Roads jammed as 30,000 people line up for free herbal cancer ‘cure’

[webfact]

Roads jammed as 30,000 people line up for free herbal cancer ‘cure’

By The Nation

 

 

An estimated 30,000 cancer patients and accompanying relatives showed up early Sunday morning outside the house of the well-known inventor of a so-called herbal “cure” for cancer Saengchai Haelerttrakul, in Prachin Buri's Muang district in hopes of getting free capsules.

 

The queue started at five minutes past midnight and caused a severe two-kilometre-long traffic jam in the area.

 

 

Saengchai, who is better known as “Mor Saeng” (Mor meaning “doctor” in Thai), has not received formal training as a physician but was given the honorific by supporters for giving away capsules of his herbal concoction on the first Saturday and Sunday of every month.

 

 

Those people who picked up the free capsules were required to register their information (including showing a medical certificate of their condition) and sign a police record at the Muang Prachin Buri Police Station. 

 

 

Saengchai's full-time job is as a manager at the Prachin Buri branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority.

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30342205

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-04-02

[steve187]

I think '' free herbal cancer ‘cure’''  says it all

[grumbleweed]

38 minutes ago, webfact said:

has not received formal training as a physician

A minor inconvenience.

 

By the way, we have a special name for alternative treatment that actually works. It's called medicine

 

[Darcula]

50 minutes ago, webfact said:

Saengchai's full-time job is as a manager at the Prachin Buri branch of the Provincial Electricity Authority.

 

A natural progression. From electricity that doesn't need earthing to a cure for cancer.

[PJPom]

In the comments on Facebook where I read this story people are drawing comparisons between east and west with the west of course being better. It seems to me that we have an equal number of miraculous cures in the west with the only difference being the cost. How often do we read pleas for funding to take someone to a foreign country as they have a possible cure but it will cost x amount, always grasped at as a last hope but not often effective.

I will applaud someone for giving hope even if in my opinion it is false, at least they are not charging a fortune from the unfortunates, good luck to them.

Before anyone reminds me that they are giving false hope can I draw the comparison with any organised religion which offers prayers as the ultimate answer to all problems and we all know how wealthy they are.

Edited April 2, 2018 by PJPom
Final thoughts plus

[Lupatria]

Illusion is everything for the sick, and hope dies last. Almost nothing will be handed out for free in this country. I guess the scheme here is: well, it's free but you can show your appreciation with your donation. And his honorific title “Mor Saeng” is worth as much as the term "Mor Lam" (expert music) to any serious musician.

[Cadbury]

Some would describe this as quackery. For others it seems to bring some hope either for cure or remission.

Saengchai said his mixture consisted of fermented rice bran, Smilacaceae plants, Smilax glabra, which is also known as Chinaroot, and pollen. 

A great pity the PM has vetoed any move to introduce medical marijuana for those who might have terminal cancer or seriously ill from other ailments. 

[joeyg]

I have had some connection with Mahidol University in the past. Their department of herbal pharmacology and Botany where well-developed and well organized.  Thai doctors used to receive training in Traditional Thai Medicine as well as Allopathic Medicine.  I incorporated Herbal pharmacology and treatment into my integrated medical practice in the states with great success. I lectured on this in most of the major hospitals and universities in Southern California.  Honestly I am skeptical of this guy  treating a case is not like stamping out Christmas cookies. Each case must be taken on a Individual basis with a detailed medical history and exam. In addition  10 capsules of what might even be a valid formulation is not going to cure anybody. If you do some research you'll see the tremendous strides are being made with  phyto-medicines.  This is documented in many of the major research journals and university teaching hospitals. About 40% of all pharmaceutical medicine is still plant-based.  Cannabis oil is showing tremendous promise in the treatment of cancer.    So much so a couple of the major pharmaceutical companies are trying to take over the whole thing.  Bottom line is the real art in practice medicine is adjusting to time and circumstance and knowing what to use when.

[HLover]

Snake Oil Salesmanship Giveaway.

[NCC1701A]

" Saengchai said his mixture consisted of fermented rice bran, Smilacaceae plants, Smilax glabra, which is also known as Chinaroot, and pollen."

 

Thanks this info is worth 500 billion dollars.

[Emster23]

"..not received formal training as a physician but was given the honorific by supporters.."

I wonder how many of those original supporters are still alive?

[joeyg]

Just now, Emster23 said:

"..not received formal training as a physician but was given the honorific by supporters.."

I wonder how many of those original supporters are still alive?

Good point.  This has been an issue for me for a long time.  I have met some very good herbalists over the years. However when something goes wrong my argument is/was how are the families compensated. We carry millions of dollars of malpractice insurance to cover errors and omissions.  Like I said nothing should be done without a detailed medical history and exam being taken. Sad to say this guy is probably a hoax. Here is one of thousands of good examples of write ups from reputable organizations showing the value of Herbs/other phyto-medicines In the treatment of cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/garlic-fact-sheet

 

[lvr181]

Jeez................. the blind leading the blind.

