Back To The Future: Siam Medical Cannabis Remedy

Cannabis discover this week will take you back into the past exploring how “Cannabis is an old drug with new science.” as Thailand is at the leading edge of a process of re-liberalising cannabis in a region with a deep history of traditional use for health and wellness purposes.

Thailand’s cannabis remedy can be traced back to the period of King Narai the Great (1656-1688) of Ayutthaya Kingdom for more over 300 years ago medical wisdom of Siam traditional medicine and its inheritance in food culture of Thais citizen. There are evidences of the use of Cannabis as a medicine since the late Ayutthaya period. In the state of King Narai the Great, from the fact that Cannabis was a medicinal product for the King. While the people weed can be used for cooking and consumption with belief that its could make more tasty.

The first Thai pharmacopeia was complied by the royal traditional healers, known as Narai’s Medical Pharmacopeia ‘ตำราพระโอสถพระนารายณ์’ (Tumra Phra Osod Phra Narai). There were 4 recipes in there containing cannabis along with other herbs such as cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves, dried ginger, etc. Thai traditional healers consider the human body to be made up of four elements: earth, water, wind, and fire. Illness and diseases arise when the four elements are unbalanced. Antidotes and recipes in the pharmacopeia are created by combining two or more concoctions to create medicine for special alinements based on balancing the four elements.

The art of traditional Thai medicine have been passed down from the Ayuthaya to Rattanakosin period, the beginning of the Chakri Dynasty, with King Rama I in 1782. In which traditional medicine was practiced widely and knowledge of the craft was opened to the public, Thai traditional medicine was taught together with in schools and universities. Until cannabis was also made illegal all over South East Asia in 1930, Cannabis traditional medicine courses and services were completed withdrawn and removed, But during King Rama IX (1946-2016) traditional Thai medicine made a complete-comeback, it was promoted by the government ensuring the safety and efficacy of herbal drugs. So medicinal cannabis usage has been historically proven to be listed in several pharmacopeias throughout the ages. Nowadays, there are now 1,173 marijuana clinics across Thailand after medical cannabis legalization take place in 2021

Currently Thailand offers cannabis oil to patients at no cost. Over the past two years, Ministry of Public Health have distributed more than 200,000 bottles of cannabis oil. The Royal Gazette announces to list cannabis oil as a national welfare medicine 3 types of cannabis oil have been added to Thailand’s National List of Essential Medicines including 1. Cannabis oil contains a higher percentage of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. 2. Cannabis oil with a higher rate of CBD, or cannabidiol, which has medicinal properties but no psychoactive effects. 3. Cannabis oil that has equal levels of THC and CBD, according to reported by Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO)

‘Narai’s Medical Pharmacopeia’ is well known as one of the ancient cannabis oil formulas that based on our ancestors’ wisdom for over three centuries it has been developed to treat patients at the present including

Suk Sai-Yad, a cannabis-containing traditional remedy, is indicated to be used for insomnia.
Thamlai Phra Sumen for treating patients with flatulence, muscle pain, muscle stiffness, and weakness in stroke patients.
Sanan Tri Phop formula can heal a swollen stomach caused by liver cancer.
Thap Phraya Thikhun formula is used for treating some non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Dr. Kwanchai Wisitthanon, the department’s deputy director-general, explained about brand new medical cannabis oil that MOPH will give away to patient, stated that there are three formulas including

Daycha Cannabis Oil as a mild concentration of 5% per 1 cubic centimetre (cc) while the other 95% is coconut oil. Which has been certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so we have mostly provided Daycha Oil to their patients.
Phu Phrao oil, a medium concentration with 10% of cannabis oil per 1 cc. This is the formula made by the abbot of Wat Phu Phrao in Ubon Ratchathani (read more at the previous cannabis discover column) can help with sleep disorders and some people claimed it reduced the size of their tumours.
Rick Simpson Oil, the strongest concentration featuring 50% of cannabis oil per 1 cc.

Dr. Kwanchai also explained how to use cannabis oil safely, stated that he have a simple principle that we tell our patients to “start small and increase (the dosage) slowly”, especially for the high-concentration, He recommend dipping the end of a toothpick in the oil and putting it under a patient’s tongue for a while.

Then we will observe their condition for about 30 minutes. If the patient feels their heart is beating too quickly, or they have unusually dry lips or throat, we recommend they sip something sour like lime juice. That can help reduce the side effects.

However, if the patient can handle one dipped toothpick, then we will increase it to two dips before moving up to a whole droplet.

“To ensure that isn’t too much, I recommend avoiding the first drop because that is always the biggest one. It’s better to squeeze the first few drops back into the bottle and then use one of the smaller drops remaining in the dropper.”
Dr. Kwanchai