COVID cases in Thailand today:

Total New Cases 14,802 ( +146 )

Deaths 252 ( +62 )

COVID cases in Thailand today:

Total New Cases 14,956 ( +154 )

Deaths 262 ( +10 )

https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Pharma ... 0&si=44594

Thai demand for medicinal herb surges as natural COVID treatment
Government grants fah talai jone stamp of approval in bid to boost rural support


A Thai prisoner cultivates fah talai jone. (Photo courtesy of Thailand's Ministry of Justice.)
MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writerSeptember 2, 2021 10:10 JST

BANGKOK -- A medicinal herb in Thailand that has been used since antiquity to relieve cold symptoms is now being promoted by the government as a way to relieve symptoms in mild cases of COVID-19.

Demand is so high for fah talai jone, also known as green chiretta, that the asking price multiplied by a factor of 10 this year. The military-backed government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha sees the crop as a means to curb discontent in farming communities.

People have turned to the plant for centuries to treat the symptoms of respiratory tract infections and alleviate painful coughs. But experts warn that its effectiveness in treating coronavirus infections may be overstated.

The frenzy for the fah talai jone traces back to a prison study. Due to a shortage of Avigan, the flu medication used to treat coronavirus patients, prison officials began experimenting with the herb on inmates with mild cases of COVID.

Thailand's Ministry of Justice reported that most of the inmates given fah talai jone saw an improvement in symptoms, driving demand for the herb as a cheap therapeutic substitute.

Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, a state-run producer of herbal medicines, said its supplies of fah talai jone are not enough to meet the overwhelming demand. In August, Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin ordered prisons around the country to cultivate the plant.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives came out with a scheme to plant fah talai jone in a 1,600-hectare plot of land in the Eastern Economic Corridor, a special economic zone east of Bangkok.

The market value for fah talai jone has risen to 500 baht (around $15) per kilogram from 50 baht in a span of roughly six months from the end of 2020, according to a research team at Kasetsart University in Bangkok.

The Ministry of Commerce said it will not move to control prices, citing the potential loss of incentive among farmers to grow the crop, which would put patients at a disadvantage.

The government looks to ameliorate the grievances among farmers by lifting their incomes. Rural areas represent the political base for the opposition Pheu Thai Party, a home for loyalists to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a coup.

The Pheu Thai Party has recently joined forces with the anti-government protest movement led by college students, whose demands include the resignation of Prayut. In response, the government is looking to win broader support from the rural citizenry, who represent about 40% of Thailand's population.

Flagging shipments of rice, a crop for which Thailand used to be the world's top exporter, have also contributed to the government's push for new money-makers.

"Thai herbs could become a new cash crop," said Thamanat Prompow, deputy minister of agriculture and cooperatives. The Prayuth government has decriminalized medical marijuana and kratom as well, with an eye on possible commercial opportunities.

But critics say there is a lack of scientific evidence indicating that fah talai jone is effective against COVID-19, especially since it is usually given to patients with mild symptoms.

There needs to be more research and comparisons against control groups that never received the herb, a researcher at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok told the BBC.

With the figures you are posting on the covid19, there are higher rates, but also higher population than Cambodia. But the average death rate seems to be 250 per 14,000 whom are infected. While Cambodia seems to average about 20 deaths per 400 infected.

AndyKK wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:10 pm With the figures you are posting on the covid19, there are higher rates, but also higher population than Cambodia. But the average death rate seems to be 250 per 14,000 whom are infected. While Cambodia seems to average about 20 deaths per 400 infected.

In Thai they will call it "Same same but not same" hahahaha

COVID cases in Thailand today:

Total New Cases 14,653 ( - 303 )

Deaths 271 ( + 9 )

COVID cases in Thailand today:

Total New Cases 15,947 ( +1,294 )

Deaths 257 ( -14 )

AndyKK wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:10 pm With the figures you are posting on the covid19, there are higher rates, but also higher population than Cambodia. But the average death rate seems to be 250 per 14,000 whom are infected. While Cambodia seems to average about 20 deaths per 400 infected.

Cambodia is the anomaly there. Most countries are more inline with Thailand's figures.

Mainly because Cambodia tests so few people (or reports on so few)

cautious colin wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:22 am

AndyKK wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 8:10 pm With the figures you are posting on the covid19, there are higher rates, but also higher population than Cambodia. But the average death rate seems to be 250 per 14,000 whom are infected. While Cambodia seems to average about 20 deaths per 400 infected.

Cambodia is the anomaly there. Most countries are more inline with Thailand's figures.

Mainly because Cambodia tests so few people (or reports on so few)

Your defiantly right there, and it could possibly be down to the few testing, or results, I don't know about your opinion or any other members about the testing, being are they that confident or skilled to get the correct results anyway?
But that aside the wording! It's good, deviates from what maybe normal, or even expected. It has been mentioned somewhere about not worrying the people, being that its better to keep them from unnecessary worry, keeping an overall calm order, so, just let them know the basics and the performance of how well medical teams are vaccinating the population and recovering people who had been unfortunate to get the virus.
Still it would be good to know how they are treating these people to recovery, It was mentioned in the early days that they were using anti-malarial drugs, but then the WHO said there would be a shortage, and at some stage no help for people who got sick with what the drugs were intended.

COVID cases in Thailand today:

Total New Cases 13,988 ( -1,464 )

Deaths 187 ( -37 )