 

I have one question: What cancer is this unproven 'concoction' going to cure? 

[impulse]

1 hour ago, grumbleweed said:

A minor inconvenience.

 

By the way, we have a special name for alternative treatment that actually works. It's called medicine

 

Sometimes, it works.  Sometimes, the cure is so toxic that it robs people of months or years of life in a vain hope of killing what's invading their body.

 

If I had cancer, I'd be waiting in the line.  What's to lose?  Not that I'd forgo conventional treatment in favor of the herbal remedy, but it seems that nothing he's offering precludes conventional treatment in tandem.  Who knows, even a few rays of hope and the placebo effect may improve the quality of life for the victims and their families.  And for the families, just the thought that you're doing something for your loved one beats sitting around helplessly and watching them pass.

 

If a guy did come up with a cure for cancer tomorrow, it would take $200-500 Million dollars (or more) and 5-20 years to do the tests that would bring the product to market.  By which time, big Pharma would be involved and instead of giving away the pills, they'd be charging $10,000 a month for them.

 

So I don't begrudge the guy- if he honestly believes he's doing something good.

 

[JOC]

30.000 people?

Is there no end to stupidity in this country? (rhetorical question)

People are arrested here for demanding free elections....but to play doctor/God are clearly within the limits of the law?

If it wasn't so sad, it would almost be funny....

[JOC]

New slogan for TAT.....Thailand...the hub of cures...!!

Ebola, HIV or cancer.....you name it...we have the cure

And all this in a country where waste-management is not existing....

[Xaos]

Why Thai ppl are so gullible?

[HLover]

4 minutes ago, Xaos said:

Why Thai ppl are so gullible?

A trait not reserved for only Thais unfortunately.

Read the 'Connect Four banned' thread for confirmation.

[joeyg]

20 minutes ago, JOC said:

30.000 people?

Is there no end to stupidity in this country? (rhetorical question)

People are arrested here for demanding free elections....but to play doctor/God are clearly within the limits of the law?

If it wasn't so sad, it would almost be funny....

There are thousands of non-physician "herbalists' doing the very same thing in the US and UK.

[mikebell]

If Thais believe it is sexy to walk about with white armpits after using whitening deodorant; if Thai businesses believe hiring a man in a van to drive about holding up traffic is good practice, they will believe anything.

[akirasan]

41 minutes ago, Xaos said:

Why Thai ppl are so gullible?

The word 'Free' tends to send them into a frenzy.

Edited April 2, 2018 by akirasan

[rott]

42 minutes ago, JOC said:

30.000 people?

Is there no end to stupidity in this country? (rhetorical question)

People are arrested here for demanding free elections....but to play doctor/God are clearly within the limits of the law?

If it wasn't so sad, it would almost be funny....

I think the sad part is the 30,000 cancer sufferers. (Tip of the iceberg I know).

 

Count your blessings time.

 

 

[sawadee1947]

Why not.....?

Even Jesus didn't have any professional education and is supposed having cured sick people. And he could walk on a lake.....

So what?

[DavisH]

30K is a lot of people. I guess the ill and dying will be willing to try anything. Some hope is better than no hope at all. I wonder if any of these ingredients have been tested. Can you sue if you die after taking this free "cure"..

[PJPom]

Most of the comments on this thread seem to be deriding the Thai people for being gullible. Can I point out that in Australia I saw over a hundred thousand people stand in the rain to hear a short, portly man from Italy mutter words in a language that few understood in praise of an unconfirmed salvation, known as religion. Whois the most gullible ?

PS he also represented one of the wealthiest corporations on the planet.

Edited April 2, 2018 by PJPom
Final thought

[overherebc]

21 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

Why not.....?

Even Jesus didn't have any professional education and is supposed having cured sick people. And he could walk on a lake.....

So what?

Special sandals.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, lvr181 said:

Jeez................. the blind leading the blind.

 

I have one question: What cancer is this unproven 'concoction' going to cure? 

 

Brain cancer... Because all the people lining up for this guy's pills clearly are in the advanced stages thereof.

 

[wombat]

joeyg

 

marihuana.....never in the history of plants has so much research been done on one particular prohibited illegal plant.
no study has been able to find anything wrong with it.

[wombat]

29 minutes ago, sawadee1947 said:

Why not.....?

Even Jesus didn't have any professional education and is supposed having cured sick people. And he could walk on a lake.....

So what?

 

[wombat]

22 minutes ago, DavisH said:

30K is a lot of people. I guess the ill and dying will be willing to try anything. Some hope is better than no hope at all. I wonder if any of these ingredients have been tested. Can you sue if you die after taking this free "cure"..

having been in that situation if i had been told hanging upside down in a tree on the full moon eating snakes balls would cure my cancer i would have done it and my support group would have been happy to help.....just saying.