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Abstract
Traditional Uses of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth) among Folk Healers in
Southern Thailand
,‡
Thanat Nakaphan* , Monthaka Teerachaisakul*, Siriporn Puttum*, Kwanroen Sompimai*,
Preecha Nootim †
*Thai Traditional Medicine Research Institute, Department for Development of Thai Traditional and
Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
‡
Thai Traditional and Integrative Medicine Hospital, Department for Development of Thai Traditional
and Alternative Medicine, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi 11000, Thailand.
Corresponding author: nakaphan.t@gmail.com
Rationale and Objective: In Thailand, Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth) has been tradi-
tionally used as medicine by folk healers. To confirm whether the use is in accordance with Thai
traditional medical knowledge or not, this study aimed to 1) review traditional medicine formu-
las of Kratom from traditional Thai medical scriptures and 2) explore the therapeutic uses of
Kratom among folk healers in southern Thailand.
Methodology: This study is a mixed method research composed of 1) Documentary research
based on six traditional Thai medical scriptures, and 2) Qualitative research done among folk
healers by means of in-depth interview and focus group discussion. The key informants were 39
folk healers in southern Thailand who had had experiences in using Kratom as medicine.
Results: There were seven traditional medicine formulas containing Kratom in traditional
Thai medical scriptures: 1) ya prasa kratom 2) ya klom arom 3) ya hanuman chong thanon pit
mahasamut 4) ya kae bit long pen leuat 5) ya kae bit hua luk 6) ya thamhai ot fin and 7) ya prasa
kan daeng. This study found that of the 39 folk healers, 108 items of Kratom herbal drugs were
used, of which 65 (60.19%) were single Kratom medicinal preparations and 43 (39.81%) were
compound formulas. Kratom leaves were the part mostly used as medicine (93.52%). The tradi-
tional Kratom preparation mostly used was decoction (45.37%). The result also showed that
Kratom was prescribed for relieving pain (26.85%). Fresh and pure Kratom leaves were mostly
prescribed for treating diarrhea (31.58%) while Kratom leaves with medicinal solvent were mostly
prescribed for relieving cough (40.74%). Moreover, this study found that Kratom in compound
formulas was mostly prescribed for reducing blood sugar (27.91%) and relieving pain (23.26%).
Discussion and Conclusion: More traditional formulas containing Kratom have been re-
vealed in this study, which confirms that Kratom has been used by folk healers for medicinal
purpose in both single preparation and compound formula, which are not written in traditional
Thai medical scriptures. All folk healer used Kratom according to indigenous knowledge that
has been descended from their ancestors.

Keywords: Kratom, Traditional Medicine Formula, Folk Healer.