The GF came back with a couple of bottles of unpleasantly smelling liquid, but was nicely packaged in a hologrammed plastic wrapper.

After a quick check to make sure I was not a "pregnancy woman", (which reminds me that I must do something about the annoyingly persistent, "saam duan laeow" stomach), I discovered it did not taste too good either.

So what, I wondered, was in this?

After checking the label and searching the internet, here it is.

Curcuma : Java ginger : Symptomatic aleviation of Dyspepsia

Trikatuk : Mix of Black Pepper, long pepper, ginger : adjust patient’s element during rainy season

Caesalpinia sappan : Sappanwood Tree : antibacterial and anticoagulant

Carthamus tinctorius : Saltflower : coloring and flavoring

Trisan : Only reference I can find is to an antibacterial hand cleanser, doubt if that is put in.

Dracaena angustifolia Roxb : Tropical plant : None.

Zingiber purureum roscoe : Ginger : Disputed claims on fixing things such as cancer and nausea

Drosera Indica : Sundew insect eating plant : Athsma, coughs and stomache ulcers.

Citrus hystrix : Makrut Lime : flavouring and unspecified "medicinal properties"

Lingusticum Acutilobum : Licorice : A few promising benefits, but in Chinese medicine it "harmonizes" the ingredients

Picrorhiza Kurroa : Kutki (nearly extinct) : Digestive problems

Leersia hexandra : Clubhead cutgrass : none found

Honey : Little or no proven health benefits.

Ginseng : Various disputed benefits, but there is a claim that it lowers blood concentrations of alcohol.

Removing all the stuff with none-proven and disputed benefits, we are left with

Curcuma : Java ginger : Symptomatic aleviation of Dyspepsia

Caesalpinia sappan : Sappanwood Tree : antibacterial and anticoagulant

Picrorhiza Kurroa : Kutki (nearly extinct) : Digestive problems

And the vitally important "element adjuster".

Trikatuk : Mix of Black Pepper, long pepper, ginger : adjust patient’s element during rainy season

As the Picrorhiza Kurroa is almost extinct, I would guess that there is not too much of it used, if any at all, nowadays, and I can't see how an anticoagulant will be beneficial, we are left with a mild antibacterial agent, ginger to relieve indigestion and an element adjuster which functions only during the rainy season.

Moved to health.

Well quadruple the price and sell in in the west...they love buying tonics from mysterious and far off places.

Well quadruple the price and sell in in the west...they love buying tonics from mysterious and far off places.

Don't think it would meet EU regulations...........