Thai herbs: Nature’s secret weapon against deadly PM2.5 dust

[webfact]

Whilst Bangkokians battle with the silent killer, the potent PM2.5 air pollution, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine unveils a game-changing solution to combat the notorious dust particles threatening the health of residents in the capital city.

 

Amidst rising concerns over the long-term health impacts of PM2.5 exposure, Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the face of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, reveals the secrets of four Thai herbs that promise to shield your lungs and heart from the invisible menace.

 

“Thai herbs have been scientifically proven to be effective in treating respiratory symptoms, as well as inflammation in internal organs caused by the fine dust slipping through the body’s screening mechanism.”

 

Highlighted as the frontline defender against fine dust pollution, the quartet includes little ironweed, laurel clockvine, Indian gooseberry, and turmeric. Dr Taweesilp prescribes little ironweed tea, also known as Ya Dok Khao, as a potent remedy for respiratory irritation, cautioning those with heart and liver conditions to consult physicians due to its high potassium content.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal 

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2024-01-18

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I realize many in Thailand have an abiding belief in a variety of supposed protective elements including things like wearing amulets...

 

But when it comes to protecting against PM2.5 fine particle air pollution that can cause health harms because the pollution particles enter directly into the blood stream....

 

I'd put the OP's herbal recommendations down into the category of hokum pokum nonsense.

 

If someone really wants to protect against PM2.5, the answer is to keep it out of your lungs and body in the first place by wearing things like N95 respirator face masks and running HEPA air purifiers at home.

 

 

 

[Presnock]

yeah, I walk outside daily and wear an N95 mask.  I notice many Thais and farangs exercising without any masks.  Some of the Thais after noticing that I speak Thai, ask why I am wearing a mask.  I introduce them to ACCUWEATHER (whatever your local district is) and this web site also provides air quality as well as weather conditions.  I also have my own 2.5 micron meter and it comes pretty close to the accuweather readout on air quality.  Living in CM for 10 years, I learned about wearing a mask but even before then I was advised by doctors visiting the embassy to never exercise outside here without a mask as they note returnees during physicals show some damage to lungs of those not taking any precautions.  My daughter's school even had air purifiers in every classroom.  Before the COVID pandemic, that same school would close the school due to high pollution since the students walked outside during classroom changes and so, in order to not have to close the schools her school purchased an online teaching program from Singapore and when the govt here ordered the schools closed, my daughter and her fellow students never actually missed any of the curriculum, only socializing and classroom activities.  

[khunPer]

Sometimes alternative treatment and natural methods seems to be too far way out; however, the herbs might be good and healthy for a lot of other things than stopping PM2.5-particles to getting into your lungs...

[stoner]

7 minutes ago, Presnock said:

Before the COVID pandemic, that same school would close the school due to high pollution since the students walked outside during classroom changes

 

life in paradise eh. 

[Will B Good]

Unadulterated dross....this is on a par with magic potions and spells......how stupid can humans be?

[Presnock]

I forgot to mention that we have air purifiers in all but the bathrooms of our house too and we use them daily since the pollution levels began to climb.  Had a friend, Canadian, world class almost runner who ran races in Thailand (mostly BKK) for years - upon return to Ottawa, as normal with diplomats, a complete phyiscal is given.  The doctor after all the tests, xrays, etc, he said that all readings were great except my friend needed to give up smoking.  My friend told the doctor that she had never smoked in her life - he then showed her the xrays of her lungs indicating that the color was due to either smoking or local pollutants if she really hadn't taken up smoking.  Made a believer out of me about doctors warnings and about wearing masks.

[stoner]

4 minutes ago, Presnock said:

I forgot to mention that we have air purifiers in all but the bathrooms of our house too and we use them daily since the pollution levels began to climb.  Had a friend, Canadian, world class almost runner who ran races in Thailand (mostly BKK) for years - upon return to Ottawa, as normal with diplomats, a complete phyiscal is given.  The doctor after all the tests, xrays, etc, he said that all readings were great except my friend needed to give up smoking.  My friend told the doctor that she had never smoked in her life - he then showed her the xrays of her lungs indicating that the color was due to either smoking or local pollutants if she really hadn't taken up smoking.  Made a believer out of me about doctors warnings and about wearing masks.

 

are you not fighting a futile battle with the masks and filters etc though ? 

[Mr Meeseeks]

More buffoonery and nonsense to distract from the fact that they are totally unable to manage and control the root causes of the problem.

 

Expect more of this along with cloud seeding, spraying roads with water and other ineffective and ridiculous schemes to try to deflect from their almost total incompetence.

[Presnock]

28 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

are you not fighting a futile battle with the masks and filters etc though ? 

no probably still inhale some pollutants but much lower than not taking ANY precautions.  Occasionally the locals report about the number of problems hospitals are seeing more an more often due to the pollution.  Yeah it is not immediately obvious that one suffers from the pollution, unless that person already has lung/breahing problems.  I am not telling anyone that they should wear masks and take precautions except for my family.  I am only writing these responses because of the experiences I have been around in my life (77 years).  I have lived primarily in the capital cities around the world and many were just as polluted as here but the pollution just continues to spread.  I ran a couple of marathons and hundreds of races, some in the later years were done wearing a mask.  Did it affect my breathing?  Maybe but I was never a world class runner anyway, just did it for the enjoyment and soclializling with the other runners.  My wife has commented though that when we go places and I am wearing a mask that my breathings "heavier" so I guess that is my body naturally respoding to any restrictions or maybe not.  Anyway like I already said, I am not telling people what they should or should not do, it is totally up to each person.  I do wish all  a healthy life though.

