovered positive results regarding his herbal formula, finding it does not contain harmful substances and patients taking it said they felt they were getting better. As many as 1,200 patients were involved in the studies. 

 

Mor Saeng, whose real name is Saengchai Haelerttrakul, has not received formal training as a physician, but he is widely referred to as “Mor”, which means “doctor” in Thai, because of the herbal concoctions that he has distributed.

 

Thousands of people flock to his home in Prachin Buri province every month in the hopes of receiving herbal concoctions that could cure cancer.

 

 

As the public’s faith in Saengchai’s herbal formulas has spread, relevant authorities have stepped in to prove the effectiveness of his concoctions. 

 

Saengchai has subsequently submitted an application for folk doctor status to the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine. 

 

“He is eligible to submit the application, but we have not yet received all the required documents from him,” the department director-general Dr Kiattibhoom Vongrachit said yesterday. 

 

Dr Pramote Stienrat, the deputy director-general, added that Saengchai had not sent a certification letter issued by a community, which comprises more than 10 people, and a letter from local medical facilities. 

 

Pramote said there were eight criteria for folk doctors: Attracting a constant flow of patients for a period of no less than 10 years; inheriting knowledge from ancestors or local communities; having the ability to treat diseases; being willing to share their knowledge; distributing the knowledge; not demanding unreasonable treatment fees; winning acceptance from local residents; and demonstrating integrity. 

 

Monthaka Teerachaisakul, who heads the department’s Thai Traditional Medicine Research Institute, said Saengchai did not describe himself as having the ability to cure cancer. “He says he has expertise in some other fields such as treating liver abscesses,” she said. 

 

Kiattibhoom said a folk doctor licence was valid for four years and could be revoked if the licensee lost any of the qualifications required. 

 

“The results should come out before the end of next month,” Kiattibhoom said. “From this analysis, we will be able to tell if the herbal concoctions have any cancer-fighting properties.” 

 

Adchara Saravari, an official at the Issarachon Foundation, which advises the public and private sector on policy-making, said she hoped the Public Health Ministry would help facilitate the distribution of Saengchai’s herbal concoctions after he was certified as a folk doctor. 

 

“For example, the Public Health Ministry may consider dispensing his herbal capsules via state-run health stations and hospitals,” she said. 

 

Adchara was among thousands of people queuing for herbal capsules at Saengchai’s home last weekend. She picked up the herbal concoctions in the hopes that it might improve her cancer-stricken husband’s condition. “My husband still receives modern medical treatments. But these kind of herbs can perhaps help too,” Adchara said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30338050

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-06

[Somtamnication]

Sorry, folk doctor status does not a cancer doctor make. Just sayin'. 

[ezzra]

What's next? Voodoo shaman, faith healers and spells casters? and who

will be responsible when the 'cure' fails and it will, will the health department/

government compensate? can anyone be sued? no and no, so you're on your buddy...

[simoh1490]

Perhaps worth understanding the placebo effect: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=31481

Edited February 5, 2018 by simoh1490

[Colborn]

Why do they never share these cures they concoct with the rest of the scientific world?

 

 

[bluesofa]

27 minutes ago, Colborn said:

Why do they never share these cures they concoct with the rest of the scientific world?

Probably because they're not cures as such, more likely a placebo effect (as linked in a post above).

[Colborn]

Kratom would be beneficial for cancer patients but it's illegal

[PremiumLane]

Alternative medicine? That will be the stuff that doesn't work then

[Lupatria]

Meanwhile the grim reaper is selling anti cancer ice cream in ICU units for those expecting to see their lives in a flash movie .

[tifino]

pop two mai pen rais, and kiss me in the morning...

 

 

 

 

 

[RichardColeman]

It's coming , you know it is. Thailand, Cancer cure Hub !

[Bob12345]

In my home country we had a similar case where a "witch-doctor" type person was advising an actress to follow her protocol for fighting cancer. Needless to say the actress died because the cancer was not treated and the "witch-doctor" ended up in jail for advising against treatment leading to death.

 

If the country gave even only a tiny bit about the health of their population they could look into this, but we all know there is no money in keeping sick people alive so let them all die.

If you are stupid enough to trust this doctor, .... (finish that one yourself).

[Emster23]

"... authorities have stepped in to prove the effectiveness of his concoctions. "

Ahem, perhaps the meant "test the effectiveness"? Or is a foregone conclusion. Don't want to take away false hopes of the locals.... election coming soon (as if....)

[sweatalot]

4 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

Perhaps worth understanding the placebo effect: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=31481

Never mind it is placebo effect - If it cures: use it 

 

patients don't need scientific reasons why they get better. It's enough to be cured

[joeyg]

5 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Sorry, folk doctor status does not a cancer doctor make. Just sayin'. 

I was trained in the USA and practiced in Southern California for 30 years. Internal medicine/family practice. I have been involved in in-depth studies some NIH sponsored. Herbal medicines/botanical medicines nutraceuticals have shown great promise For treating cancer and all sorts of other diseases.  The best ones are usually suppressed. However lots of great information is now getting out via the Internet. Having said that Western medicine excels in diagnostics and evaluation.  My practice was based on an integrative approach using the best of both systems.  The real art and practicing medicine is knowing what to do when. As far as this guy goes who knows what his deal is?

[worgeordie]

" said Saengchai did not describe himself as having the ability to cure cancer. “He says he has expertise in some other fields such as treating liver abscesses,” she said. "

BUT he is selling the herbal remedies as a cure for cancer,so contradicting himself,

Its difficult,if he is charging reasonable amounts,not scamming people,OK, he is

giving hope where there really is none,placebo effect,maybe the herbs are giving some

relief,who knows, just look at cures that are derived from herbs,they are now Synthisied 

into modern treatments.

 

regards worgeordie

 

 

 

[joeyg]

24 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

" said Saengchai did not describe himself as having the ability to cure cancer. “He says he has expertise in some other fields such as treating liver abscesses,” she said. "

BUT he is selling the herbal remedies as a cure for cancer,so contradicting himself,

Its difficult,if he is charging reasonable amounts,not scamming people,OK, he is

giving hope where there really is none,placebo effect,maybe the herbs are giving some

relief,who knows, just look at cures that are derived from herbs,they are now Synthisied 

into modern treatments.

 

regards worgeordie

 

 

 

Yeah tend to agree with you on this one

 

[Jonmarleesco]

I think it distinctly possible that it's the authorities that need certifying.

[eddie61]

it sounds as if medical research in thailand is catching up!

[Redline]

What the folk!?

[joeyg]

21 hours ago, eddie61 said:

it sounds as if medical research in thailand is catching up!

 70% of pharmaceutical medicine still comes directly from Botanical go sources. The use of herbal medicine is an important part of integrated medicine in the hands of a well-trained practitioner. https://news.mongabay.com/2007/03/70-of-new-drugs-come-from-mother-nature/