Role of medicinal and poisonous plants during the centuries
Since time immemorial people have used plants and other materials that were not part of their usual diet to treat illness. They arrived at these treatments by trial and error and accumulated tradition and experience.
Archaeological evidence for the use of herbal remedies goes back 60.000 years. Medicinal plants have constituted an important part of Thai traditional medicine since that system of medicine, which was adapted from the Ayurvedic system incorporating Thai culture and tradition, was introduced 700-1000 years ago.
The earliest knowledge is not well documented, as only a few prescriptions survived. The system of traditional medicine was revised and compiled during the reigns of Kings Rama I and II of Ratanakosin in the 18th and early 19th century. The prescriptions were recorded on the stone plaques and walls of the Wat Poh temple. Under King Rama V (1868-1910) the royal prescriptions were again compiled, revised and published, and this served as the basis for the Thai traditional medicine of today. The use of medicinal plants fell sharply when western drugs became available and therefore we want to preserve the knowledge for future generations.
Our aim is to provide you relevant information about Thai herbs to be able to adopt the traditional way of life.