Health
Thousands Line-up in Central Thailand to Get Free Herbal Cancer Medicine
PRACHIN BURI – Approximately 30,000 cancer patients and relatives of terminally-ill cancer patients in Central Thailand queued up in front of the house of Sangchai Haelerttrakul, better known as Mor Sang, waiting to receive free herbal medicines claimed to have cancer-curing qualities.
The queue stretched more than 2 kilometers along the road running past Mr Sangchai’s house, opposite the office of the Bang Decha tambon administration organization.
Mor means “doctor” in Thai but Saengchai Haelerttrakul, who is widely known as Mor Saeng, has never received formal training as a physician.
“I have seriously studied herbs, though,” Saengchai said. “Also, I have herbal formulas from a Cambodian doctor. They can be used to treat a swollen brain and liver abscesses, etc.”
Saengchai has distributed herbal concoctions for free over the past decade on the first Sunday of each month with the help of sponsors who believe in the effectiveness of his formulas.
The concoctions have apparently worked well for some patients, Saengchai said, with patients including people from all social classes and family backgrounds.
The free medicines are distributed on the first Saturday and Sunday of every month.
All recipients are required to register with Mor Sang’s volunteer workers, showing their ID cards, domicile registration papers and a doctor’s diagnosis, in order to get the herbal medicines.
Saengchai said he hoped that relevant authorities would help to prove the effectiveness of his herbal concoctions with scientifically tested research.
A senior health official in Prachin Buri province said a sample of the concoctions had already been tested and it did not contain steroids.
Saengchai said his mixture consisted of fermented rice bran, Smilacaceae plants, Smilax glabra, which is also known as Chinaroot, and pollen.
“I am willing to share my formulas with people who are not profit-minded,” he said
The long monthly queues have spurred the local economy, with small shops selling food and drinks and an increased number of motorcycle taxis. All resorts in Ban Sang and Muang districts are fully booked, although free accommodation is available at more than 10 temples in the area.
Many of those queuing for medicine also visited Wat Phikulwanaram to pay respects to the shrine of Chao Mae Takhian, hoping for good numbers for today’s lottery draw.
Source: The Nation, Bangkok Post
