Page 28 - J Trad Med 21-1-2566

8 วารสารการแพทย์แผนไทยและการแพทย์ ทางเลือก ปีที่ 21 ฉบับที่ 1 มกราคม-เมษายน 2566

Comparison of Male and Female Rock Salt Properties Using the Principles of
Hot Salt Pot Compression (Tub Mor Kluea)

Noppadol Hongsuwan , Rattana Intaket , Sudaporn Momtachart , Jiratchaya Leefai ‡
*,§
†
*
* Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Sakon Nakhon
Campus, Phang Khon Sub-District, Phang Khon District, Sakon Nakhon 47160, Thailand
† UTAC Thai Co., Ltd. Bangna Tai Sub-District, Bangna District, Bangkok 10260, Thailand
‡ Pla Pak Hospital, Pla Pak Sub-District, Pla Pak District, Nakhon Phanom 48160, Thailand
Corresponding author: noppadol.ho@rmuti.ac.th
§
Abstract

Hot salt pot compression (Tub Mor Kluea) for postpartum women is performed by placing male rock salt
in a clay pot, or mor thanan, for heat retention purposes. According to the textbooks on Thai traditional medicine
(TTM), there are two types of rock salt: male and female. However, there has not been any report that clearly
states that why it needs to use only male rock salt for such a compression. Additionally, some text books are not
even specific about the gender of the salt. The objectives of this research were (1) to study the heat retention
properties of male rock salt and female rock salt and (2) to compare the thermal storage properties of male rock
salt and female rock salt. Research method: (1) measure size and weight of six small round clay pots to make sure
that they were about the same size and weight; (2) measure the size and weight of each grain of male and female
rock salt, before and after the experiment, to determine the changes in size and weight; (3) determine the heat
retention capacity of both types of salt by placing a certain amount of male rock salt in three pots and female rock
salt in the other three pots; the salt density in each pot should be 0.8 g/cm ; (4) set the electric stove until the heat
3
reaches 300 ˚C for 5 minutes; then place the salt pot on the stove and set the timer until the salt is cooked; (5) lift
the salt pot off the stove and place it on top of the prepared herbs and immediately wrap it with the cloth; let it
cool down to room temperature; (6) take and record the temperature of the cooked salt and the time it takes for the
salt to be cooked; and take the temperature of salt in the pot upon cloth-wrapping completion until cooling down
to room temperature during the experiment; (7) take the salt pot to repeat and finish five cycles of steps 4 through
6. The results of the experiment showed that the sizes and volumes of male and female rock salt grains decreased
after the heating. The boiling temperature of male rock salt was higher than that for female rock salt. In the five
cycles of experiment, the average cooking temperatures for male and female rock salts were 106.49 ± 2.76 ˚C and
61.42 ± 4.49 ˚C, respectively. The time required to reach the cooking point for both male and female rock salts in
cycles 1–5 increased. As for heat retention, male rock salt retains the heat better than female rock salt; the ability
to retain heat in each of cycles 1–5 declined for both types of rock salt. In summary, male rock salt has better heat
retention properties than female rock salt, which is in line with related statement in the TTM textbook: “Male rock
salt should be used for hot salt pot compression and use it only once.”

Key words: salt, rock salt, male rock salt, female rock salt