Wisdom of Diabetes Mellitus Treatment by Folk Healers in Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study was to document information and wisdom of folk healers on treating diabetes in Ubon Ratchathani. The study had been done between 2017-2018. Seven experienced folk healers were recruited and the study was done by using semi-structured, in-depth interviews and participatory observation.  For demographic data, all folk healers with expertise in Thai traditional pharmacy were male, and age between 71-80 years. They have experienced in the treatment of diabetes mellitus for over 20 years. Their remedies consisted of main actives with the properties in seduction of blood sugar levels. The secondary active drugs had the properties of nourishment for blood and body energy. Ten traditional prescription were collected and most of herbal remedies were oral drugs, as many as 9 recipes, including 1 wound healing recipes. Among the total, fifty medicinal plant species were classified, which belong to 44 genera of 25 families. They were categorized into three families, the mostly found were 6 species of Fabaceae and 5 species in each of Zingiberaceae and Menispermaceae. The stem parts of the herbs were mostly used, followed by  leaf root and rhizome. Decoction was the main mode of preparation. Additionally, the result indicated that 21 plant species with bitter taste were commonly used in the remedies for diabetes treatment, astringent taste of 18 species, as well as 7 species of plants giving blood flow increase. Moreover, the herb used in 3 out of 10 remedies was Salacia chinensis. The results of the present study are useful for the further study the efficacy of these anti-diabetic remedies in laboratory and clinical trials in order to develop Thai traditional wisdom to be beneficial for economic and health of Thai community.