[rabas]

39 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

are you not fighting a futile battle with the masks and filters etc though ? 

 

Why? N95 masks are excellent at blocking relatively large PM2.5 particles. They even block ~95% of particles the size of tiny visuses like covid.  

 

Of course, it would be far far better to breath clean air.

 

[Presnock]

46 minutes ago, stoner said:

 

life in paradise eh. 

The school was built like a HS campus in the US with covered walkways between the different classroom buildings, that is why they had to go outside between classes.  

[stoner]

6 minutes ago, rabas said:

 

Why? N95 masks are excellent at blocking relatively large PM2.5 particles. They even block ~95% of particles the size of tiny visuses like covid.  

 

Of course, it would be far far better to breath clean air.

 

 

why ? 

 

ummm...

 

Of course, it would be far far better to breath clean air.

[john donson]

TAT does not advertise that the air in thailand is toxic and not a paradise at all with safety levels that they only doubled here prentending what, thai air special ?

 

they also do not advertise the ripp off of 5x local price

 

now herbs against PM 2.5 ???

 

I understand some herbs to help the liver detox the crap foods but the air ?

 

[tomazbodner]

1 hour ago, stoner said:

 

are you not fighting a futile battle with the masks and filters etc though ? 

At least we're battling. You just let lung cancer win.

[VocalNeal]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Whilst Bangkokians battle with the silent killer, the potent PM2.5 air pollution,

 

I thought salt was the silent killer. 🤔

 

 

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I realize many in Thailand have an abiding belief in a variety of supposed protective elements including things like wearing amulets...

 

But when it comes to protecting against PM2.5 fine particle air pollution that can cause health harms because the pollution particles enter directly into the blood stream....

 

I'd put the OP's herbal recommendations down into the category of hokum pokum nonsense.

 

If someone really wants to protect against PM2.5, the answer is to keep it out of your lungs and body in the first place by wearing things like N95 respirator face masks and running HEPA air purifiers at home.

 

 

 

Agree. I am also wondering how many of these herbs have been rigorously tested for their effect on liver and kidney function.

Mind you, paracetamol is a very common drug which, in combination with excess alcohol, is very damaging to the liver.

[rabas]

1 hour ago, stoner said:

why ? 

 

ummm...

 

Of course, it would be far far better to breath clean air.

 

why what?

 

a. why (how) are N95 masks so efficient at removing very small particles?

b. why is it better to breath clean air?

c. why bother...

 

[stoner]

1 hour ago, tomazbodner said:

At least we're battling. You just let lung cancer win.

 

not. 

[Peabody]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Thai herbs have been scientifically proven to be effective in treating respiratory symptoms, as well as inflammation in internal organs caused by the fine dust slipping through the body’s screening mechanism.”

Where are the published, peer-reviewed scientific trials?

[aseanfan]

Does anyone here know where I can find an analysis of what these particles in the air are?  I have seen mention in articles that the pollution comes from diesel engines, from black smoke from vehicles, from stubble burning, from building sites...What is the truth?  I saw mention that the Air Force is going to spray from planes to make rain to 'wash' the particles out of the air.  And then where do those particles go?  Into the water table?  And what is being sprayed from these planes?  Is that the cause of the air pollution?  So I go back to my initial question?  Where is the analysis of what the particles are? Once the particles are known efforts can be made to find the source and to prevent distribution at source, maybe...

 

[arick]

I have a gooseberry tree outside the bedroom window.  🤗

[AAArdvark]

Does drinking bleach help too? 

[arick]

Well at least these all grow on my yard.  I have heard that you make tea from iron weed.  I notice my horse eating it . Yesterday the smoke was hanging in the air here in Chiayaphum it had to be higher then 160

 

[Unify]

I read a long thread in a fb expat group the other day. Someone was asking about cough remedies. A few others chimed in and complained they had coughs lately. Nobody connected it to the rising level of pollution these last few weeks.

 

I suspect it's largely the same demographic that says sit pollution doesn't bother them.  Lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and dementia are increased by air pollution, and you don't always have advance warning. 

 

I do what I can to warn people. I too have an air filter, live in one of the better areas in Thailand for air quality, and sometimes wear an n95 if it's bad out. And I do my best to make others aware of the danger. It's possible things will change if there's public awareness and the will to change things. 

[Polaky]

Breath in through your nose only and use hanky often, keep nostrils moist to catch fine particles before they enter, my theory 😉

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

Whilst Bangkokians battle with the silent killer, the potent PM2.5 air pollution, the Department of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine unveils a game-changing solution to combat the notorious dust particles threatening the health of residents in the capital city.

BS cures everything. ??

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, Will B Good said:

Unadulterated dross....this is on a par with magic potions and spells......how stupid can humans be?

In Thailand... many

[Classic Ray]

If you look at the air quality graphics from NASA often published here, you will see the centres of pollution coincide with the agricultural areas and borders where crop burning is practiced and industrial areas and conurbations. 
 

Instead of trying to cure the symptoms it would be better if the government concentrated on pressuring the countries, companies and individuals causing the pollution, including the vehicles that they allow with pollutants coming from their exhausts.

[sikishrory]

About as useful as that shaman in the news last week with his special licky licky